Overview
Shannon Martinez, the acclaimed chef synonymous with vegan dining in Melbourne, has expanded her reach by opening her first CBD location. Bringing Smith & Deli to Degraves Street, expect a new visual identity and a day-to-night offering.
Smith & Deli is a plant-based delicatessen and bakery in Collingwood, known for its flavour-filled, generous and fresh food, that happens to be vegan-friendly. The latest venue brings Collingwood fan favourites to the CBD, with an additional offering of tapas and wine come evening.
"People don't need to be convinced to eat vegan anymore; they just need a great place to eat it. We're just making it easier for city dwellers to eat great plant-based food, wherever they are and whatever their day looks like. This venue is designed around the rhythms of city life. Breakfast on the way in, lunch without leaving the building, something worth sitting down for after work. That's the goal," says Martinez.
By day, the market plate counter will serve rotating seasonal mains and sides, alongside a grab-and-go station with hot food, sandwiches, curated groceries and ready meals, perfectly suited to busy CBD workers.
As the sun goes down, the cafeteria counter will transform into a tapas bar, offering fresh breads and dips, PX mushrooms and croquettes, and a stellar tiramisu. Cold brews are replaced by espresso martinis, which sit alongside vegan wines and fresh cocktails.
Impact investor Kelly Jarret is backing Smith & Deli's broader national expansion, built around a goal to make plant-based eating more accessible and more delicious. "Degraves Street holds a real place in Shannon's heart; she spent a lot of time here as a teenager. Opening here feels like a full-circle moment for the brand. The new visual identity, the CBD format, the wholesale arm, it's all part of building something that can go the distance," says Jarrett.
Images: Ashley Ludkin.
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