The Meat & Wine Co opens flagship on Collins Street with African Sky fit-out and chargrilled steaks

# What opened where The Meat & Wine Co has launched a new flagship restaurant at 86a Collins Street in Melbourne's CBD. It's the brand's fifth Melbourne site and its 14th across Australia. The venue continues the group's focus on chargrilled meat and a curated wine program, bringing its established steak-led identity into a central city location.

# Food and cooking approach

# Sauces, accompaniments and wine A broad sauce selection accompanies steaks, offering flavour contrasts: hot African chilli, blue cheese, biltong butter and veal jus are listed on the menu. The restaurant pairs its meat program with a carefully curated wine list, positioning itself as a destination for diners who want both high-heat grilled meat and a considered beverage program.

# Design and atmosphere The interior is built around an 'African Sky' concept created by international studio COOOP.co and led locally by Callie van der Merwe. The idea focuses on how light moves across landscapes and the shift between day and night. The fit-out uses theatrical lighting and sculptural draping that transforms throughout the day, creating an immersive, warm environment inspired by the African Savannah.

# Practical details Location: 86a Collins Street, Melbourne.

Price point: Represented as a higher-end outing (listed with three-dollar signs). The restaurant supports bookings and caters for banquets and larger groups.

# How it fits the local scene The new Collins Street venue continues The Meat & Wine Co's expansion in Melbourne and adds an Afro-centric design angle to the city's steak and BBQ options. The menu blends mainstream steakhouse elements with South African-influenced items (boerewors, biltong butter) and a few global flavours, making it adaptable for groups where some guests want large cuts of meat and others prefer seafood or vegetable-based sides.

# Who should consider going Diners who prioritise chargrilled steaks, aged beef varieties and theatrical dining rooms will find this suitable. The menu also provides choices for less-carnivorous guests, making it useful for mixed groups. It's positioned for special-occasion meals, group dining and people who want a central-CBD steakhouse with a distinctive design.