Renowned US cocktail bar company Death & Co opened its first international venue in the Melbourne CBD last week.
Death & Co, which has bars in New York City, Los Angeles, Washington DC and Denver, is teaming up with Australian Venue Co (AVC), operators of over 200 bars and pubs in Australia.
One of the world’s most acclaimed bar groups, the new Melbourne location resides at 87 Flinders Lane across two levels – the Ground Floor Bar and the Cellar Bar.
While exuding the same soul and sophistication, the venue has reinterpreted this through a local lens.
The spaces were designed in a collaboration between Studio Y and Death & Co architectural partners AAmp Studio, offering dim lighting, cosy booths and plush banquettes.
Founder and co-owner of Death & Co, David Kaplan, said to open outside the US for the first time is a major milestone.
“Our relationship with AVC goes back years – from working with Ben Hehir in New York to our three-city tour across Australia in 2020 – and this feels like the natural next chapter.
“Melbourne and Brisbane are two of the most dynamic cocktail cities in the world, and we’re proud to be doing this alongside a group we deeply admire.”
Death & Co celebrates the art of the drink, with an expertly curated drinks list.
Alongside the group’s internationally recognised signature drinks such as Oaxaca Old Fashioned and Naked & Famous, the Melbourne venue offers cocktails such as Sound & Fury, a riff on the Margarita pairing raspberry and red capsicum, created by Tyson Buhler, Death & Co New York City in 2015; and a take on the gimlet, Buko Gimlet, which reimagines the Filipino dessert, created by Matthew Belanger, Death & Co Los Angeles in 2019.
The venue also offers a “Dealers Choice”, where the bartender will match a drink to the guest’s mood.
Food has been equally considered and matches the cocktails to perfection. These include a traditional pintxo cocktail snack, Gilda, kingfish cured with gin botanicals, a cheeseburger, a finely sliced tempura vegetable ‘chip and dip’, and a modern take on cheese and fruit, Tête de Moine Tart.
Paul Waterson, AVC CEO said they are excited to play a part in taking Death & Co international.
“Melbourne’s Flinders Lane is a natural first location and Brisbane will be opening soon after beneath the iconic Regatta Hotel.
“Each bar will capture the essence of Death & Co, but with a local accent.”
Known as cocktail innovators, Death & Co have won awards such as the Tales of the Cocktail convention’s ‘World’s Best Cocktail Menu’ award, and ‘America’s Best Cocktail Bar’, in the years following the opening of their flagship bar on New Year’s Eve of 2006/2007.
The Death & Co team have also published three influential books: Modern Classic Cocktails, Cocktail Codex, and Welcome Home, all of which have significantly contributed to the current craft cocktail revival.
Death & Co Melbourne is open from 4pm to 1 am, seven days a week, with both levels offering seated table service.
