News flash: Shane Delia is ditching the Melbourne black (okay, not entirely). In an exciting announcement for the longtime KDPO friend and collaborator – and for Brisbane – the Victorian superchef has just opened his first restaurant in the Queensland capital.
Read MoreHospitality
South Melbourne gets a pizza the action
Roman-style pizza is one of the reasons KDPO gets up in the morning, so it was a no-brainer that we leapt at the chance to join forces with South Melbourne’s fabulous new Pizzateca Lupa to sing its praises to the world.
Read MoreOur daily bread (etcetera)
When the team behind glam-fab venues Riserva, Baia Di Vino and Lucia decide to add to their stable, you know it’s going to nail its KPIs.
Read MoreBaker Bleu On the Rise
Cremorne is the latest lucky location to be anointed with its own Baker Bleu, the cult bakery that started in a tiny Elsternwick shopfront in 2016.
Read MoreRaise a Glass to a Chandon Glow-Up
KDPO’s heart was aflutter on encountering the exquisitely reimagined homestead on Chandon Australia’s historic Yarra Valley estate. A multi-layered expression of Valley terroir and creativity, it embraces the rolling green landscape and showcases the work of more than 20 Australian artists and designers. It’s a fitting new home for the storied sparkling brand that has…
Read MoreA Big Cheer for Barragunda
As unashamed pom-pom-waving champions of Victoria’s amazing food scene, KDPO was thrilled to help launch a truly standout restaurant, the intimate 40-seat Barragunda Dining in Cape Schanck on the Mornington Peninsula.
Read MoreA bona fide French blockbuster
We’re always excited to spread the word whenever a new restaurant is added the Lucas Restaurants stable, but it was particularly special to work on the campaign for his latest venue, Maison Bâtard, which opened in November.
Read MorePickett x Como
We didn’t think South Yarra’s Como House & Garden could be any more of a drawcard for people who love Old World style and yesteryear grace, but Como Lane has proven us wrong.
Read MoreA New Morning
Williamstown is unimaginable without the Morning Star Hotel. Trading in the bayside `burb since 1896, the local icon recently enjoyed a fabulous glow-up courtesy of publicans Stephen Mitchell (The Bridge Hotel), Matt Vero (Marquis of Lorne, Mount Erica, Orrong Hotel) and Williamstown local Aaron Onofretchook.
Read MoreRaise a Glass
KDPO loves any excuse to swirl and sip while learning more about wine.
That’s why we were thrilled to help spread the word about Circl, a new restaurant with a big focus on wine (as the magnificent 1500-bottle cellar will no doubt attest) on Punch Lane in Melbourne’s CBD.
Read MoreSouth Melbourne, Meet Kirbie
Clarendon Street’s stocks are on the rise, as evidenced by the exciting arrival of all-day bistro Kirbie.
Of course, we were already fans of its predecessor, restaurateur Kirbie Tate’s Aussie-Korean wine bar James. We knew the strip was in for a fabulous new taste of her already assured take on hospitality, and were delighted to help announce the intimate 40-seater to both the `hood and further afield.
Read MoreTwo-Speed Italian Fun
Cremorne’s tallest building, the striking new Cubitt Place development, has the attention-grabbing venue to suit its grand designs.
But fun fact: it’s really two venues. Pronounced “Am-uh-tree-chay”, the ground floor café and rooftop bar are the latest passion project from hospitality heavyweight Dave Parker (San Telmo Group) and his partners at Williamstown favourite Sebastian, Kelly and Alex Brawn.
Read MoreWindsor finds its Tokyo style
After helping restaurateur Chris Lucas launch an outpost of his fan-favourite restaurant Chin Chin in Geelong earlier this year, KDPO was all-in when he opened Tombo Den in September.
Read MoreBaker Bleu’s Bunnies
Five of our favourite words? Baker Bleu hot cross buns. The bun-loving KDPO office was bouncing to be engaged by the cult bakery to help amplify the launch of their brand-new hot cross buns over Easter. The best part was coordinating product send outs of the buns to KOLs and food media across Melbourne and…
Read MoreBack to the Ruben
We loved working on the launch of Ruben’s Deli on Armadale’s buzzing High Street in 2023, so when owner and Melbourne hospitality legend Amanda Ruben asked for our help again we jumped at the opportunity.
Read MoreCarlotta hits Canberra
We were delighted to jump onboard the Lucas Restaurants train again in October when Chris Lucas opened Carlotta, his much-anticipated debut on Canberra’s restaurant scene.
Read MoreChin Chin Finds its Club
A Chin Chin pop-up restaurant at Geelong’s iconic GMHBA Stadium? They’re calling it Club Chin Chin, we’re calling it game on. The partnership between the trend-setting restaurant and the beloved Geelong Cats Football Club is one of the most exciting announcements of 2024. Taking Chin Chin’s trademark fire and spice down the Princes Freeway marked a significant milestone in Geelong’s dining scene and a triumphant homecoming for its Geelong born and bred owner Chris Lucas.
Read MoreLucia is Here
South Melbourne’s Mediterranean heart is full with the opening of Lucia. The latest offering from the teams behind suburban gems Riserva, Baia Di Vino and San Lorenzo, and brings its own distinct identity to a great inner-city location just 10 minutes from the CBD.
Read MoreMelbourne Meets Wally’s
The gorgeous corner spot that houses bayside’s newest wine bar, Wally’s Albert Park, had us at hello. The Studio Ami-designed space is the very picture of European elegance with its brass tabletops, miniature lamps and velvet banquettes. Just add a marble-topped bar and waiter’s station, all reflected in an antique mirrored ceiling, and you can file it under “effortlessly chic”.
Read MoreSee you at Starward
KDPO are long-time fans of Starward Whisky so we were enthusiastically on board for a campaign to help publicise the brilliant revamp of the 120-seat venue which has added a new bar and kitchen and a new name, Starward Whisky & Bar.
Read MoreLa Dolce Vita at Johnny’s Green Room
KDPO and Johnny’s Green Room are old friends. We launched the iconic Carlton rooftop venue on the corner of Lygon and Faraday Streets in 2018, and last December we celebrated its stunning Tuscan-inspired makeover.
Read MoreHotel Sorrento Goes Resort
Clifftop beauty Hotel Sorrento opened a new chapter in its 150-year history in December last year and KDPO was there to get the word out. The grand unveiling of its stunning makeover has cemented it as a leader in the Mornington Peninsula luxury-stay field.
Read MoreA Bigger, Better Family Butcher
It was a full circle moment when Gary’s Meats, the beloved Melbourne butcher, relocated to beautiful and larger premises within Prahran Market under the new name, G. McBean Family Butcher.
Read MoreTaittinger Kicks Goals
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 was a roaring, crowd-pleasing, game-changing success and KDPO was thrilled to play our part in such an historic occasion through working with the series’ official champagne sponsor, iconic champagne house Taittinger.
Read MoreYoung At Heart
There simply cannot be too many easy-going venues that seamlessly combine drinks, food, music and art, which is why we’re ringing the bell for new Windsor bar Young Hearts.
Read MoreA Bagel Attraction
The bagel revolution reached Armadale with the arrival of Hank’s Bagelry in April. The elevated New York-style bagels on offer from the shop by the Beatty Group, the masterminds behind Copycat Bar & Restaurant and Mammoth Café, have become an immediate hit and established it as a must-visit destination for aficionados while making plenty of new converts to the bagel cause.
Read MoreA Cruisy Collab
A collaboration between Kiwi chef Josh Emett, of Waiheke Island’s The Oyster Inn, and Raes, the gorgeous Byron Bay boutique hotel and dining room, was a meeting of two icons.
Read MoreMaha’s Big Night
Has it really been that long? June saw us wondering where the past 15 years had gone when Shane Delia’s acclaimed Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurant Maha celebrated its significant birthday (answer: the past decade and a half disappeared in a delicious whirl of silken hummus, fall-apart lamb shoulder and pomegranate-spike cocktails).
Read MoreThrill at the Grill
The opening of a new Chris Lucas restaurant is always an event on the Melbourne hospitality calendar so it was a thrill for KDPO to help launch his latest venture, the very glamorous Grill Americano in Melbourne’s CBD.
Read MoreFanfare for the Classic Pub
The imposing Orrong Hotel has been an Armadale landmark for the past 150 years, and locals (some of them lucky members of the KDPO office) are thrilled it’s had a new lease on life since its reopening late last year under new owners Scott Connolly and Matt Vero.
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