Sky Bar Melbourne reaches new heights

By Brendan Rees

A luxury sky-high lounge bar and restaurant with sweeping views of the city, the Yarra River, and Port Phillip Bay is set to open in Southbank in early 2022.

Located 139 metres high at the Oakwood Premier tower at 202 Normandy Rd in the Montague Precinct, Sky Bar Melbourne will offer a five-star restaurant, two VIP function areas, a cocktail lounge, and a “floating” outdoor lounge.

Created by Yarra Hotel Group, the new venue will open on the 40th level, which is also the top floor of the tower, with a promise to “dazzle” patrons with “glamourous” furnishings including a 16-metre bar with an illuminated glass brick frame, a glass chandelier, six-metre-high windows, and five concave booths separated from the main dining area.

The Strato restaurant, which is described as “romantically modern,” will seat up to 60 guests and offer a modern Australian menu with locally sourced ingredients.

The main lounge will have an alfresco terrace resembling rooftops in New York city.

Yarra Hotel Group said the Sky Bar would offer 360-degree views of the city and accommodate up to 70 guests, offering a “quintessential Melbourne experience and a very good reason to visit the CBD again, post-pandemic”.

Yarra Hotel Group managing director Norman Khan said, “We couldn’t be more excited to open Sky Bar Melbourne and for people to experience this exquisite venue”.

“Our vision for this venue has been to show off our amazing city in all its glory – from the spectacular city skyline to showcasing local artists, foods, wines, beers and distilleries,” he said.

“We know the past 18 months have been hard and dining out is dearly missed. We have put a lot of effort into making Sky Bar Melbourne an entire experience and the venue has been developed by a team of people who are passionate about hospitality.

“Guests will see this from the moment they step out of the elevator! We’re proud to be providing a bucket list experience for locals and travellers and we see Sky Bar Melbourne as the perfect place to absorb the best this incredible city has to offer.”

Tim Bracher, Yarra River Business Association executive officer said the skyline bar would be a “welcome addition to the precinct’s visitor and corporate offerings and will provide a different view of the river and city to what is currently available”.

“The layout and beauty of the lower Yarra is best appreciated from a high level, so the view from Melbourne Sky Bar in Normanby Rd will complement the views and style that has been provided by Eureka 89 for many years,” he said.

Construction of the $150 million Oakwood Premier tower, which will have 392 hotel rooms, is estimated to be completed by the end of this year.

Of the hotel rooms, 152 will be short-stays while the remainder will be studios, and one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Dean Schreiber, CEO of Oakwood and managing director of Oakwood Asia Pacific, said Oakwood Premier, which will be surrounded by corporate office buildings, was developed for high-ranking senior executives, well-established business owners and “power players “in the economy.

“Defined by its uncompromising, tailored service standards and prime address, Oakwood Premier recognises the needs of its affluent clientele,” he said. “We are extremely proud to have the opportunity to introduce this luxury product to Melbourne’s prestigious Southbank Promenade.” •

An artist’s impression of the Oakwood Premier tower at 202 Normandy Rd, Southbank.