Missing the Birdcage? Maha is turning Bond Street into a pavilion

Won't somebody think of the new COVID pet owners and those who are missing the Melbourne Cup Birdcage? The Maha Group has, announcing today that they are teaming up with the City of Melbourne to transform Bond Street in the CBD into a "Birdcage-like" outdoor dining pavilion, Layla.

Plant-stuffed and Insta-ready, Layla will be a cocktail-focused arena with the kind of Middle Eastern mezze on which Maha Bar has staked its reputation.

But possibly the bigger draw, especially for those who invested in a lockdown dog, will be the pet-friendly brunches. These sessions, according to Delia, will operate yum cha-style with waiters roaming with haloumi wrapped in fine kataifi pastry threads with fennel seed honey, and "an epic dish" of fried eggs, burnt sesame butter and spicy sujuk sausage to scoop up with sweet plaits of challah.

Layla will open from November 11 with planned hours of Wed-Fri 5pm-late; Sat-Sun 9.30am-late.