There are plenty of changes afoot for the Seven Nightclub site in South Melbourne, but the first piece of the puzzle has dropped into place, with Lobby Coffee & Wine opening its doors last month.
Phase one of the ambitious Albert House project — which is being headed by Sam Daish and Andrew Ryan — the new cafe and wine bar graces the ground-floor space once home to the building's 80s-style lobby. It's a tiny operation, with room for just 35 inside and out. The offering itself is equally concise: coffee, bagels and Urban Projuice salads by day, and then local wines, classic cocktails, charcuterie platters and a tidy range of bar snacks to tempt the after-work crowd.
Next on the agenda for the Albert Road development is a ground-level Asian fusion bar and eatery, followed by a first-floor venue complete with karaoke room, function space and cocktail bar. The whole thing's slated to be completed within the next 12 months (and Seven will continue to operate as usual).
Images: Simon Shiff.