MELBOURNE | I was invited to a media dinner for the recently launched Luci and The Douglas Club last week. They’re the food and drink offerings of the new Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street, which opened this year inside the heritage listed 1930s Equity Chambers building.
The renovated and restored building is gorgeous, and oozes old world glamour. The great hall is the central show piece of the space, and its here where you’ll find Luci. It’s a modern Australian/European restaurant headed up by chef Sam Moore, and the food fits in well with the space.
It’s an approachable menu, being in the city’s legal district, I can see many a business lunch and dinner being had here. Highlights for me from the set menu I enjoyed are the Somerville heirloom beetroot with avocado and cashew ricotta, the Rangers Valley Wagyu striploin MBS 5+ with black garlic puree and Warrigal greens, and the brilliant dessert, a Valrhona caramelia mousse with caramel and Dukes coffee.
At the front you’ll find The Douglas Club. The bar is split between two rooms. One houses the actual bar and is designed for those wanting a lively atmosphere, while the other is a quieter, more relaxed affair. Both feature ceilings that display a rotating selection of images and animations featuring sights of the city. The cocktail list, created by bartender Gee Shanmugam feature creative twists on the classics.
I also had a bit of a tour of the rooms and architecture and as you’d expect with a building like this, they’re really nice. Keep an eye out for the murals by local artist David Lee Pereira.
Luci
472 Bourke Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9116 8877
E-mail: [email protected]
Website
Open
Mon – Wed: 6:30am to 10:00am, 6:00am to 9:00pm
Mon – Wed: 6:30am to 10:00am, 12:00pm to 3:00pm, 6:00am to 9:00pm
Fri: 6:30am to 10:00am, 12:00pm to 3:00pm, 6:00am to 10:00pm
Sat: 7:00am to 11:00am, 6:00am to 10:00pm
Sun: 7:00am to 11:00am, 6:00am to 9:00pm