Paco’s Tacos — Melbourne, Australia

A shopping mall is not the first place we would normally associate with an engaging dining experience, but the newly opened Paco’s Tacos in Eastland Shopping Centre may well be the much-needed exception to the rule.
Designed in 1967 by Tomkins, Shaw and Evans in Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs, the sprawling complex has, in recent years, been spruced up at a cost of several hundred million dollars and includes an al fresco town square development modelled after an European piazza.
A perfect setting, in other words, for the MoVida group’s second outpost of its CBD taqueria. Melbourne-based Techne Architecture and Interior Design have avoided expected tropes in favour of touches of Luis Barragán. Blocks of bold yellows and egg-shell blues outline stylized timber and reo mesh arches that evoke the facades of Spanish-Mexican architecture, while landscape architects Ayus Botanical drip greenery from wall nooks and planters.
The cheerful vibe is kicked up a notch with chef Frank Camorra’s muscular menu based on Mexican street food including sweet corn and pickled jalapeño croquettes. Corn tortillas are baked fresh, the perfect base for 14-hour slow cooked pork shoulders piled with kohlrabi, peanut mole and pineapple, all washed down with a tipsy pick of craft beers, virgin margarita and tamarind jarrito.
INFORMATION
Website
ADDRESS
175 Maroondah Highway
Ringwood
Victoria
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Daven Wu is the Singapore Editor at Wallpaper*. A former corporate lawyer, he has been covering Singapore and the neighbouring South-East Asian region since 1999, writing extensively about architecture, design, and travel for both the magazine and website. He is also the City Editor for the Phaidon Wallpaper* City Guide to Singapore.
-
Rétromobile revisits some of the icons of car design, along with their modern descendants
We tour the halls of Rétromobile Paris 2025 and take in remastered automotive classics, futuristic record-breakers and mighty monographs
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Designer Danny Kaplan’s Manhattan showroom is also his apartment: the live-work space reimagined
Danny Kaplan’s Manhattan apartment is an extension of his new showroom, itself laid out like a home; he invites us in, including a first look at his private quarters
By Diana Budds Published
-
Ulla Johnson’s collaboration with artist Julie Hamisky on the A/W 2025 runway is blooming lovely
Ulla Johnson and French artist Julie Hamisky have created 12 new jewellery pieces for the designer's A/W 2025 runway
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Six hotels where you’ll find the winter sun this February
From intimate seaside inns to lush tropical resorts, here are six Wallpaper*-approved winter sun escapes
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
2025 getaways: where Wallpaper* editors will be travelling to this year
From the Japanese art islands of Naoshima and Teshima to the Malaysian tropical paradise of Langkawi, here’s where Wallpaper* editors plan to travel to in 2025
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
The world’s most enticing new hotel openings
Explore the best new hotels in the world, from a bijou addition to the London hotel scene to a lush safari adventure in South Africa
By Nicola Leigh Stewart Last updated
-
Australian surf culture merges with the charm of the Mediterranean at Il Delfino
Il Delfino, designed by Sheree Commerford, is a restored 1940s seaside inn nestled on the Yamba coastline in Australia
By Amber Hunter Published
-
Layover in style at Melbourne Airport’s new hotel
Ibis Styles Melbourne Airport hotel by FK brings together elegant rooms, co-working lounges and leisure facilities in a striking aircraft wing-inspired design
By Daven Wu Published
-
Australian heritage meets European grandeur at Copperstone, a New South Wales retreat
Copperstone is New South Wales’ answer to the European country estate, and includes a five-bedroom retreat, set in 48 acres
By Jess Kelham-Hohler Published
-
Tap into local creativity at The StandardX, Melbourne
The StandardX, Melbourne is the first hotel in The Standard Group's new breed of ‘younger and rebellious’ properties
By Monique Kawecki Published
-
Basq House is the eclectic-cool stay to know in Byron Bay
Designed by StudioFAB and Léo Terrando, Basq House reverberates with the Australian town’s laid-back beach culture and artistic spirit
By Amber Hunter Published