What's New in Melbourne City

Reunion Island Pool Club

Melbourne’s in no danger of losing its standing as the rooftop capital with several new additions arriving in time for the summer months.

State of Grace have opened their much-anticipated expansive rooftop following the venue’s relocation to King Street in November. Located one block back from the banks of the Yarra River, the rooftop offers views overlooking the city centre and a casual dining menu of pizzas and share plates. 27 King Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000. (03) 8563 0020.

Located on the corner of Swanston and Little Bourke St, Red Piggy offers a modern twist on classic South-East Asian flavours, highly influenced by the vibrant and rich history of the old French Indochina region. The rooftop terrace features festoon lighting and an 11-metre hanging wall garden, with 300 handpicked plants from a local greenhouse. The jungle continues inside with the restaurant’s fit-out transporting guests to a tropical Asian paradise. Level 3/263 Little Bourke St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000. (03) 9654 0805.

Peaches is the city’s newest rooftop bar by name and by nature. Located above American barbeque restaurant Cheek on Swanston Street, Peaches is a two-level cocktail bar and rooftop. The beautiful fun bar is awash with pink suede booths, banquettes, tiles and terrazzo while the rooftop offers a central bar and outdoor lounges with city views. Level 2, 301 Swanston Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000. (03) 9994 8582.

For those visitors wanting to combine a drink with a splash can look no further than the pop-up Reunion Island Pool Club, Australia’s first rooftop pool club. Set atop Melbourne Central rooftop, Reunion Island Pool Club is a sprawling under-sky sanctuary of palms, plunge pools, recreation programming and bespoke bar and catering offerings. The 10 temperature-controlled plunge pools are available for bookings of 2 - 12 people, seven days. Level 3, Melbourne Central, Level 3/271 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000

From above ground to below it, Wonderpop & Deli is not a typical pie shop. Scottish-born chef Raymond Capaldi has turned his focus from high-end dining to the humble pie with the launch of wholesale and catering pie business Wonder Pies. After two years of perfecting the pie, the Wonderpop & Deli was born on Little Lonsdale Street offering hits such as the Tradie Slammer (a pie inside a brioche bun with caramelised onion jam), Mac’n’Cheese, and Piesagne. 18 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000. (03) 9639 5515.

Vegans can rejoice with new plant-based bakery Weirdough which combines old school French baking techniques with modern sustainability. The latest venture for Amanda Walker and Mark and Sam Koronczyk, owners of vegan empire Lord of the Fries, features 100 percent plant-based baked goods, including cronnoli, doughnuts, croissants and their famed cube croissant. The products are made using macadamia, cashews and coconut oil butter as the basis of their baked goods. 241 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000.

Source: www.visitvictoria.com