Overview
The boutique hotel Melbourne Place has been in the works for a few years, but we are finally getting more details about what we can expect from the CBD property.
We were recently told that the 14-storey hotel will house a rooftop restaurant helmed by hatted Young Chef of the Year Nicholas Deligiannis (ex-Audrey's), and that the whole site is set to open in October this year.
But until today, the details of what's happening down in the lower levels remained a mystery. We can now reveal that Ross and Sunny Lusted (Sydney's Woodcut and Aman Resorts) will be opening a coastal Portuguese- and Spanish-inspired restaurant as well as a late-night basement bar.
Ross and Sunny Lusted by Jason Loucas
Marmelo (the Portuguese word for quince) will feature vibrant snacks like silver-served anchovy fillets and two savoury takes on the much-loved pastel de nata. The first version comes with crab meat and custard, and the second is filled with sheep's cheese crisp and salted pork.
Ross is also well-known for cooking with charcoal and wood, so you can expect plenty of flame-kissed eats to slide across the pass. You'll find wood-grilled southern calamari with green coriander seeds and goat milk butter; suckling pig shoulder served with oranges and bitter leaves; whole john dory with kale; and O'Connor grass-fed beef with pickles. As seen with these bites, the menu strongly focuses on meat and seafood.
You can also head down a grand chartreuse-hued staircase to find the duo's Mr Mills basement bar. It will be an altogether moodier and cosier space with intimate booths as well as the option to dine at the bar or open kitchen (a big win for solo diners).
Here, the inspiration is also Spanish and Portuguese, but drinks are more the focus. Small plates of Iberian classics and more substantial bites are paired with an extensive cocktail menu and wine list showcasing drops from Victoria and Europe.
"Ross and I feel so energised by the whole process of creating these two special venues," shares Sunny Lusted.
"Melbourne is one of the world's most vibrant food cities and we look forward to this new chapter and to joining Melbourne's hospitality community."
Marmelo and Mr Mills are both slated to open in October 2024, and will be found within Melbourne Place Hotel at 130 Russell Street, Melbourne. For more information, visit the venues' website.