Lexy Restaurant and Bar

Overview

Melbourne's dining scene is no stranger to ambition — and Lexy is no exception. The Flinders Lane restaurant and bar fuses bold design with creative, contemporary pan-Asian fare, delivering an experience that's just as much about style as it is about substance.

Designed by Tom Orton and Kim Lai of Brunswick creative studio We Are Humble, the 80-seat venue takes its cues from the worlds of fashion, architecture and theatre. You'll find considered design choices throughout the space, from tan suede upholstery and brushed silver finishes to the shimmering ceiling that evokes a twinkling blanket of starlight, all anchored by an open kitchen that adds to the sense of theatre. There's also a sleek private dining room for more discreet affairs.

In the kitchen, Head Chef Oak oversees a menu that blends heritage with rule-breaking flair. Calamansi soy-cured king salmon, for example, is dressed with smoked yarra roe, cucumber and coconut gel. Crispy rice bibimbap is elevated with perilla leaf, nori and egg floss, while an eggplant katsu terrine is given a lift with confit garlic tofu, orange glaze and fennel. Desserts include a sultry dark chocolate mousse served with a mantou rum baba, coffee cream and cherry compote.

If you like your dinner with a side of drama, pull up a chair at the four-seat chef's table, where you can get an up-close look at the creative process as it unfolds. Lexy's high-spec equipment includes UNOX combi ovens and a Josper charcoal oven from which Oak and his team are serving the likes of miso-braised leek with burnt cream wasabi, roasted half chicken with yuzu tamarind and charred corn, as well as M9 and M9+ wagyu.

Lexy's bar runs on a zero-waste ethos, using fermentation, clarification, tinctures and oleos to craft cocktails that are both inventive and familiar, with a spotlight on native Australian ingredients. There's also an evolving sake list featuring rare drops you won't find anywhere in Australia — except under Lexy's gleaming ceiling.