Overview
Winter's well and truly on its way, and yet we're foreseeing many a sky-high sip in your immediate future, thirsty Melburnians. And much of that is thanks to the city's newest rooftop bar, which finally opens its doors in South Yarra this week.
Much-anticipated all-day venue Beverly makes its official debut this Thursday, April 13, gracing the top of the Goldfields House building, soaring 24 storeys above Chapel Street. Expect an effortlessly sophisticated bar and diner for all occasions and any time of year, delivering show-stopping 270-degree views across the city.
Helmed by Cameron Northway (founder of LOTI, Rocker Bondi and drinks company Sweet&Chilli), along with Goldfields' Marco Gattino and Lachlan Thompson, Beverly is designed as a serene, sky-high retreat that'll glide easily from long lunch destination to after-dinner cocktail pit-stop.
Taking cues from the cool-kid rooftop haunts of LA, the indoor-outdoor space has been imagined by acclaimed Melbourne studio Mitchell & Eades (Grill Americano, Carlton Wine Room, Rock Sugar). Boasting a retractable glass roof that's primed for Melbourne's erratic weather changes, it's a vision of earthy sunset tones and foliage, set against that backdrop of sweeping panoramas.
Sippers of all persuasions have found themselves a new haven up here, thanks to a broad curation of drops that celebrates local goodness. Biodynamic and organic pours rule the expansive wine list, and there's an evident soft spot for quality sake, while the globe-trotting cocktail lineup reimagines the classics using Aussie spirits and native botanicals. Try the sakura-infused Sake-Tini, or the signature Goldfields crafted on Pampero Anejo Especial, Cointreau, Frangelico and tonka bean.
From the open kitchen, chef David Ball (the UK's Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons, The Glass House in Hobart) delivers a menu anchored in seasonality and sustainability. It's got swagger, yet remains approachable, bundling southern Californian influences together with a touch of modern Australian flair.
After work, you might find yourself matching knock-offs to snacks like burrata and truffle fondue with aged balsamic, creme fraiche and lobster cannoli, pulled duck and caviar sliders, and prawn ceviche elevated with coriander mojo and jalapeno cream.
A hero pasta dish features marron and spanner crab in a shrimp bisque with preserved tomatoes, while barramundi gets a lick of smoked seaweed butter. And a flame-driven portion of the menu showcases everything from a share-friendly chicken with fries and coriander ají salsa, to three different cuts of wagyu.
Sean McDonald
Find Beverly at Level 24, 627 Chapel Street, South Yarra, from April. It'll open from 4pm–late Tuesday, and from 12pm–late Wednesday to Sunday.
Images: Jake Roden