The family-owned Ghanem Group has announced Brisbane’s Blackbird Bar, Dining & Events will be expanding to Melbourne, making this the first interstate expansion for the Blackbird brand. The new location is set to open in June 2025 at 66 Flinders Lane within Collins Place, located at the corner of Exhibition Street.
The new three-level venue will feature dark tones, contrasting textures, and murals to create an intimate yet contemporary atmosphere. Patrons will enter through a cocktail bar located at street level, leading into a lounge area, before ascending a central staircase that leads to dining rooms and multiple private event spaces.
Directors Adonis and Nehme Ghanem, along with CEO Vianna Joseph currently operate a growing portfolio of 12 venues across Queensland and Melbourne, including Blackbird, Donna Chang, Byblós, and the recently acquired Fox Hotel.
“We believe the time is right to expand Blackbird to Melbourne, given the venue’s longstanding popularity in Brisbane and its loyal following, including many Victorian visitors. Bringing Blackbird to Melbourne makes perfect sense,” said Joseph.
Chef Jake Nicolson will be curating the dining menu, with his extensive experience spanning across iconic venues such as Circa the Prince and The Ledbury in London, Nicolson is excited to merge the best of Victorian and Queensland produce. The dining menu will focus on Josper grilled and dry-aged meats, seafood, and seasonal produce sourced from both Victoria and Queensland.
“I’m looking forward to working with the incredible growers and producers I collaborated with early in my career in Victoria. It’s an exciting opportunity to showcase the best seasonal ingredients from both states and celebrate them through our menu.” said Nicolson.