Red and Blue on the Menu
Family-run restaurant The Malaya has been serving Southeast Asian cuisine to Sydney for over 60 years. Located in Grosvenor Place, a 44-storey office tower designed by Harry Seidler, the third-generation owners have opted for USM Haller in bold colours.
The Malaya was founded in 1963 by Wong Tai See. The sailor had emigrated from Hong Kong to Australia in the 1940s and discovered Nonya cuisine on his travels, a spicy blend of Chinese and Malay influences. As many ingredients were hard to come by in Australia at the time, he created his own recipes, and they quickly won over the community in his new hometown. Today, The Malaya is one of Australia’s oldest family-run restaurants. It is now run by the third generation, siblings Duan and Isabella Wong.
A piece of history
In 2025, the restaurant relocated to the heart of Sydney’s bustling business district. Its new home, Grosvenor Place, is part of the city skyline and a piece of Sydney’s history. The 1982 design by legendary architect Harry Seidler was ahead of its time in terms of its understanding of space, views, and light, as well as the role of art in interior spaces.
A play with colours
The restaurant spans two and a half floors, plus a terrace with sixty seats. Looking out, you see mostly concrete. The view from the floor-to-ceiling windows consists mainly of concrete – a typical urban backdrop complementing the restaurant’s modern yet considered interior. For the Wong siblings, one thing was clear: the new space needed striking splashes of colour.
“We wanted colours that stand out. Red, one of the family’s favourite colours, was a must.”
Enthusiasm for USM runs in the family. Their parents were already fans. “My mother recently bought a two-metre-high shelf and a USM serving trolley,” says Duan. Isabella adds: “They were our biggest inspiration when furnishing the new restaurant.”
If you want to purchase a USM Haller piece yourself design it now in our online configurator or find your local sales partner.
