The third store for Casa Nata has opened at the newly launched Market Pavilion in Chadstone – a space redefining the traditional food court experience in a market-style setting featuring an exclusive list of Melbourne’s best food and drink options.
The new location takes the form of a curved kiosk fitout crafted entirely from cement and stainless steel; the hand-finished materials pay homage to the meticulous craftsmanship behind each Pastel De Nata. Purposely restrained, the minimal palette stands in deliberate contrast to the flash and bustle of the surrounding centre. While the centre encouraged bolder, more vibrant finishes, we took a different path and the result was all the more striking because of it.
In another deliberate contrast to the surrounding fitouts, the overhead gantry is formed from three rows of floating neon rings – their thinness echoing the delicate layers of pastry that make Portuguese tarts so special. The café’s signage continues from the language, shaped from hand-bent neon tubing – another nod to the sculpted nature of each Pastel De Nata.
The layout itself was a great challenge – fitting a fully functioning café and kitchen into the 50m² semi-circular footprint. Casa Nata required three clear zones: Point of Sale, Kitchen, and Back-of-House. To maximise space, the front counter curves along the kiosk’s edge, bringing Casa Nata’s well-attired staff to the forefront, engaging directly with the passing crowd. As with their other venues, the kitchen is expressed as a glass box – a stage for the making of each tart, visible to all. The Back-of-House – home to washing up, storage, and services – is tucked neatly behind, figuratively concealed within a seamless cube of concrete. This element is carved and detailed to provide both built-in seating and display shelving, activating the quieter edge of the kiosk.
If you get down to see it, make sure you get a coffee and a custard tart (or three). They’re as close to Lisbon as you’ll find in Melbourne.