Ghanem Group Brings Award-Winning Blackbird to Collins Place, Melbourne

Wednesday, 26 March 2025: Family-owned, Brisbane-based Ghanem Group is bringing its multi-award-winning Blackbird Bar, Dining & Events to Melbourne, as the first interstate iteration of its flagship Brisbane venue that has become an icon in the city since opening over a decade ago.

Group Directors Adonis and Nehme Ghanem and CEO Vianna Joseph have selected an impressive, three-level site at 66 Flinders Lane within Collins Place, on the corner of Exhibition Street, to become the second Blackbird destination. The new venue will preserve the essence of the iconic Blackbird Brisbane, yet have its own edgier identity reflective of Melbourne’s distinct urban charm.

The sophisticated restaurant, bar and event space is expected to open in June, following a full renovation by Space Cubed Design Studio. Blackbird’s home, Collins Place, is located at the ‘Paris end’ of Collins Street and is a true mixed-use precinct with multiple leading food and beverage destinations. 

Blackbird Melbourne joins the Group’s growing portfolio, which currently consists of 12 venues across Queensland and Melbourne: including Blackbird, Donna Chang, and the South Brisbane development currently known as the Fox Hotel, which the Group has recently taken over and plans to reopen by the end of 2025.

The Group explored opportunities in Melbourne for several years before finding the right location in the heart of the city that will honour Blackbird’s high-calibre hospitality DNA, and appeal to its strong, corporate and leisure clientele. The spacious, multi-level site showcases Blackbird’s three-pronged strength of delivering world-class events, dining and bar experiences.

“Blackbird Melbourne is the next exciting chapter of the Blackbird story, which began in February 2014 at our riverfront Eagle Street location in Brisbane,” CEO Vianna Joseph says.

“We believe this is the right time and place for our Melbourne expansion. Blackbird Brisbane has just celebrated its 10th anniversary and has more-than proved its credentials, gaining loyal corporate and leisure clientele, including many Victorian visitors. Bringing Blackbird to their own city makes perfect sense.”

The interior aesthetic layers dark tones with contrasting textures and places strong emphasis on murals and artwork to create a contemporary, intimate but ultimately welcoming feel.

At street level just off Flinders Lane, guests are welcomed into an intimate cocktail bar where a sunken lounge, plush banquettes and plump, upholstered armchairs provide a refuge from the busy city streets.

A main central staircase with an eye-catching chandelier guides guests up through the multi-storey venue. A split-level dining room on Level 1 features two distinct spaces: a lower-level, mirrored-ceiling, open dining space, and a darker, more intimate upper level with tonal charcoal hues. From here, guests can ascend the stairs to private dining and function rooms.

Josper grilled and dry-aged meats, amazing seafood, together with beautiful seasonal vegetables and unique artisan produce are the centrepiece of menus that are rich in Victorian produce and complemented by some of Queensland’s most renowned produce. 

The Group’s Executive Chef, Jake Nicolson, returns to Melbourne to oversee Blackbird’s debut, joined by Ghanem Group Beverage Director Aaron Clark, who was also part of the original Blackbird launch team.

The Victorian-born chef began his cooking career at the Lake House Daylesford, then worked in London at The Vineyard, The Square and The Ledbury, and at Circa the Prince in Melbourne for seven years, including four years as Head Chef. Jake relocated to Brisbane in 2013 for the launch of the original Blackbird.

“I am very much looking forward to rekindling and building upon the great relationships with growers and producers I had formed during my early years in Victoria,” Chef Jake says. “Showcasing the best of each season’s bounty, and combining the very best produce from Victoria and Queensland for all to celebrate through the menus at Blackbird Melbourne is very exciting.”

Kit Georgeos, Fund Manager for the Mirvac Wholesale Office Fund which owns Collins Place, welcomed Blackbird to its new home.

“Collins Place is a true landmark of Melbourne’s CBD and an icon of the city skyline – we are thrilled Ghanem Group has chosen it as Blackbird’s home after an exhaustive search. Blackbird’s mix of corporate and leisure clientele is perfectly aligned to the customer mix and experience at Collins Place, and we look forward to officially welcoming the team in a few months,” says Ms Georgeos.

Blackbird Brisbane is a multi-award-winning restaurant, garnering over 34 industry awards in the past decade, including Queensland Restaurant of the Year in 2019 and Best Contemporary Australian Restaurant in Queensland in 2021 from Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence. In 2024, the venue received Restaurant & Catering Awards for Queensland Best Event Caterer, Wedding and overall Caterer of the Year. The Wine List of the Year Awards bestowed Blackbird a 3-Glass Rating in 2023 and a Hall of Fame Award in 2021.

The Ghanem family’s hospitality legacy dates back to 1978, when the brothers’ parents ran restaurants in Brisbane.

For more information: Blackbird Bar, Dining & Events Melbourne.