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‘You won't even recognise it': Big plans announced for former Madame Brussels site

‘You won't even recognise it': Big plans announced for former Madame Brussels site

The Age2 days ago
One of Melbourne's most storied rooftop bars, the now-closed Madame Brussels, is being transformed into an izakaya-inspired bar and restaurant.
Set to open in October, it's the first Japanese venue for new custodian Mamas Dining Group, which also has Vietnamese fusion diner Hochi Mama, recently opened Chinese joint Suzie Q and more.
'[Madame Brussels] was such an iconic spot in Melbourne,' says Mamas Dining Group director Thai Ho. 'It definitely brings back a lot of memories of day drinking and weekend mischief … What an opportunity for us to rethink the space and create something else.'
Madame Brussels opened in 2006, bringing garden-party vibes and summery cocktails to a Bourke Street rooftop with impressive skyline views. It shut in 2021, with founding hostess and co-owner Miss Pearls, aka Paula Scholes, citing a decline in CBD trade. Soon after, it reopened relatively unchanged, with the same name but new owners: the team behind city cocktail bars Double Happiness and New Gold Mountain.
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