Overview
Melbourne may be losing some brilliant restaurants and bars right now, but the city is also experiencing a flurry of new openings — especially in the CBD. These include the likes of Santana, Mill Place Merchants, Niku Shiki, Fleet Rooftop Bar and Woo399.
The latest spot to join the fold will be The Brass Monkey, set to launch on Friday, May 17. This new underground bar puts Victorian produce front and centre, and comes from property developer the Brady Group. The Brass Monkey will be the company's first go at running a drinking and dining spot — although it does already have a hotel under its belt.
The team has enlisted the help of sommelier Luke Campbell, who most recently curated the wine list at Pearl Chablis & Oyster Bar, to set up the wine offerings. He's selected vinos from across Victoria's many wine regions, including the King Valley, Yarra Valley, Gippsland, Strathbogie Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, Beechworth and the Macedon Ranges. In other words, you can tour some of the state's best wineries without leaving the CBD.
Thoughtful cocktails are also on the cards, made with locally sourced syrups, shrubs and bitters. Serves include the Wangaratta Fingerlime Sour, made with a cucumber-infused gin and finger lime-washed triple sec; the Ballarat Star Martini, featuring passionfruit-washed vodka, white chocolate and passionfruit puree; and Melbourne's Gospel Toffee, which contains maple butter, rye whiskey and paperback smoke.
Drinks are the stars of the show here, but there's a considered menu of charcuterie and creative snacks that also celebrate Victorian producers – plus they're all matched with suggested wine pairings.
General Manager Hotels & Hospitality of the Brady Group, Robert Moore, said: 'This is a brand-new journey for the Brady Group as we look to tap into the world-renowned aspects of Melbourne's hospitality in the food and beverage sector.
"We have worked alongside an exceptional team of sommeliers, cocktail experts, designers and artisans to bring The Brass Monkey to life over the past few months. It really is a wonderful showcase of all that Victoria does well and we hope that people enjoy it for many years to come."
The Brass Monkey will open to the public on Friday, May 17, and can be found at 388 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. It will be open 5–10pm on Thursdays, 4pm–midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 4–9pm on Sundays. For more details, head to the venue's website.