Melbourne's new bar "for when you are not ready to go home"

Melbourne has no shortage of late-night drinking spots but here comes another one. 

edition Group will open Back of House on Friday night, Friday the 13th. 

It is promoted as a venue that pairs vinyl spinning DJs with noughties-classic cocktails with an Italian edge, and the kind of food chefs eat after a night out.

Back of House is tucked down Mornane Lane behind Florentino, off Bourke Street in the Melbourne CBD in the space previously home to Arlechin. 

Rebecca Yazbek, founder and CEO of edition Group, is upbeat about the new opening. 

“We wanted to add some mischief to the area," she says. "Florentino is about tradition and Back of House is the other side of that - the place you end up when you’re not ready to go home. 

"Melbourne is such a lively city, and we’re excited to add a late-night spot that’s fun and unpretentious, with great music, and drinks and food you actually want at midnight.”

The fitout is by Melbourne design studio Foolscap Studio, led by Adele Winteridge. 

The centrepiece is one long bar with an integrated DJ booth. 

DJs will perform from 6pm Thursday to Sunday, with the weekly line-up posted on Instagram. The records, curated by Fitzroy’s Plug Seven Records, range from soul to boogie with a sprinkle of Italo disco (oh dear!). 

edition’s group bars manager Felix Woods has drawn on the cocktails of the early 2000s for the drinks list, which follows the shape of a night out across four sections: Knock Off, Sit Back, Kick On and Wind Down.

“The inspiration behind the drinks is noughties classics with an Italian edge, bright and fun, simple construction with big, bold flavours. They’re drinks made for the dance floor. Drinks that drive a wedge between work and play,” said Woods.

In the kitchen, edition’s group culinary director Michael Greenlaw has built a menu "that’s fun, a little indulgent, generous and made for sharing".

“The menu is inspired by the food chefs enjoy after a night out, heavy on the cheese, big on the chilli and with a good amount of deep frying, says Greenlaw. "There’s even an ice cream sandwich with a completely unnecessary amount of whipped cream.” 

Sweet toothed patrons certainly might enjoy the Strawberry Campari Ice Cream Sandwich (above), while an early menu favourite of the Back of House team is deep-fried lasagne. 

It sits alongside saffron prawn toast with parsley, lemon and citrus salt; crispy mozzarella ravioli with vodka sauce; osso buco croquettes with gremolata; tinned fish with garlic bread, and fries with ‘pizza’ seasoning and pecorino.

For something more substantial there’s a meatball ciabatta with San Marzano tomato, basil pesto and lots of cheese. 

Back of House will be open from 5pm-1am Sunday to Thursday and 5pm-3am Friday-Saturday. No bookings, walk-ins only. For more information visit boh.melbourne