Housed within the heritage 1930s Equity Chambers at the Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street, sits dapper destination eatery Luci. A contemporary Australian fine diner with an Italian-Euro twist, it's named after the Roman leader and famous gourmet, Lucias Lucullus.
Here, chef Sam Moore (Pier in Rose Bay, Becasse, No.35 at Sofitel Melbourne) is serving a sharp, produce-driven menu across brekkie and dinner. The food strikes a balance between the classic and the modern, while the space boasts a grand, old-world fitout complete with original wood panelling, restored heritage elevators and stonework galore.
The menu hits plenty of high notes. For breakfast, there's a fried duck egg paired with roasted squash, hazelnuts and duck ham ($22), along with the likes of a wattleseed bircher ($12) and the smoked ham hock on potato rosti with cabbage ($23). Come dinner, you might find plates like a goat's milk ricotta gnocchi ($22/36), Hiramasa kingfish featuring mango and coriander ($24), and a lamb saddle with cos lettuce and anchovies ($44). The wine list is also a winner, fully stocked with a broad mix of local drops and interesting low-intervention options.
Meanwhile, the 1930s-style Douglas Club next door is your go-to for elegantly revamped classic cocktails, with a bar run by Gee Shanmugam (from Windsor's Galah Bar and Mya Tiger at The Espy).
Images: Food and interiors by Kristoffer Paulsen; Hilton entrance by Paul Gosney