Only Hospitality Group (OHG), founded by Julien Moussi, has opened its latest hotel in South Yarra’s heritage-listed former train station.
Moussi is a former VFL footballer, who stopped playing for the Box Hill Hawks in 2009 after injuring his ACL. He began a sideline of coffee carts at games that grew to become multiple breakfast and lunch specialty coffee venues, and in 2017 opened his own roasting facility, Inglewood Coffee Roasters.
Since then OHG, also known as Venues by Only, has branched out to acquire ten hotels including the Robert Burns Hotel (then renamed Hotel Collingwood), Beehive, and the Irish themed Micawber Tavern.
The new pub, Godby Hotel, along with the group’s Japanese-inspired listening bar Nightbird, opened in December last year after extensive research into the building’s past.
The plan was to accentuate the building’s older features, making patrons feel as though they had stepped back in time. New design and construction firm Underwood led the fit out, delivering just that.
The entry to the main dining area is via grand ballroom stairs, where guests are met with velvet booths and wood panelling. Victorian-style mosaic tiles surround the main bar while the ceiling boasts art deco alcoves.
Godby’s menu offers pub classics as well as a grill with three choices of steak and a cold bar offering oysters, sashimi and ceviche, while its extensive drinks menu includes signature cocktails such as the popular Madame Lin.
In stark contrast to the hotel, Nightbird is found behind mirrored hidden doors and features low ceilings. It is inspired by New York’s speakeasy-inspired venue Bathtub Gin, and with its dark walls it creates the sensation of partying in a softly blurred train carriage, said Moussi.
Moussi has not finished with his plans for the iconic building, which sits next to the current train station.
“I’d like to open up a turnstile straight to the [new station] platform so you can have a drink before the footy and step straight onto the train from the bar,” he told Broadsheet.
“I’ve got a couple of parking spots I might be able to trade with Metro Trains to help make it happen,” he continued.
