Chef Sean Connolly Is Opening a Hidden Burger Joint Inside a CBD Hotel

It's no secret celebrated chef Sean Connolly has a knack for creating beloved food venues, with Sydney's Steak & Co, Esther in Auckland and Sean's Kitchen in Adelaide just some of the hit eateries he's behind. But the Yorkshire-born culinary star is keeping things a little more under wraps for his first-ever Melbourne venue, the aptly named Shush Burger, which is set to open from Wednesday, March 29.

The hidden burger joint is tucked away speakeasy-style behind heavy velvet curtains up on Level One of the Courtyard by Marriott. Peel back the drapes and you'll discover a buzzing neon-lit haunt that's equally primed for scoffing burgers as for kicking back with a tipple or two.

Well worth the hunt, Connolly's burger lineup does away with all the fuss, and sets its focus firmly on quality produce and big flavours. It's all about classics done well — whether that's The Standard (starring a smash beef patty with ketchup and dijon), a buttermilk fried chicken number with pickled jalapenos and slaw, or the fish burger pairing crumbed hake with smashed avo and tartare.

The Bacon Lux teams its beef patty with a double serve of red leicester cheese, caramelised onion, applewood smoked bacon and chipotle barbeque sauce, while a vegan option comes stacked with Russian dressing and onion rings. You can bank on a tidy selection of snacks, too.

Shush's drinks list aims a little higher than your average burger joint — here, pair that two-hand feed with a top-notch local vino, easy-drinking brew or classic-leaning cocktail. Heck, there's even a range of sparkling things if burgs and bubbly are your perfect match.

Courtyard by Marriott

Find Shush Burger at Level One, Courtyard Melbourne Flagstaff Gardens, 50 Batman Street, Melbourne, from March 29. We'll share more details as they drop.