98 Lygon St Melbourne’s New Mediterranean Hideaway
- Written by Times Media
Brunswick East has just picked up a serious summer upgrade. Neighbourhood favourite 98 Lygon St Bar and Bistro has unveiled its refreshed courtyard and it already feels like the city’s newest Mediterranean escape.
To welcome the warm weather, the team has launched a daily Aperitivo Hour from 4pm to 6pm. Guests who order two cocktails will receive a complimentary snack. It is the kind of easy, generous offer usually found on a sunny European coastline and it sets the tone for long, relaxed afternoons that blend into dinner without effort.
A courtyard that feels like a coastal holiday
The space has been completely transformed. White washed walls, linen covered tables, chilled Parisian lo fi music floating through the air and Champagne corks quietly popping around the room. Oysters are shucked to order and a fifty year old olive tree sits proudly at the centre of the courtyard providing natural shade in the late afternoon light.
The atmosphere feels like a mix of Marseille, Corsica and Le Marais. Guests settle in, order a cocktail and instantly forget they are on Lygon Street.
Cocktails built for slow summer afternoons
The standouts begin with the Cherry Ripe Milk Punch. It is rich, silky and nostalgic. La Renaissance has quickly become a favourite and is described by the team as drinking a soft strawberry cloud. The freezer door Martini is a signature and is available dry, dirty or filthy.
A Michelin trained chef shaping the new menu
Head Chef Brian Macalister leads the kitchen. His experience spans Ynyshir in Wales along with The Pig’s Ear and Chapter One in Dublin. Melbourne diners may recognise his work from Cutler and Co and The Builders Arms.
His new summer menu blends polished European technique with the warmth and ease of a neighbourhood bistro. Highlights include Crudités with 98 Bagnet Verde, Shell Baked Scallops with wild garlic butter, a golden Shallot Tart Tatin with Dijon mustard and mizuna and Market Fish served with a smooth leek beurre blanc.
Those looking for a show stopping spread can opt for the Chef’s Selection. Guests can choose between a Fruits de Mer of oysters, prawns, scallop ceviche and Moreton Bay seafood or a Cape Grim MB4 Côte de Boeuf served with béarnaise and frites.
Macalister says the vision is simple. He wants the dining experience to feel like a long afternoon in a cosy European town. Generous, sunny and relaxed.
A drinks list designed for summer
The wine offering continues to shine. Owners Ben Clark and Simon Aukett draw on years spent working in some of London’s most respected venues including Rockwell Bar, Soho House, Mondrian, Zetter Townhouse and The Player.
This season the wine list leans into orange wines, chilled reds and lighter styles. Old world favourites sit alongside standout Australian producers to create a list that works effortlessly with Melbourne summer evenings.
Clark says 98 Lygon St has always been about warm hospitality and the kind of generosity people associate with the best European bistros. The summer update brings more colour, more vibrancy and more simple pleasures to the table.
98 Lygon St Bar and Bistro is open seven days and serves food and drinks from midday until late.
