Bar Sophia

Overview

Did you miss out on the mid-year trip to Europe? You need not worry, because the team behind Italian restaurant Marameo has just opened an Athenian-inspired drinking and dining destination in Melbourne that'll make you feel like you just hopped off the plane in Greece. Bar Sophia has swung open its doors on Burke Road in Central Park Village, Glen Iris, ready to welcome hungry diners seeking a vibey night out this summer.

Michael Badr of Marameo, who visits Greece often to see his wife Sophia's family, says "Athens has changed so much in the past decade, there's a real vibe to it right now… we're hoping to bring back a little of that energy and flavour, and create the kind of place we'd be proud to call our local."

Inspired by an enviable two-month research trip to Greece, Executive Chef Nicholas Deligiannis (of Mid Air) has created a seasonal menu centred around a woodfire hearth. Baked sheep's curd with spinach and silverbeet might be served alongside charred squid with smoked red pepper , and charry whey flatbread with whipped cod roe. Larger plates are set to include the likes of Cretan-style braised lamb, and orzo with saffron and Moreton Bay bugs.

The new venue features an intimate dining room, a 12-seat no-bookings bar, and a wine wall where locals can pick up a bottle to take away. Badr wants the space to be "familiar and welcoming—the kind of place you can swing by a few times a week and settle in however you like." Anthology Studio has designed the venue to help achieve this vision, with walnut timber, smoky mirrors, exposed brick, chocolate velvet and burgundy tones creating an inviting and comforting space.

Taking the lead on all things wine is Steve Kimonides (the Rocket Society, Il Bacaro), whose extensive knowledge is built on a whopping 13,000kilometres of vineyard-hopping across Greece's mainland. The hefty wine list will feature wine varieties such as Saviatano, Assyrtiko and Xinomavro, and wine-based spirits served over ice or in a cocktail, such as grappa, ouzo and tsipouro.

Images: Kristoffer Paulsen.