Overview
Melburnians who've been itching for a taste of Sydney's 'viking-luxe' bar and eatery will soon find it right here in their own backyard, with owners The Speakeasy Group (Eau de Vie, Boilermaker House) announcing plans for a Melbourne outpost to launch early 2018.
Co-owner Sven Almenning said the aim will be "to keep the experience between the two venues as similar as possible". Named after Thor's hammer, the space will be decked out tastefully with viking swords, helmets and Scandi-style furniture, and with plenty of whisky on display. Mjølner Sydney's recent gold medal for International Hospitality Design at the New York Design Awards should give you some idea of what we're in for. It's also one of our favourite Sydney openings of 2017.
One main difference will be the venue's size, with two levels providing scope for a heftier bar area than its Sydney sibling. Melbourne's friendlier licensing laws will also mean extended opening hours, with plans to trade until 1am through the week and 3am on weekends.
The kitchen will be plating up a similar style of food to the original, albeit with a few venue-specific dishes, so expect a fine dining experience across a top-notch meat-focused menu. No doubt hits like the braised short rib, the aquavit-cured gravlax and the roasted bone marrow will all be making their way south. The Sydney venue allows patrons to choose their own custom knife from a leather pouch and drink mead out of horns — so here's hoping those features come to Melbourne too.
Mjølner will take over the Hardware Lane site that was, until just recently, home to Nieuw Amsterdam. We're sad to see that bar go, but at least glad another late-night venue will be replacing it.
Mjølner's Melbourne outpost will open from February 2018, at 106-112 Hardware Lane, Melbourne. For more info, read our review of the Sydney venue and visit mjolner.com.au.
Images: Mjolner Sydney by Steven Woodburn.