Coupette Corner Bistro & Bar anchors Southbank's Cutural Comeback
VICTORIA: Melbourne’s dining scene welcomes a new address with the opening of Coupette Corner Bistro & Bar; a design-led, neighbourhood venue by The Mulberry Group, with interiors by David Flack of Flack Studio. Drawing on the enduring appeal of classic European dining rooms, Coupette blends old-world sensibility with a contemporary, distinctly Melbourne approach, designed to shift effortlessly from morning coffee to late-night cocktails.
Operated in partnership with The Mulberry Group (Hazel, Dessous, Lilac Wine), Coupette continues the Melbourne-based group’s commitment to creating hospitality experiences where food, drink, design and music are considered as one. The opening forms part of Southbank’s evolving hospitality landscape, positioning Coupette as both a dining space for locals and a destination for those discovering the city.
Melbourne’s restaurant and bar scene is renowned for its high calibre, and Coupette enters the conversation with a clear point of view. In the practiced hands of The Mulberry Group, its identity extends to a place equally suited to a quick snack-paired drink, a long celebratory lunch, a bells-and-whistles dinner or a contemplative solo experience - the choose your own adventure style of dining that’s so quintessentially Melbourne.
“Coupette is about comfort, ease, familiarity and fun,” says Nathan Toleman, Founder of The Mulberry Group. “We wanted to create a corner bistro that feels immediately comfortable and connected to the surrounding neighbourhood. Somewhere you can drop in for a quick breakfast, stay for lunch, or come back in the evening for dinner, and feel just as welcome every time.”
Occupying a striking, light-filled space in the curved bullnose of The Queensbridge Building, Coupette is one of five Mulberry Group venues within Hannah St Hotel, with a concealed entrance via Hannah St Coffee – the hotel’s neighbourhood coffee window serving Southbank locals - that unfolds to reveal atmospheric interiors by Flack Studio within.
A layered composition of travertine, timber, leather and glass, the interior reflects Flack Studio’s considered approach to materiality, craftsmanship and atmosphere. Embellished with artwork by Gadigal Country artist Mikala Dwyer, the room is at once sculptural and inviting, balancing refinement with warmth. A central curved bar anchors the space, providing a focal point and kinetic views as signature cocktails are prepared and poured, animating the room with constant movement and a hum of energy.
Food & Beverage: Executive Chef Andrew Beddoes (London’s J. Sheekey, Soho House, Fenix, Tartine, Enoteca Boccaccio) and Head Chef David Warne have created an all-day menu that draws on the classic sensibility of long-standing European bistros, reinterpreted for contemporary Melbourne dining. Built around quality produce from Victoria and across Australia, the offering moves from breakfast, all-day brunch ,through to late evening.
By day, the menu spans pastries, breakfast rolls and classic egg dishes, alongside more indulgent signatures such as a blue swimmer crab omelette and French toast - equally suited to a quick coffee stop or a long, relaxed brunch.
From midday, the menu extends into lunch moving from approachable bistro plates such as a wagyu cheeseburger and Coupette chopped salad, to steak frites, market fish with beurre blanc, and stuffed zucchini flowers with ricotta and taleggio. Sides and smaller plates highlight produce-driven accompaniments including iceberg with truffle dressing, loaded fries with bresaola and parmesan, zucchini with pangrattato, and heirloom tomatoes with olives and chives.
Into the evening, the offering moves between refined snacks and bistro classics - from oysters, anchovies and steak tartare to steak frites, lamb rump, côte de porc and market fish, alongside larger plates such as Western Australian scampi. Desserts lean into familiar favourites, including tiramisu, crème brûlée, chocolate parfait, and a rotating seasonal sorbet coupe.
Executive Chef Andy Beddoes adds: “Our approach is simple. We cook delicious food that people want to eat regularly. Dishes that feel comforting and familiar, but done properly, using great ingredients.”
The drinks list is central to Coupette’s raison d’être, led by reimagined classics and thoughtful non-alcoholic options, backed by a regularly changing, easy-drinking wine list that benchmarks Victorian labels against small producers and interesting varieties from the Old World.
Signature serves include the Coupette 75, a tableside take on the French 75 using Four Pillars gin, Cocchi Americano and lemon aspen, and the Ember Gibson - dedicated to Victorian producer Maidenii. In a show of local support, 50 per cent of proceeds from every Ember Gibson sold will go to Maidenii Vermouth to assist in rebuilding production following the devastation caused by the Harcourt fires.
Art & Design: David Flack from Fitzroy-based Flack Studio (The Queensbridge Building and Hannah St Hotel) merges the timeless charm of the European bistro and the unbeatable buzz of storied New York venues such as Schiller’s and Balthazar. A central bar, made from solid walnut and travertine marble, blue upholstered banquettes, Paris-inspired bistro mirrors that have been custom-made in shades of blue, bronze and peach, sheer curtains filtering light through large metal-framed windows and beautifully textured Calacatta flooring delivers both a sense of occasion and relaxing familiarity.
The entry stair is anchored by Warning, a work by artist Mikala Dwyer (represented by Roslyn Oxley), introducing an artistic pulse to the guest journey. The first thing guests will see as they enter the restaurant, Warning is a joyful and fantastical piece that plays with the permeable and changeable nature of the materials Dwyer uses.
Service & Community: Led by Restaurant Manager, John Bulmer, the Coupette service style is based in experience and professionalism, tuned to a frequency of relaxed and friendly. Designed as a dining room for the neighbourhood, the approach is intended to build familiarity and connection - making first-timers feel like regulars, visitors feel like Melburnians, and locals feel they have a place to return to.
Alongside its core menu, Coupette will introduce a calendar of neighbourhood-driven programming designed to give locals regular reasons to drop in. From weekly pasta nights and mid-week wine moments to relaxed Sunday feasts built around share plates and local suppliers, the offering will evolve over time, reinforcing Coupette’s role as a go-to dining room for the surrounding community.
Music Program: Melbourne-based music specialists WAT Artists curate the Coupette soundtrack. The brief emphasizes the eclectic, so expect the sonic backdrop to range across a wide variety of genres, whether that’s opera, grunge or French hip-hop.
Coupette Corner Bistro & Bar is now open at 90 Queens Bridge St, Southbank.
Open 7 days from 7am until late.
Visit coupettemelbourne.com.au / @coupettemelbourne for more information.
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MORE ABOUT COUPETTE CORNER BISTRO & BAR
Old school in spirit, modern in execution. Coupette channels the energy of a European bistro, classic details, a touch of play, reframed through a contemporary Melbourne lens. It’s a place made for long lunches, late dinners and everything in between, where the welcome is warm, the service effortless, and the atmosphere always just the right side of lively.
ABOUT THE MULBERRY GROUP
Founded in 2011 by Nathan Toleman, The Mulberry Group is a Melbourne-based hospitality collective known for creating spaces that blend creativity, community, and conscience. Its award-winning portfolio including Hazel, Dessous, Lilac Wine, Liminal, Molli, Heide Kitchen, and Square One Coffee Roasters has helped define Melbourne’s modern dining scene.
Beyond its venues, The Mulberry Group is the force behind Common Ground Project, a regenerative farm and social enterprise that provides education, training, and employment opportunities to women and young people facing disadvantage. Guided by the belief that hospitality can be a force for good, The Mulberry Group continues to push the boundaries of what modern, purpose-driven dining can be, one meaningful experience at a time.
What’s in a name: Coupette Corner Bistro & Bar can be shortened to Coupette after first use.
F&B Creative Partners: The Mulberry Group
Developer: Time & Place
Interior Design: David Flack, Flack Studio
Architect: Fraser & Partners
Joint Venture Partners (Development): MaxCap and Hickory Group
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON COUPETTE CONTACT:
Alexandra Bryant, Senior Account Director - The Mint Partners - [email protected] / +61 413 587 478
Shannon Hudson, Senior Account Manager – The Mint Partners - [email protected] / +61 401 763 323
Nathan Toleman, Founder – The Mulberry Group - [email protected] / +61 430 276 300
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEIGHBOURING, HANNAH ST HOTEL CONTACT:
Jodi Clark, Director of Communication, TFE Hotels - [email protected] / +61 499 900 658