Crafty Monk Brewery – Bespoke Hospitality Design by Leithal Designs

A bold and detail-rich hospitality fitout in Brisbane, Crafty Monk Brewery blends microbrewery theatre with custom joinery, ambient lighting, and family-friendly dining. Designed by Leithal Designs, the 475m² venue features a full-service kitchen, tactile materiality, and immersive spatial planning.

Crafty Monk Brewery is a new-age hospitality venue offering a curated experience in the heart of Tingalpa. Set within a 475m² tenancy, the brewery combines the charm of craft beer culture with the functional needs of a modern food and beverage operation. Opened in December 2024, it features 14 beer taps, a full kitchen, a dedicated cocktail and wine menu, and flexible dining zones—all wrapped in a polished, industrial-inspired setting.

Occupying a 475m² tenancy, Crafty Monk presented the opportunity to deliver a refined hospitality fitout that would celebrate the brewing process while providing a welcoming, high-functioning venue for food, drinks, and entertainment.

The venue includes a large front-of-house bar with direct sightlines to the glass-fronted microbrewery, flexible banquette and bar seating, and a designated coffee station adjacent to the kitchen to maintain separation of aromas. Spatial planning prioritised customer flow and operational efficiency, with open zones for circulation around key areas such as the kitchen pass and bar service zones.

Leithal Designs was engaged for the Concept Design and Developed Design stages, and supported the client through contract administration and tender documentation. The design brief focused on delivering a multi-layered space that was:

• Visually impactful
• Efficient for high-turnover service
• Family-friendly yet sophisticated
• Future-proofed for potential brewery expansion

Zoning and Spatial Layout

The spatial planning was centred around key hospitality principles:

• The bar and brewing interface forms the heart of the space, allowing patrons to observe the brewing process through full-height glazing.
• A banquette dining area, casual bar stools, and open-plan seating accommodate various group sizes and occasions.
• A distinct coffee service station sits closer to the kitchen, ensuring brewing aromas and coffee culture remain separate experiences.
• Public amenities and accessible toilets were refurbished in accordance with NCC and AS1428.1.

Materiality & Detailing

Key finishes were selected for durability, elegance, and brand expression:

• Walls: Features include Brick slips, combined with Dulux ‘Mundi’ and ‘Lovely Day’ paints.
• Flooring: A blend of P5-rated flooring including, decorative front of house epoxy.
• Joinery: Custom bar fabrication in backlit countertop, stainless steel, and Modulo Navurban battens. LED lighting is fully concealed for a seamless glow.
• Ceilings: Click-on Battens and an open ceilings for visual contrast and ceiling height retention.

Back-of-House Design

A full-service commercial kitchen was carefully zoned for efficiency:

• Separate areas for cold prep, pizza, plating, fryers, grilling, wash-up, coffee, and order dispatch
• Food-safe flooring with coved skirtings
• Full compliance with AS4674 and AS3740, including trench drain fall requirements and slip resistance specifications
• Integration of commercial equipment including cake display, fryers, ovens, plate warmers, and under-bench refrigeration

Deliverables & Documentation

Work-in-progress documents were shared in both PDF and DWG formats, with coordination across consultants, certifiers, and cost planners to support the tender process.

• Cover page and full drawing index
• Demolition, GA, partition setout, RCP, kitchen, amenities, elevations
• Furniture and FF&E layouts
• Bar and banquette joinery details
• Wall and floor finishes schedules
• 3D artist impressions to guide builder and client review

Key Benefits:

•  Bespoke brewery meets commercial functionality: The venue strikes a balance between craft beer authenticity and efficient service delivery.
  • Rich and layered palette: Brick slips, stone, timber, laminates, and soft ambient lighting combine to form a moody yet warm palette.
  • Ergonomic bar design: Custom joinery with integrated lighting, POS and data cabling ensures speed and clarity in service.
  • Visual connection to brewing: Guests remain engaged by seeing brewing tanks without compromise to spatial comfort.
  • Future expansion ready: The design supports future additions like an outdoor kitchen and extended brewing equipment.
  • Tender-quality documentation: Delivered a full drawing set ready for competitive pricing and certifier coordination.
  • Code compliant amenities and access: All new partitions, circulation, and finishes were coordinated with NCC and DDA access standards.
  • Brand-centred design: Every visual element reinforces Crafty Monk’s artisanal, inclusive, and local-first philosophy.