DEATH & CO ARRIVES IN MELBOURNE

From New York’s East Village to the heart of Melbourne CBD’s Flinders Lane, Death & Co, one of the world’s most influential bars, will open the doors to its first international venue tomorrow, Friday 14 November.

Since its 2006 establishment in Manhattan’s East Village, Death & Co has opened US venues in Denver, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. Death & Co has long been synonymous with innovation and excellence in cocktail culture, recognised for redefining the modern drinking experience.

Now, the globally acclaimed bar group brings its legacy beyond the United States, in partnership with Australian Venue Co – with the launch of Death & Co Melbourne. Located at 87 Flinders Lane, the bar spans two intimate levels, the Ground Floor Bar and the Cellar Bar. Capturing the same soul and sophistication that have made the US venues legendary, the bar has been reinterpreted through a distinctly local lens. It’s an exciting new addition to the city’s hospitality scene, one that celebrates the art of the drink, and modern classics are crafted to stand the rest of time.

“Taking Death & Co outside the U.S. for the first time is a huge milestone for us, and there was never a question about who we wanted to do it with,” says David Kaplan, Founder and Co-Owner of Death & Co.

“Our relationship with AVC goes back years – from working with Ben Hehir in New York to our three-city tour across Australia in 2020 – and this feels like the natural next chapter. Melbourne and Brisbane are two of the most dynamic cocktail cities in the world, and we’re proud to be doing this alongside a group we deeply admire.”

Australian Venue Co CEO, Paul Waterson agrees, “Death & Co is recognised worldwide as one of the best bar brands in the world, the team are at the forefront of the cocktail industry. Australian Venue Co is proud and excited to be a part of taking Death & Co international for the first time. Melbourne’s Flinders Lane is a natural first location and Brisbane will be opening soon after beneath the iconic Regatta Hotel. Each bar will capture the essence of Death & Co, but with a local accent.”

Cocktails that define a Melbourne moment
At the heart of Death & Co Melbourne is an expertly curated drinks list that celebrates the heritage of the brand, innovation and local inspiration. Guests can explore iconic classics and new-generation creations developed across D&C venues.

Hero Death & Co Melbourne cocktails include:

• Telegraph (By Tyson Buhler, Death & Co Denver, 2018) – Four Pillars Dry Gin, highlighting Australian native Eucalyptus – Inspired by its namesake gin Martini variation, this chilled serve combines pear, eucalyptus, pine and juniper, evoking an alpine fruit orchard in a glass.
• Sound & Fury (Tyson Buhler, Death & Co NYC, 2015) – El Jimador Blanco, Ancho Reyes, raspberry, red bell pepper, lime – Playing off the unusual but delicious pairing of raspberry and red capsicum, this smokey-riff on the Margarita balances ancho chillies and tequila with bright bursts of raspberry and the red capsicum flavours. 
• Buko Gimlet (By Matthew Belanger, Death & Co LA, 2019) Four Pillars Navy Gin, Cachaca, Coconut, Lime, Coconut, Pandan – A refreshing spin on the classic gimlet, reimaging the Filipino dessert, buko pandan in cocktail form. Aromatic gin distilled with finger limes forms the base, layered with herbaceous cachaça, coconut liqueur, coconut water, and pandan syrup.

The cocktail menu also features Death & Co’s internationally recognised signatures, including the Naked & Famous and Oaxaca Old Fashioned, served with the precision and flair that earned the brand its place among the world’s best bars.

Guests can also let the bartenders find a cocktail to suit their mood with Dealer’s Choice. Conversation between the bartender and the guest is core to the Death & Co experience. Through a few questions, the bartender will decipher what type of cocktail the guest is in the mood for and delve into two decades of Death & Co cocktails and classics to select a drink specifically catered to them.
Elevated bar fare, designed to share

The food offering at Death & Co Melbourne can be paired perfectly with the cocktails, with highlights including Gilda (a traditional pintxo cocktail snack), Kingfish (cured with gin botanicals), Chip & Dip (finely sliced tempura vegetables & leaves), Cheeseburger (dry-aged beef patties), Tête de Moine Tart (a modern take on cheese & fruit) and Brillat-Savarin with Apple Tarte Tatin.

Inside Death & Co Melbourne
Designed by Studio Y, in collaboration with Death & Co and their architectural partners, AAmp Studio, the interior of Death & Co Melbourne reflects the brand’s refined aesthetic. The entrance, always one of the most meaningful details, sets the tone. The weight of the door, the signature plaque and velvet curtains that draw guests in.

On the other side, lights dim. Plush banquettes, cosy booths, stools perched at the bar, warm tones of burgundy, woods throughout and unexpected pops of florals create a sense of mood and discovery. A highlight of the venue is the Party Pod, a curtained private space for groups of 6, with the option for chef’s selection of nibbles to get started.

Open seven days a week from 4pm to 1am, there’s seated table service across both levels and walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the evening.

Death & Co Melbourne is poised to become a destination for those who shine after dark — the next evolution in the brand’s journey, carrying its devotion to craft and community across continents.

Death & Co Melbourne, 87 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
https://deathandcompanymelbourne.com.au/