The Lobby Cucina & Bar

The Verdict

The Lobby Cucina & Bar is a new sneaky (and slick) restaurant slash bar in Lilyfield, that’s so sneaky we’re only just finding out about it now. This is exactly the kind of place you want to hide on cold nights and drink on hot days, it’s tucked away on the ground floor at Le Montage and take it from one cocktail tragic to another, it’s well worth stopping by.

With a menu created in collaboration with hatted chef Vanessa Martin, breakfast, lunch and of course those late night drinks you’re so desperately after are all on offer here. The breakfast menu if filled with old faves like trusty avo and god damn delicious French toast (think dipped brioche toast with mixed fruit compote, mascarpone, toasted almonds AND vanilla maple syrup) as well as healthy options, like cauliflower, corn and parmesan fritters and green bowls, for anyone who is #cleaneating.

If you think that sounds good, trust us when we say that the lunch menu is even better. From the Cozze al Sugo (aka black mussels) and Tagliatelle Nero con Gamberi (handmade squid ink ribbon pasta with prawns, tomatoes and basil), to the Spaghetti alla Marinara (our fave), pasta lovers will be in pure carb heaven. If you’re more of a meat eater, we strongly suggest you wrap your lips around the twice-cooked pork belly but the thinly sliced veal with mixed mushrooms, truffle and a touch of cream, is just as good (if not better).

With only 30 seats and every cocktail that you could ever want (they even have a dedicated whiskey menu!), The Lobby Cucina & Bar is somewhere you should seat yourself by day then stay allllll night. Perfect for a long, long lunch or late night date, we kinda wish we kept this place a secret.

Image credit: Federica Portentoso