Rising Above Public Bar, The Mediterranean-inspired Wine Bar & Eatery, And Cocktail & Audio Bar Complete A Full Village Of Venues
The Angel of Malvern has unveiled its two latest venues, Mediterranean Wine Bar & Eatery Flores and Cocktail and Audio Bar, Lately. Under the custodianship of Refinery Group, powered by award-winning luxury developer Kokoda Property, A Kokoda Inc. Company, the opening of levels one and two completes the full hospitality offering, cementing The Angel of Malvern as a true all-day-and-night destination for locals and visitors alike.
Connected to the ground-floor Public Bar via a staircase of dark timber and steel balustrades, level one introduces Flores – an inviting light-filled Mediterranean-inspired restaurant designed for long lunches, shared meals and evenings that stretch longer than expected. Founder and Managing Director of Refinery Group, Mark Stevens, shares,
“We want Flores to feel like the kind of neighbourhood wine bar people naturally gravitate towards, somewhere equally suited to a long lunch, a spontaneous dinner or a glass of wine that turns into another bottle. It’s warm, welcoming and built around great food, good drinks and bringing people together, whether you’re a local neighbour or visiting from further afield.”
Created by Refinery Group Executive Chef Justin North (Two Michelin-starred, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, Banc) and executed by Head Chef Josh Rudd (HER, HQ Group), Flores’ menu takes cues from Southern Italy, coastal Spain and Portugal, offering signature snacks, antipasti, handmade pastas and larger plates. Sitting pride of place in the dining room, a striking stone-clad charcuterie station finished in Concordia marble sees premium cuts hand- sliced to order on the flywheel, setting the tone for a menu designed to be shared. North shares,
“Flores is designed to feel energetic and generous, yet relaxed. From snacks and salumi through to handmade pasta and larger-format dishes, it’s food designed for sharing. We wanted to capture the generous spirit of European dining, with a menu that celebrates bold flavours, quality local produce and the joy of gathering around the table.”
Menu highlights include:
• Zucchini & Manchego croquettes with aioli
• Prawn toast – king prawn, saffron, citrus & Aleppo pepper
• Burrata – beetroot agro dulce, pumpkin seeds
• Potato gnocchi – slow cooked duck, sweet corn, porcini & pecorino
• Prawn & lobster ravioli, citrus & lemongrass bisque
• Slow cooked Gippsland lamb shoulder – mojo picón roast pepper sauce
• Portuguese half roast chicken – house piri piri, coriander, lemon
• Warm molten chocolate pudding – vanilla buttermilk gelato, Pedro Ximenez
• Dulce de leche flan – crème Chantilly
For those who like their sweets in liquid form, dessert also arrives by way of two playful cocktails:
• Frozen Mandarin Margarita – mandarin sorbet, Flores mandarin liqueur, tequila
• Tiramisu – Redbreast 12, Montenegro, Liquor 43, cacao, cream, espresso
The in-depth wine list features drops from both near and afar, covering small local
producers, and interesting bottles from New Zealand, France, Spain and Portugal. For those wanting something a little stronger, a mini, two-sip Martini di Flores is the perfect antidote. With interiors reimagined by Melbourne-based Studio McCue, Flores feels light, textural and refined – balancing industrial details with softer finishes. Studio McCue Director Chris McCue shares,
“Flores was designed to feel warm and layered whilst reflecting the building’s heritage. The steel window detail that you’ve seen from the ground floor is the hero in the space at Flores with its warehouse character of fluted and clear glass connecting the levels. In Flores we introduce a more refined atmosphere, with an elevated, largely monochrome palette.”
Contrast abounds with black-pebbled-leather banquettes hugging the perimeter of the dining room sitting beneath vaulted white V-board timber-lined ceilings. Dark timber floors juxtapose the textural ceiling, and deep-stained bentwood dining chairs with blonde rattan backing pop against the exposed brick walls. A mural by local artist Steve Leadbeater stretches above the open kitchen pass, finished in leathered black granite and handmade Japanese mahogany-coloured gloss mosaic tiles.
Off the main restaurant, Bar Flores offers a more intimate vantage point over the dining room, serving a concise menu of Mediterranean bar snacks designed to pair with a carefully curated wine list. With its own dedicated bar, the space is centred around discovery, showcasing a rotating selection of local and international wines by the glass alongside classic and contemporary aperitifs. Bar Flores creates the perfect semi-private setting for drinks, celebrations and smaller gatherings. A further void and artwork by Leadbeater visually connect the space to Lately above, while The Cellar, a private dining room adjoining the main restaurant, accommodates up to 12 guests, providing an intimate setting for celebrations.
Contrast abounds with black-pebbled-leather banquettes hugging the perimeter of the dining room sitting beneath vaulted white V-board timber-lined ceilings. Dark timber floors juxtapose the textural ceiling, and deep-stained bentwood dining chairs with blonde rattan backing pop against the exposed brick walls. A mural by local artist Steve Leadbeater stretches above the open kitchen pass, finished in leathered black granite and handmade Japanese mahogany-coloured gloss mosaic tiles.
Off the main restaurant, Bar Flores offers a more intimate vantage point over the dining room, serving a concise menu of Mediterranean bar snacks designed to pair with a carefully curated wine list. With its own dedicated bar, the space is centred around discovery, showcasing a rotating selection of local and international wines by the glass alongside classic and contemporary aperitifs. Bar Flores creates the perfect semi-private setting for drinks, celebrations and smaller gatherings. A further void and artwork by Leadbeater visually connect the space to Lately above, while The Cellar, a private dining room adjoining the main restaurant, accommodates up to 12 guests, providing an intimate setting for celebrations.
For those not quite ready to call it a night, Lately awaits on the uppermost level of The Angel of Malvern. The intimate late-night cocktail and audio bar is designed for lingering afterhours; here guests are welcomed via a dedicated brass reception desk before stepping into a rich, cocooning space where cocktails, music and conversation take centre stage. McCue shares,
“We wanted to create a space that was sexy and inviting, the venue is layered with warm textures and low lighting; timber-panelled walls, feature sconces by local designers Objects for Thought and a Valerina stone clad bar, one of several heroes in the space with its giant terrazzo like natural formations curled around the bar ends.”
Curved chocolate-upholstered banquettes weave around the rooms walls, creating intimate corners for cocktail sipping, while custom walnut and black gloss-topped tables, brass detailing and red textile-clad swivel chairs add to the space’s after-dark mood. The DJ booth will be home to a rotating selection of artists from Mushroom Events, spinning tunes every Friday and Saturday night until 3 AM. Another large-scale mural by Leadbeater, rendered in a colourway dubbed ‘earthly delight’, anchors the room and continues the visual story seen throughout the venue, while setting a mood entirely its own.
Drinks star in Lately, with a cocktail menu that feels fresh and exciting, highlights include:
● Autumn In Aomori – Nikka Coffey malt Whiskey, quince, black walnut, Amaro Lucano
● Latitude – Lately mandarin aperitif, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, citrus, nori
● The Orchard – Naught Gin, green apple, strawberry, citrus
● Ambrosia – Brioche, house made limoncello, Cocchi Americano, elderflower
● Elixir – Gin, Rhubarb, pear, macadamia, jasmine
● Mercury – Tromba Anejo, Amaro Montenegro, coffee, chocolate
Cocktails sit alongside a considered wine and spirits list, accompanied by a curated
snack menu of small bites, the perfect pairing with a drink or two.
Adjacent to Lately, a private 60-seat function space offers a more secluded setting for corporate events, parties or weddings, complete with premium AV capabilities and access to the full breadth of Justin North’s menu.
The Angel of Malvern is the first venue from Refinery Group, a Kokoda Inc. Company, marking the group’s entry into hospitality. This evolution is underpinned by a long-term vision grounded in design excellence, people and food and beverage culminating in an exceptional experience. The Angel of Malvern and its venues are the first to launch a pipeline of more than 10 hospitality brands across Melbourne and Brisbane, including the recently acquired The Saint in St Kilda, set to open later in 2026.
Image credit: Griffin Simm