Overview
Keen to gift Rushcutters Bay with an authentic taste of Rome, Flavio Carnevale is pulling up stumps on his southern Italian-inspired Popolo to make way for a new venture, MARTA.
As Popolo prepares to relocate to slightly more formal CBD digs, the space at 50 McLachlan Avenue will be transformed into a bright and buzzy neighbourhood osteria and bar, as imagined by award-winning Melbourne architects, DesignOffice (who're responsible for the epic Higher Ground). The all-embracing space will be decked out in fresh neutral tones, boasting a sunny courtyard and an array of seating options to suit any occasion.
Moving away from the food of the Basilicata region, MARTA's food and drink offering will take its cues from the lively venues of Rome, where Carnevale's hospitality journey began. Out of the open kitchen will come a menu that's both refined and full of personality, featuring plates like bucatini with mussels, tomato and pecorino and cod fillet, while daily house specials hope to inspire regular visits. It won't be open for lunch anymore — just dinner six nights a week and brunch on Sundays.
Meanwhile, a bar area with high-topped tables will be ideal for those drinks-focused drop-ins — sessions spent sipping spritzes and quaffing wines poured from Carnevale's handmade terracotta decanters.
Marta is set to open its doors mid-September at 50 McLachlan Ave, Rushcutters Bay. It will be open Tuesday to Saturday from 5.30pm and from 9am on Sunday.
Images: Alan Benson.