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Melbourne was sad to see Miss Pearls sell Madam Brussels back in 2021, but this iconic space overlooking Bourke Street is finally getting a new lease on life. Opening later this year, Disuko (which means “disco” in Japanese) will be a cocktail lounge, restaurant and sushi bar inspired by 70s and 80s Japanese nightlife.
“Rooftop bars are an iconic part of Melbourne’s hospitality culture,” says Thai Ho, CEO and Director of MAMAS Dining Group, who have taken over the space and are currently in the midst of renovations. “Madam Brussels was a really important part of that culture as Mebourne’s most iconic rooftop,” Thai says. “We really want to honour that. But because of our own experiences, we want to bring in Japanese elements,” both contemporary and retro, he says.
Much of the inspiration for Disuko comes, Thai says, from his trips to Japan as a child to visit his Japanese aunt there.
“When I was young I used to visit Japan every year,” he tells me, standing amidst the detritus of construction. “I was always in awe of Japanese culture, the cuisine, the hospitality. I’ll always remember what wonderful experiences those were, so that’s the true inspiration behind Disuko. We want to make you feel like you’re in the Tokyo disco era, so the design is retro, with glass bricks and lots of traditional Japanese timber techniques.