The Bonobo By Raes
For more than three decades, Raes has called Wategos home. The Bonobo marks the next chapter, bringing a new hotel and lifestyle precinct into the centre of Byron Bay.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Photos SEAN FENNESSEY
The Bonobo is designed by architecture firm Richards & Spence with interior furnishings by designers Studio Manifold.
The spaces are designed to create an effortless indoor-outdoor connection attuned to Byron Bay's natural surrounds.
The Bonobo offers 74 hotel rooms and hotel residences set across three levels, overlooking the courtyard, tropical gardens or Jonson Street.
“The Bonobo is a natural extension of what we’ve built over the past three decades, while offering something entirely its own. We can’t wait to welcome both guests and locals to experience this new expression of Raes hospitality.”
Throughout the interiors, texture and tone takes precedence, with subtle colour used sparingly.
Custom furniture designed in collaboration with Jardan sits alongside a curated collection of vintage furniture, lighting and decorative pieces, sourced locally and internationally
On the balconies, custom outdoor furniture by MCM House in warm timber and sun-washed upholstery reinforces the coastal setting.
Textured stone, timber joinery and earthy tones shape the bathrooms.
A palette of natural stone and glazed tile defines the bathrooms, continuing the material language found throughout The Bonobo.
Designed by Richards & Spence, the three-level hotel pairs a modernist brick exterior with an open courtyard filled with light, air flow and greenery.
A restrained palette of brick and concrete gives The Bonobo a strong architectural presence.
Brick, concrete and greenery come together around The Bonobo's central courtyard, designed by Richards & Spence.
The hotel’s rooftop pool area is framed by panoramic views from the Byron Bay lighthouse to the hinterland.
The hotel’s food and beverage offering is curated by Jason Saxby, executive chef of two-hatted Raes Dining Room, alongside The Bonobo head chef Callum Gray.
For more than three decades, Raes has welcomed guests from its position above Wategos Beach. With the opening of The Bonobo on Jonson Street, the group is now writing a new chapter in Byron Bay.
Designed by Richards & Spence, The Bonobo centres around a central open-air courtyard, where natural light, greenery and air move through the building. Behind its modernist brick facade, the three-level property brings together 74 hotel rooms and residences, an all-day dining venue, rooftop pool, wellness studio and retail spaces.
Interiors by Studio Manifold in collaboration with Birdy Catalano balance custom furnishings with vintage pieces sourced locally and internationally. Throughout the residences, original works by Doris Bush and prints by Traianos Pakioufakis sit alongside furniture designed in collaboration with Jardan, while outdoor settings by MCM House reinforce the connection between indoor and outdoor living.
Accommodation ranges from hotel rooms through to one, two and three-bedroom residences overlooking the courtyard, tropical gardens and Jonson Street below. Designed to cater to both short stays and longer visits, the residences include generous living spaces, kitchens and in select rooms, a private plunge pools and outdoor terraces.
At the centre of the property is the Lobby Lounge, led by executive chef Jason Saxby and head chef Callum Gray. Extending across the lounge, terrace and courtyard, the all-day venue has been conceived as a place for both guests and locals, moving throughout the day from morning coffee through to late-night cocktails. Drawing inspiration from hotel bars, diners and neighbourhood institutions, the menu takes a thoughtful approach to familiar classics while championing producers from Byron Bay and beyond.
‘Opening The Bonobo marks a significant new chapter for Raes,’ says Marty McCaig, Raes group general manager. ‘We’ve brought the same attention to detail, hospitality and guest experience that sits at the heart of the Raes brand, and applied it to a larger, more accessible setting in the centre of town. The Bonobo has been designed as a place where people can stay, meet, dine and unwind, whether they are visiting Byron for a weekend, an extended stay, or simply dropping in for a drink. It’s a natural extension of what we’ve built over the past three decades, while offering something entirely its own. We can’t wait to welcome both guests and locals to experience this new expression of Raes hospitality.’
Also within The Bonobo, wellness studio Reset has opened its first Byron Bay location, offering cedar saunas, ice baths, a eucalyptus steam room, magnesium baths and restorative treatments inspired by traditional bathhouse rituals. We can’t wait to visit!
