Shades of sand and terracotta lend this cafe an earthy palette that contrasts the bright blue sea and sky that awaits on Sydney‘s Bondi Beach.
Designed by Cox Architecture, Glory Days is located in the 1920s Bondi Pavilion – which reopened in 2021 after a $48m makeover. Cox’s brief was to respect the heritage of the surrounding building, while creating a space that could welcome tourists and locals alike.

The studio used an ‘eclectic’ mix of materials for the cafe’s interiors, creating what it describes as ‘nostalgic glamour’. The weight of the red travertine bar at the heart of the space is contrasted by cane-backed dining chairs, sprays of dried plants and glossy metallic uplights. A patterned tiled floor adds a sense of visual rhythm to the cafe.

Cox brought in a mix of furniture pieces – some more dramatic than others, in the case of Glory Days’ heavily fringed pendant lights. Diners can sit on wooden stools that resemble huge chess pieces, or perch on banquettes with striped yellow cushions. Arched windows and doorways mean the beach view is never far away.

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