New 80 Collins precinct emerges

Following a staggered opening amid COVID-19 lockdowns in Victoria last year, the retail and dining precinct at 80 Collins St has emerged as an exciting new offering at the “Paris End” of the CBD. 

Celebrating a range of new openings with a new Melbourne Food & Wine Festival event series in June, the precinct is part of Dexus’s new mixed-use development completed last year. 

With many of its tenants experiencing staggered openings amid last year’s COVID lockdowns, the precinct has quickly sprung to life in 2021 with a new network of laneways featuring a range of brands, restaurants, cafes and bars. 

With CBD visitation increasing day by day, the new precinct is playing a central role in reinvigorating Melbourne’s vibrant heart. And in June, Eating 80 Collins, in partnership with the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, will feature three “Light Up the Night” experiences onJune 2,and a coveted “Lunch Illuminated” experience onJune 5.

Designer Sener Besim will present his first ever large-scale sculptural work, Light the Way, to be installed in each of the three laneways at 80 Collins, visible from Collins, Exhibition and Little Collins streets. Taking inspiration from one of Sener’s iconic pieces of jewellery, the public design installation will light the way to winter for the month of June. The six, 2.4-metre-high works are inspired by the geometric patterns used in Ottoman heritage and architectural shapes, a major influence across all Sener’s work.

Nine food and drink destinations are now open, including Farmer’s Daughters, Handpicked Cellar Door, Nick & Nora’s, La Madonna andIngresso, Maverick, Bowls Baby, People’s Coffee andUpstate Coffee. This is alongside six fashion, jewellery and footwear stores, including stores for Saint Laurent, Golden Goose andFEIT, as well as Mulberry, Georg Jensen and Sener Besim’s eponymous concept store, Sener Besim. The Lucas Group’s restaurant Society and eating house Yakimono are set to open in July and August. More retail and dining destinations are still to be announced •

For more information: 80collins.com.au