Newcastle's coolest restaurant has had a facelift

Newcastle is a metropolis historically known for its gritty live-music scene (hello Silverchair) and steel works – but in 2008, the city attracted headlines for a different reason. An innovative project called Renew Newcastle started offering vacant shops in the CBD to artists and entrepreneurs, rent-free.

The result was an artistic and cultural boom. Since then, Newcastle has been crowned a World Festival and Events City four times and Lonely Planet named it one of the world’s Top 10 Cities for 2011. There are many reports of an exodus from Sydney, as people ditch traffic jams and eye-watering rents in favour of Newcastle’s affordable lifestyle, beautiful beaches, great food and modern culture.

Into this vibrant young city steps Meet, a chic restaurant and bar inspired by the stylish eateries of Manhattan. Formerly on Honeysuckle Drive, Meet has a new location downtown in a converted warehouse. The building’s interiors have had a fresh makeover at the hands of local design firms After Dark and Something More Design.

Abundant indoor plants add softness to the industrial interiors, including a towering ponytail palm at the centre of the restaurant, and various cacti adding asymmetrical interest. The kitchen is open so guests can view the team at work, and for true foodies, there’s a private chef’s table experience on offer.

Meet is accessible from two entrances; the one on Darby Street leads to a dusky cocktail bar (pictured below), while the entry on King Street takes you to the bright and airy restaurant. Access to each establishment is marked by a pink neon ‘M’ sign above the doors.

Once inside, the bar and restaurant are separated by a wall made from patterned glass windows. The wine lists champion local drops from the nearby Hunter Valley, while plates are designed to share.

The food has a distinctly South American feel. Head chef Rafael Tonan loves to fire grill, Brazilian churrasco style working with local suppliers to create seasonal menus that showcase the best ingredients of the region.

An ideal place to get together with friends and family for special occasions or casual catch-ups, Meet is a very welcome addition to Newcastle’s dynamic downtown area – blame it on that unique combination of Steel City down-to-earthness and fresh, modern charm.

Abundant indoor plants add softness to the industrial interiors, including a towering ponytail palm at the centre of the restaurant, and various cacti adding asymmetrical interest. The kitchen is open so guests can view the team at work, and for true foodies, there’s a private chef’s table experience on offer.

Visit: meet.restaurant

Click Here: cheap INTERNATIONAL jersey