Melbourne’s New Italian-Style Bar Enters Chapel Street

Jul 21, 2023

Nestled in the heart of Melbourne’s iconic bustling Chapel Street, Commune Group is opening Studio Amaro, a new Italian restaurant and bar set to captivate the senses with its vibrant atmosphere, mouthwatering cuisine, and chic design. 

Opening in spring, this brand-new venue is being brought to life by the Commune Group, already renowned for their popular establishments such as Firebird, Hanoi Hannah, Moonhouse and Tokyo Tina. 

“We’ve been in the area for about 10 years now, so when the opportunity came up to take the space, we couldn’t really say no,”  
- Simon Blacher, Commune Group’s Creative Director

The venue, designed by Wendy Bergman, will be split over two levels, with a 100-seat dining room at ground level and a more upbeat basement bar with space for another 60 people. While the precast concrete façade has a brutalist feel, the interior will feature comfortable, worn-in materials. Expect yellow corduroy booths, recycled timber floorboards and a central granite bar that dissects the dining room. 

There’ll also be an open kitchen where you can see head chef Daniel Migliaccio (previously of Hanoi Hannah) in action. He and his team will serve a large selection of antipasti, handmade pastas that change with the seasons, and chicken and whole fish cooked over charcoal.

Given the name, Studio Amaro will make extensive use of the bittersweet Italian digestivo, giving us a good hint as to the vibe of Studio Amaro, one for quick aperitivo drinks and weeknight dinners, yes, but also late-night partying in the basement, where DJs will spin vinyl.

Certainly poised to become a new hotspot on Chapel Street, Simon Blacher says “It’ll be upbeat, a bit of disco, some funk, nothing too deep or house,” Blacher says. “Just good music to eat to, chat to and have a little boogie if you want.”

This italian gem is getting ready to welcome you with open arms, follow their instagram here to stay up to date for their grand opening.

Want to work at this hot new venue? They’re hiring!
Studio Amaro is looking for a restaurant manager, bartenders, FOH waitstaff and a FOH supervisor. See here for their available roles 👉https://bit.ly/43AT7sR
Want to work at more Commune Group venues? See here for their available roles 👉 https://bit.ly/3K51LIY