Seven new cafes and restaurants have opened inside Melbourne Airport’s Terminal 1 dining precinct known as The Square, including local favourites Rustica, Pope Joan, Veneziano and ST. ALi.
Other venues in the new $20 million space include Mobo Moga – owned by Gary Mehigan, The Local Taphouse – run by Stomping Ground Brewing Co, and The Grace Wine Bar and Eatery.
Restaurants in the 2,400smq2 precinct open as early as 4:30am, serving travellers up until half an hour before the last Qantas domestic departure.
Melbourne Airport Chief of Retail Jai McDermott said the exciting redevelopment builds on the city’s food culture, connecting travellers to some of Melbourne’s finest cafes and restaurants.
“Melbourne is widely regarded as Australia’s foodie capital, so we carefully selected food and beverage operators that showcase our city’s finest coffee, food and bars,” he said.
“The redeveloped dining precinct is designed to reflect our city with brands people know and love featuring food and cuisines that can be found in the CBD, Richmond, Collingwood, St Kilda and South Yarra.”
Mr McDermott added the new space, directly after Qantas security screening, encourages guests to dine-in rather than eating at communal tables like a traditional food court.
“There’s something for everyone inside The Square with restaurant-style service, and grab-and-go options, creating an elevated dining experience featuring fantastic views of the airfield,” he said.
“We’re excited to unveil the new eateries in the lead up to Christmas as we anticipate strong passenger numbers over the festive season.”
The Terminal 1 Square redevelopment created around 120 jobs during construction and 160 ongoing hospitality roles.
The Square compliments other hospitality upgrades in the terminal, which also features the nation’s most modern Hungry Jacks, Sushi Jiro, Liv Eat and Icons Victoria. About each venue:
Rustica - Established in 2012 by renowned Baker, Brenton Lang, Rustica delivers artisan breads and pastries baked using traditional sourdough techniques. Rustica’s flagship bakery and café is in South Yarra.
Veneziano – Coffee is king at Veneziano with some of Australia’s most acclaimed baristas linked to Veneziano cafes across the country. The airport venue sells traditional breakfast and lunch options plus takeaway coffee beans for home use or gifting.
Pope Joan – The menu features fresh, seasonal meals with a wine list from Victoria and beyond. Pope Joan first opened its doors in Brunswick in 2010 and quickly gained popularity among foodies in Melbourne.
ST. ALi – One of the pioneers of specialty coffee in Melbourne! ST. ALi in The Square is the second airport venue for the group following a successful launch inside Terminal 2. ST. ALi is an industry leader in direct relationships with farmers, in-house roasting and expert coffee brewing.
Mobo Moga – Owned by renowned chef Gary Mehigan, Mobo Moga is a modern Asian restaurant that will combine the best of Victoria’s products and deliver a changing menu of classics and innovative Asian dishes.
The Local Taphouse – The same team behind The Local Taphouse in St Kilda and Stomping Ground Brewing Co presents The Local Taphouse in Terminal 1. Featuring 60 taps and sweeping views of the airfield, the new venue boasts Melbourne Airport’s most extensive beer list.
The Grace Wine Bar and Eatery – Described as “an expression of Melbourne” with carefully curated dishes and an enchanting ambience. The concept is owned by famous Melbourne chef Ray Capaldi. The venue will offer travellers a gourmet selection of Victorian sourced grazing and cheese boards, seasonal offerings and an extensive wine and cocktail list.