Melbourne sees growth in rooftop bar venues

The rooftop of Garden State hotel used to be unloved and cluttered with air conditioning equipment but a two-year build has transformed it into Melbourne’s newest rooftop bar.

The two tiered space overlooking Flinders Lane is dotted with large cream umbrellas shading clusters of bar tables and wicker chairs.

It takes time and battling significant red tape to open a rooftop bar in Melbourne, but for many hospitality operators it’s worth the effort. Three new or revamped venues will open in the city in the next month.

Garden State is just one of a string of venues looking skyward for expansion; Transit Rooftop Bar is set to reopen in Federation Square next month after a major transformation, along with the Prince Terrace in St Kilda which will open the former Prince deck to the public for the first time.

Paul Waterson, chief executive of Australian Venue Co, owner of Garden State, says opening a rooftop bar in the city centre is not for the faint of heart.

“It’s a really challenging location being in Flinders Lane, so it took a lot of liaison with local stakeholders, nearby neighbours, Melbourne City Council and 101 Collins,” he says. “It was quite an intense planning process and a very intense build as well.”

Crane operations were only allowed one day a week, on Saturdays, which slowed construction.

Waterson says restricting operating hours and reducing noise levels through acoustic management were key to keeping residents and the council on side.

“I think everyone understands how vibrant Melbourne’s CBD is, and it’s really one of the great things Melbourne is becoming increasingly known for,” he says.

“You see all these other states promoting these vibrancy reforms for initiatives that are already in place in Melbourne and I think we sort of undersell that a little bit too.”

Despite the time and expense involved with opening a rooftop bar, Waterson says it made sense to expand the pub upwards creating a four-storey venue and offering an open air outdoor space.

“I think Melbourne is the original rooftop capital of Australia,” he says. “We were the first state to really appreciate our great architecture, and we’re a resilient bunch, aren’t we? We’ll go out, sit on a rooftop all year round.”

The two level space holds 300 people and a retractable roof and heating will ensure year round operation.

Garden State has also turned its former function space into a cocktail bar, The Observatory, with plush booths and bespoke cocktails.

Garden State venue manager Katie Saxton says she’s expecting to sell plenty of spritzes over summer while food on the rooftop will include prawn rolls with dill mayo and lemon and stracciatella with cucumber, honey and black pepper.

“The rooftop market in the CBD is really quite formidable, and everyone loves a rooftop,” she says.

Nearby Transit Rooftop is set to reopen next month following a revamp by Studio Y nearly 20 years after it first opened with a reconfigured layout that opens up city views.

The rooftop bar will hold 250 people seated with food by Taxi chef Tony Twitchett and cocktails by Matt Linklater.

In St Kilda, after taking the reins of the Prince Hotel DJ and entrepreneur Grant Smillie is opening up the Prince Deck overlooking Acland Street with views across the bay and to the CBD.

Smillie has taken out the swimming pool which he says was underutilised.

“Uncle Johnny might have ended up in there one night on a wedding, which was a bit embarrassing, but that’s okay,” he says.

The deck is licensed for 700 and Smillie says not much red tape was involved because it was an existing function venue.

The changes include ensuring there is lots of open outdoor space with tables and chairs for food and drink along with a piano bar.

“Rooftop bars are just universal,” Smillie says. “I think there’s nothing better than being outdoors. You can come and dine, drink, and then hang around, watch a little jazz number, or you know, listen to some DJs.”

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