Coming Soon: Arbory Afloat Is Returning in September, This Time Inspired by Italian Beach Clubs

Worry not if you didn't manage to get a European summer this year, for the Arbory Afloat crew is bringing a slice of it to Melbourne in early September 2024 — this time modelling the floating bar after Italian beach clubs. 

This will be Arbory Afloat's ninth iteration, having drawn inspiration from Mexico in 2023, the Balearic Islands in 2022 and Turkey's Turquoise Coast in 2021. As it was with these past versions, the new Afloat Capri will have an entirely new look, food and drink lineup, and music and entertainment program.

Arbory Afloat 2022 by Arianna Leggiero

We've been told to expect striped umbrellas with valances, plenty of lemon trees, colourful ceramic planters, terracotta tiled roofs and sorbet-hued walls covered in hand-painted illustrations. This will clearly be the number one destination for spritz-sippers in Melbourne this summer.

And that's not only because of its new design and watertop location. The drinks menu is sure to hit all the right spots as well, thanks to HQ Group's Head of Cocktails Tom Younger. He has spent many a month dreaming up the new Italian-inspired beverage menu, pumping it full of citrus- and aperitif-driven drinks that will go down all too easily on a hot Melbourne day. 

Arbory Afloat 2019 by Simon Shiff.

"Each of the cocktails are designed for all-day drinking with friends and family. This includes a dedicated spritz section (think Aperol, Campari and Limoncello), over 30 different Negronis and a lineup of Pidapipo gelato-based frozen cocktails," shares Younger.

The food menu will also be stacked with crowd-pleasing dishes, from pizza and pasta to seafood platters and antipasti medleys. There's no going wrong with classic Italian seaside bites, especially when the group's Executive Chef James Gibson is running the show. 

Arbory Afloat 2023 by Jake Roden.

Arbory Afloat 2022 by Arianna Leggiero

Arbory Capri will reopen in early September 2024, and can be found at 2 Flinders Walk, Melbourne. For more details and to book seats from Monday, September 16, you can visit the venue's website. 

Top image: Arianna Leggiero