Overview
As they say, when one door closes, another opens. In this case, as Melburnians bid farewell to Mid Air, they welcome its successor, Cleo, opening on the rooftop at Hyde Melbourne Place just in time for the warmer months ahead.
Hyde Melbourne Place, home to Mr Mills and Marmelo, is a boutique hotel located on Russell Street in the CBD, which has gained popularity since its opening in November 2024. "We're so excited to open Cleo and introduce its dynamic, all-day energy — a place that blends the spontaneity of a great bar with restaurant-quality food; somewhere guests can drop in for a long lunch, a midweek drink or late-night entertainment," says General Manager Jodi Brown.
The menu, created by Head Chef Jordan Clavaron (of Cutler and Society), is generous, colourful and bold. Hero dishes include matbucha dip, crispy prawns with green harissa, and lamb tomahawks with eggplant and curry leaves. Being part of a hotel, Cleo also serves breakfast daily to staying guests and the public. A private dining room provides an elegant and elevated setting for celebrations, featuring bespoke menus, tailored beverage packages, and a champagne and martini service.
The rooftop drinking and dining destination welcomes Eastern Mediterranean flavours and old-world cooking techniques, and has undergone a three-month transformation that brings in warm tones, more greenery and introduces long tables and relaxed spaces suitable for leisurely communal dining.
"The drinks are vibrant, approachable and flavour-forward," says Beverage Operations Manager and Sommelier Matthew Jensen. "We've kept things fairly classical — from a pistachio spritz to a milk punch variation on Melbourne's ubiquitous espresso martini — while introducing subtle Mediterranean notes and a wine list that spans both local favourites and explorable key varietals from across the region."
Carmen Tomasic, Ennismore's Director of Brand Operations, Pacific, says, "A large focus for the design of Cleo was to create a space that felt grounded in Melbourne while embracing the ease and energy of Eastern Mediterranean hospitality. It's a beautiful oasis in the heart of the city that embraces its existing architecture while adding an earthy softness to the space."
Images: Michael Pham.
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