Get ready, Melbourne. On Monday, July 10th, the city will welcome its newest four-level pub, Morris House, after a stunning $4 million transformation.
Designed by the talented Red Design architects, Morris House will feature a fresh, light exterior, an NYC-inspired basement comedy club, an elegant ground-level dining room, a cozy level one bar and terrace, and a spacious rooftop with fantastic city views.
Taking over the former European Bier Café, the renovated venue will accommodate up to 550 guests across its four revamped levels, including a generous rooftop space for 180 guests:
Basement Comedy Club – Morris House proudly presents the Basement Comedy Club, a neon-lit haven inspired by New York’s finest comedy venues. Showcasing exposed brick and moody lighting, the space will host local and headline comedy acts every Friday and Saturday night in partnership with Melbourne Comedy, featuring a residency from Arj Barker starting on July 18th.
Ground Floor Dining Room & Bar – The newly revamped ground floor Dining Room boasts plush leather booths and a sleek marble bar, perfectly situated off the bustling city sidewalk for mid-week lunches or post-work drinks.
Level One Bar & Terrace – Experience comfortable booth seating and a sun-soaked terrace overlooking Exhibition Street at the Level One Bar and Terrace. This space hosts weekly live music and is available for corporate and social events. Enjoy local bands every Friday night or unwind with $16 Negronis while listening to smooth jazz every Thursday.
Rooftop – The fourth-level rooftop offers an inner-city, leafy-green oasis perfect for social gatherings. With a retractable roof, this space provides year-round comfort for leisurely lunches, sunset cocktails, and late-night drinks, regardless of the season. Patrons can also groove to upbeat DJ tunes every Friday and Saturday night.
Executive Chef Christian Abbott and Head Chef Andrzej Urbanik have crafted a new menu featuring loaded bagels, fresh salads, premium cured meats, house-made focaccia, delectable share plates, and reimagined pub classics.
Menu standouts include Baked Camembert with confit garlic and rosemary; Burrata with pickled fennel, raspberry vinegar, and basil oil; Crumbed Western Plains Pork Rib Eye with capers, parmesan, and raw slaw; and Boozy New York Cheesecake with Manhattan jelly, vanilla ice cream, and cherry.
A meticulously curated cocktail menu features a signature Agave section, including a Frozen Iced VoVo Margarita, a house take on an old-school Australian biscuit, Thirsty Hearts Club, a refreshing and slightly smoky concoction made with Mezcal, Cointreau, Green Juice, Agave, Lime, and Tajin, and the crowd-pleasing Spicy Watermelon Margarita.
Morris House Venue Manager Dylan Hewlett shared that the renovation marks a new era for the historic building and is an exciting addition to Melbourne’s pub scene.
“We’re bringing all the best parts of Melbourne together in one place, which means there will always be something to enjoy. Start your night with a meal in the dining room, then head down to the Basement Comedy Club for a show and end the evening on the rooftop with a signature cocktail,” said Venue Manager Dylan Hewlett.
Visitors to the Basement Comedy Club or nearby Her Majesty’s Theatre can make pre- and post-show sips and snacks at Morris House a regular habit, with four levels to explore and the full menu available in every space.
Gather with friends at the end of the weekend for a new tradition: the Sunday Long Lunch. Indulge in grazing smallgoods, house-made focaccia, classic Beef Wellington served with red wine jus, and a feast of sides, all accompanied by a glass of wine. Available each week from 12 noon in the Dining Room, Level One, and the Rooftop.
Experience everything Melbourne has to offer at Morris House. Bookings are now available at morrishouse.com.au