Melbourne CBD's Massive Food Precinct Ella Has Just Unveiled Its Second Lineup of Vendors

Sprawling entertainment and food precinct Ella opened in May on the corner of Elizabeth and La Trobe streets with a star-studded lineup of residents, a live music venue, an art gallery and a second hospitality hub and co-working space from Worksmith. Now, it's adding even more hits to its diverse offering.

On Monday, July 15, the doors will open to Ella's four newest arrivals. The masters of Japanese food at Jiro will unveil their new spot Sushi Club, while acclaimed French pastry chef Pierrick Boyer will launch his new dedicated dessert bar and cafe Reverie.

A new shared space — where you can kick back with eats and drinks from any of Ella's outlets — will also be part of the second phase of launches. Here, there'll be a brand-new CBD outpost of independent wine, beer and cider store Blackhearts and Sparrows. S0, you'll be able to grab a bottle of vino, order some snacks and enjoy a program of live gigs, parties, film screenings and the odd open-deck DJ or BYO vinyl night. We're told they'll even be breaking out the big screen for a series of 'Festival FOMO' parties, live streaming the best-loved music festivals from across the globe.

Backing up the hospitality offerings is the first-ever Australian outpost of Chinese eyewear brand AOJO, which offers semi-affordable prescription eyewear turned out in just half an hour.

There are even more exciting things to come, too, with hotly anticipated cocktail bar Byrdi from celebrated bartender and founder of Singapore's Operation Dagger, Luke Whearty, set to open its doors here come August. A city outpost for Daylesford's The Fermentary is slated to make its Ella debut later this year, with Axil Coffee Roasters coming to play from early 2020.

Current residents include Thai street food eatery The Pad, from the crew behind Collingwood's Son in Law; Korean fried chicken joint Sam Sam; Pick a Stick Chinese Skewers by the Dainty Sichuan team; and Colours Bowls: a new plant-based offering from Atlas young-gun Charlie Carrington.

Ella is now open at the corner of Elizabeth and La Trobe streets. Opening hours are 10am–10pm, daily. To check each restaurant's opening hours, head to the website.

Images of Reverie Cafe & Desserts