Popular pop-up Kafeneion, hailed as the city’s favourite of 2023, has now established a semi-permanent home on Spring Street set to open doors on February 7, marking a significant shift in Melbourne’s culinary scene.
As Kafeneion settles into its new space, restaurateur Con Christopoulos is already orchestrating a radical transformation for the vacant Bourke Street site.
Since the closure of the original Kafeneion in December, anticipation has surrounded its next move.
Christopoulos, known for his other successful ventures like The European and French Saloon, expressed his intention to find a larger, permanent home for Kafeneion.
The move to Melbourne Supper Club on Spring Street represents a momentous step, offering a clubby feel with its split-level layout and late-night license, allowing Kafeneion to extend its hours until 4 am.
“I was sitting in there the other night and it just felt good. We started playing Greek music. We’ve had a lot of family events in there, so it has nice memories,” Christopoulos told The Age’s Good Food.
The familiar furniture and table settings from the original Kafeneion will find their place in the new venue, but the ambiance will take on a salon-like quality. The menu, while undergoing seasonal changes, will retain the beloved flavors that made Kafeneion an instant classic.
Simultaneously, the former Bourke Street site undergoes a revolutionary transformation into Bossa Nova Sushi.
This novel addition to the Christopoulos stable embraces a sushi train concept with a distinctive Brazilian theme permeating the drinks, music, and decor. Drawing inspiration from the substantial Japanese-Brazilian population, the venue will serve fast yet high-quality Japanese food, complemented by an array of drinks from sake to the vibrant Caipirinhas.
“I’ve had some incredible Japanese meals in Brazil,” says Christopoulos. “Less mall, more made-to-measure, Bossa Nova Sushi will cater to 26 people, with takeaway also available.”