The OG Venue For Commune Group, Hanoi Hannah Enters Its Next Chapter With An Elevated New Home In Chapel Street’s Cecil Street Precinct
Hanoi Hannah, the original venue from Commune Group (Firebird, Moonhouse, New Quarter, Studio Amaro, Tokyo Tina), housed on High Street for 14 years, is entering its new era on Chapel Street as Hanoi Hannah Prahran, joining the exciting hospitality offering within the new Cecil Street Precinct.
Housed alongside a strong line-up of hospitality neighbours, the new 70-seat venue has been designed by Bergman & Co, the team behind Studio Amaro, with a modern, yet timeless look and feel befitting its grander home. The new space will retain the warmth, charm and character that has made Hanoi Hannah a Melbourne favourite for more than a decade.
Designed to cater for every occasion, from a quick soup on the run to long relaxed lunches and buzzing weekend nights, the new venue continues Commune Group’s approach to creating spaces that work from day to night. Commune Group Managing Director, Rob Gringlas, says the move is part of a bigger commitment and investment in Chapel Street and the local hospitality scene. He shares;
“With all the trends and changes in Melbourne dining over the years, Hanoi Hannah has been a solid favourite. The Elsternwick venue continues as a success, and now we get to bring that same energy, with a bit more polish, into the new Cecil Street Precinct. For our customers who’ve loved the brand for thirteen years, there will still be familiar favourites, alongside new, elevated dishes”
New Quarter’s Head Chef Gabriel Custodio, who has been a part of Commune Group for five years, will move to the new Prahran location, with Commune Group Executive Chef Scott Lord remaining closely involved to ensure the DNA of Hanoi Hannah carries through into its next chapter.
“Hanoi Hannah has always been about honest, produce-driven Vietnamese cooking done well,” says Custodio. “We’re keeping the dishes people have loved for over a decade, but this new space gives us room to have a bit more fun with the menu and push some new ideas as well.”
Alongside the core Hanoi Hannah dishes that have been favourites for years: house-made soups, rice paper rolls, pho, vermicelli and salads, the menu will feature a variety of new creative dishes continuing to be made fresh in-house daily.
The beverage program will feature Hanoi Hannah’s very own beer, made in conjunction with neighbourhood brewery Stomping Ground Brewing Co, as well as a wine list featuring local drops and the team working with some great young and upcoming brands across both alcoholic and non-alcoholic offerings. New, fresh and fun cocktails, designed to pair perfectly with the food menu, will sit alongside Hanoi Hannah classics; fresh coconuts will remain a daily staple.
As with every Commune venue, music will play a key role in shaping the atmosphere, with curated playlists setting the tone from daytime trade through to late-night service.
Hanoi Hannah first opened its doors in 2012, growing from a beloved Windsor local into a two-venue offering with the launch of Hanoi Hannah Volume II in Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick eight years ago, now known as Hanoi Hannah, Elsternwick.
Hanoi Hannah Prahran opens this spring at Cecil Street Precinct, 233-264 Chapel Street, Prahran.
Image credit: Chege Mbuthi