Cellar Bar, in the basement of the Melbourne Pub Group's Newmarket Hotel in St Kilda, opened to a fizzle last December, then closed in March . ''It didn't need a refurb so much as we needed to change the offer,'' Melbourne Pub Group public relations manager Jenny Brookes says.
The name stays, but there are more private booths and bar seats, and the cabaret and burlesque angle has been ditched. The bar will feature DJ Mark Johns on Friday nights and is working with events management team Back2Mono to bring music ranging from ''jazz to Bollywood to R&B'', Brookes says.
The food offering, described by soon to depart executive chef and group director Paul Wilson as ''luxe lounge finger food'', will be served from the Newmarket Kitchen and will be southern American and Mexican-influenced, in keeping with the Newmarket and the group's Acland St Cantina.
Cellar Bar will be open Thursday to Saturday nights only from Friday.
Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.
Sign up