The lush and vibrant Fish Lane precinct lends itself to private corners and stunning backdrops for intimate dining moments—so it only makes sense that it’s the destination for a hugely celebrated hospitality group’s next endeavour. Enter Marlowe: an elegant Australian bistro from Fanda Group (Rick Shores, Central, Norté, Southside) opening this September.
Housed in a chic and heritage-listed 1938 apartment block once dubbed Merivale Flats, Marlowe is set to reinvent the space with charming dining rooms and bar spaces. “There’s a level of homeliness to the space that informs all aspects of the venue’s philosophy,” says Fanda Group Director David Flynn. “We want Marlowe to embody the same comfort as dropping into a friend’s house, and the same generosity and lavishness as a Sunday lunch at your grandparents’.”
Head chef and co-owner Ollie Hansford (Stokehouse Restaurants, Gauge) leads the charge on the menu, which draws inspiration from vintage Australian cookbooks alongside staples of contemporary dining—evolving to reflect hyper-seasonality and close relationships with local growers and makers. Think prawn cocktail tartlets in crisp pastry with classic marie rose, braised duck pie on a bed of radicchio jam with jus poured tableside, and coral trout Wellington finished with a rich caviar butter sauce. As for dessert, let’s just say you’ve never had a trifle like Marlowe’s—layered with rhubarb jelly, macadamia sponge and custard.
“It’s a nod to the comforting meals that shaped us, and a celebration of the small, local farmers around us,” says Hansford. “I’m lucky to have locked in five kilos of jumbo yabbies a week from a farm just outside of Gympie, and 20 whole heritage-breed chickens from Joyce’s Gold, too. For many of the producers we’re working with—like Chauvel Wagyu—Marlowe will be the only restaurant in the region they’re supplying.”
Theatrics are also on the cards at Marlowe with a custom-built woodfire hearth by Sam Fraraccio (The Brick Chef) fuelling the significant grill offering, as well as a dedicated raw bar providing front-row views of oyster shucking and seafood carving to order.
Fanda Group’s Beverage Director Peter Marchant has curated a 150-reference wine list to showcase the breadth and brilliance of homegrown drops—simultaneously honouring the timeless appeal of classics while making room in the spotlight for emerging and next-generation producers. With verticals from iconic estates and a 25-drop by-the-glass section via an extensive Coravin program, Marlowe’s French Champagne is the only exception venturing outside of Australia.
Prefer a cocktail to toast to the moment? Native ingredients and nostalgic flavours will be channeled into the glass, with signatures including a lemon myrtle and eucalyptus highball topped with house-made Granny Smith creaming soda, as well as a silky blend of butter-washed and macadamia-infused manzanilla making up the Marlowe Martini.
As for the fit-out, Marlowe is maintaining Fanda Group’s track record of breathtaking design and will once again partner with acclaimed Brisbane architecture and interior design practice J.AR OFFICE (who were also behind Central’s recent win at the Australian Interior Design awards). Marlowe’s interiors will pay homage to the building’s Art Deco heritage by preserving much of the site’s original character—retaining the original layout of the four 1930s apartments to roll out nine distinct dining and bar spaces, a verdant terrace, and four enclosed sunrooms over two levels. You can expect to feel at home, among rich walnut timber, polished chrome, curved furnishings, and a palette of sky blue, buttercream and deep crimson.
“There’s real momentum building in Fish Lane, and we’re proud that Marlowe can be part of its evolution,” says Flynn. “With so many great operators already in the precinct, and some of Queensland’s key cultural institutions just a stone’s throw away, Fish Lane is well on its way to becoming Brisbane’s premier dining destination.”
Looking for more? Check out Marlowe's sibling venues:
Image credit: Marlowe | Rachael Baskerville