A 130-Seater Pop-Up Restaurant Set Behind a Temporary Bamboo Forest Is Coming to Melbourne

There was plenty to get excited about when Rising was first announced in March earlier this year. Now, the 12-day twilight festival has revealed a unique line-up of specially-curated culinary events featuring an all-star line-up of Melbourne's most renowned and loved chefs.

1800 Lasagne's Joey Kellock, Hector's Deli's Dom Wilton, Smith & Daughter's Shannon Martinez (and recently opened Lona Misa), Atlas Dining's Charlie Carrington and Anchovy's Thi Le are just some of the big names creating pop-up and once-off dining menus for Rising.

Joey Kellock's brick and mortar 1800 Lasagne restaurant.

Headlining the gastronomic offering is David Moyle (ex-Longsong), who will lead the food program at The Lighthouse. The glass-walled restaurant will be perched at the top of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and set against The Wild's dense bamboo forest. If you manage to snag one of the 130 seats on offer, you'll be treated to Moyle's bespoke three-course menu with matched wines by Jess Ghaie of Blackhearts & Sparrows. While the exact menu is still under lock and key, it promises to include dishes smoked to order with a small army of onsite smokers expected as special guests.

Two pop-up kitchens will also host nightly once-off collaborations with some of Melbourne's biggest names. Shannon Martinez will takeover 'kitchen one' with the likes of Wilton, Kellock and Ian Curley (of Kirk's Wine Bar) depending on the evening. In 'kitchen two' Lee Ho Fook's Victor Liong will team up with co-head chef Chase Kojima of CHUUKA, Carrington will partner with former-Middle Eastern restaurant Bar Saracen, and Le brings a fresh menu in collaboration with a surprise interstate chef.

Andrew McConnell's menu at Meatsmith.

Elsewhere during Rising, Meatsmith's Andrew McConnell will team up with butcher Troy Wheeler to bring a special menu to Birrarung Marr. Enjoy char-grilled snacks like slow-cooked beef short ribs with pickled daikon radish, and fried chicken sandwiches within view of the illuminated 200-metre long eel installation.

Fancy Free, the roving pop-up bar by ex-Black Pearl bartenders, will be in attendance at Golden Square.

Rising is set to house 133 different projects and events involving more than 750 Victorian artists across 12 evenings, from Wednesday, May 26–Sunday, June 6. You can check out all the events and get tickets via the Rising website. Tickets for The Lighthouse are $90 per person for a three-course set menu and entry to The Wilds.