In pictures: opening day at Melitta Next Door
The much-anticipated second venue from the Bar Bellamy team opened last week — get a look at the action from opening day.
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Last week, Melbourne hospo powerhouse couple Dani and Oska Whitehart opened Melitta Next Door, the sassy little sister to classy older sibling Bar Bellamy. Rather than try to describe in words the food, the drinks and the vibe, which I figure will be well covered by more traditional media in the coming days, I decided to take my camera on opening night and document those first frantic hours in pictures.
Anyone who’s been part of a venue opening knows the exhilaration, the anxiety, the tension and the joy that it brings to usher a baby bar through those first few, unsteady steps. Oska, Dani and their team absolutely smashed it, and I hope I’ve managed to capture some of those moments at a venue that’s sure to be an important addition to Melbourne’s bar scene.
Photos by Fred Siggins.
Daytime at Melitta Next Door.
Compared to the classy, Francophile, wood-and-mirrors of Bellamy, Melitta is bright, playful and and colourful, with windows on two sides, orange lights and Portuguese-style blue and white tiles that say, “just grab a drink and chill, there’s no need to take this too seriously.”
Beers and pre-bottled cocktails come out cold from an Esky built into the custom-molded, recycled plastic bar, while martinis are poured from a thermos and smashable wines flow from taps, not bottles. Choose skewers for snacking by ticking little boxes on the menu with a golf pencil, and sit outside on this sunny Carlton corner if your four-legged-friends are keen to join you.
Photos by Fred Siggins.
Melitta Next Door at night.
As the sun goes down, a roster of Melbourne hospo royalty shows up to wet the baby bar’s head, smashing Martinis and Spritzes as the lights turn blue for party mode. As the night winds down, Chef Lorena Corso emerges from the kitchen for a well-deserved beer, and a chat with assistant venue manager Lachlan Boyle (ex-Black Pearl).
Photos by Fred Siggins.
Closing time.
Dani, Oska and Lachie say goodby to the last lingering guests, pack up, and finally sit down at Bar Bellamy for a much-needed knock off, their job done, at least for today.
Sam Bygrave
Boothby Staff