Society Restaurant Melbourne

LOCATION: Society Restaurant is situated at the Italian end of Bourke St, within close vicinity of the Princess Theatre and Parliament House.

VENUE HIGHLIGHTS: Established in 1932, the restaurant entertained the likes of Barry Humphries in its heyday, but endured rather less successful incarnations until it was revived by the DiMattina group in 2007.
The new Society has two distinct areas. Out the back is Rinos Room (named after Giuseppes son, who still owns the building), a red-hued dinning area, all crushed velvet, chandeliers and mock flock wallpaper that keeps things suitably cushy and clandestine. At the front is the bar area with its yellow tiled floor and finger popping atmosphere of a smart railway café in Italy. Once the sun drops, the action moves upstairs. Its all High Society on level 1, with a faux-gold ceiling, private booths and rooms (the Versace and Fornasetti Rooms), Chesterfield leather lounges and an impressive cocktail bar.
Somewhere between Marie Antoinettes boudoir, Leonardo Da Vincis studio and a Shanghainese bordello during the opium wars, Secret Society which is located on the top level is a lavish adorned with parlour like furnishings-Mona Lisa with a moustache; walls that frolic with seductresses- that upon closer inspection reveal themselves as a naughtier than expected, Rich reds, emerald greens, gold and silver leaf finishes.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Italian
• Restaurant
• Cocktail
• lounge
• smokers
• deck
• comedy
• functions
• entertainment
• coffee