Helios Hotel

Overview

Helios Hotel, a sprawling multi-level hospo destination, has landed on Glenferrie Road in Malvern, signalling a new benchmark for Greek dining and hospitality in the area. Meaning Greek for sun, Helios is set to shine a light on regional Greek flavours and dishes while highlighting often-overlooked Greek wines. 

Ioannis Kasidokostas and wife Maria Tsilfoglou, no strangers to the hospo scene, already operating successful venues such as Aegli in South Melbourne and neighbourhood hangout, Sowl, in Carnegie, have had their eyes on the Malvern site for years, envisioning a sprawling space that would usher in a new chapter in the suburb's blossoming dining scene. 

After eight years scoping out the space that formerly housed Sagra restaurant, Kasidokostas has finally revealed his vision for Helios Hotel, a mega-venue that boasts three concepts at one address. Find Atlas restaurant on the ground floor, Elysian mezzanine and private dining on the second, and Asteria, a sun-soaked rooftop space as the crowning jewel (the latter, which will open shortly). 

Dishes will strike a fine balance between approachable, familiar, and casual, with a touch of refined fine dining signalling Kasidokostas' signature style. There's a strong focus on regional flavours — a chance for the team to broaden diners' expectations of Greek cuisine — and an effort to make items in-house where possible, including a stellar dry-aged beef sausage. "They're expecting pita bread, but we're making our own bread," says Kasidokostas. 

Generous share plates of wood-fired prawn dolmathes, a rotating pie of the day, and lamb in grape molasses are designed to sit harmoniously alongside lesser-known Greek wines and Greek spirits, including Athenian-imported ouzo and tsipouro, and funky kumquat liquor from Corfu. 

Images: Supplied. 

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