Rodd & Gunn will open its most ambitious project this October with the launch of a four-level global flagship at 280 Little Collins Street, Melbourne. Housed in one of the city’s most significant heritage buildings, the site will bring together fashion, dining, and hospitality in a single destination.
The flagship has been designed to draw on 1930s architecture while introducing contemporary, hospitality-led elements across four distinct levels. The Lower Ground level will feature a dedicated Cocktail Laboratory by Matt Bax of Bar Americano, alongside a curated wine program celebrating New Zealand, Australian and international producers. The space will also serve an Italian-inspired menu of house-made pasta and aperitivi.
Bax says the cocktail program was designed to integrate seamlessly with the broader hospitality experience. “Sometimes the cocktail starts with a spirit, sometimes it’s a story, sometimes it’s a memory. Food and drinks should be one thing, consumed together. It’s about creating one experience,” he says.
On the Ground Floor, marble joinery and timber finishes frame the brand’s new retail space, combining heritage details with modern display design. The Mezzanine level will be home to the Member’s Bar, a wood-panelled retreat reserved for loyalty clientele. Designed with lighting by Volker Haug and Art Deco motifs throughout, the bar will offer classic cocktails, premium wines, and New Zealand-inspired snacks in a private club-style setting.
Level One will showcase The Lodge Dining Room, the centrepiece of the flagship. Framed by arched windows and restored tile artworks, the space also includes a private dining room with a white marble table and reeded-glass walls. Michelin-starred Executive Chef Matt Lambert and Head Chef James Evangelinos will lead the kitchen, presenting menus that blend New Zealand flavours with Melbourne produce. À la carte and multi-course dining options will be paired with wines selected by New Zealand’s Master Sommelier, Cameron Douglas.
