Death & Co, one of the world’s most influential bars, is opening its first international outpost in Melbourne tomorrow.

Since its 2006 establishment in Manhattan’s East Village, Death & Co has opened venues in Denver, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and now Melbourne’s CBD.

The globally acclaimed bar group is partnering with Australian Venue Co for the launch of Death & Co Melbourne in Flinders Lane. The bar spans two intimate levels, the Ground Floor Bar and the Cellar Bar. Capturing the same soul and sophistication that have made the US venues legendary, the bar has been reinterpreted through a distinctly local lens.

“Taking Death & Co outside the US for the first time is a huge milestone for us, and there was never a question about who we wanted to do it with,” said David Kaplan, Founder and Co-Owner of Death & Co. 

“Our relationship with AVC goes back years – from working with Ben Hehir in New York to our three-city tour across Australia in 2020 – and this feels like the natural next chapter. Melbourne and Brisbane are two of the most dynamic cocktail cities in the world, and we’re proud to be doing this alongside a group we deeply admire.”

Australian Venue Co CEO Paul Waterson said: “Death & Co is recognised worldwide as one of the best bar brands in the world, the team are at the forefront of the cocktail industry. Australian Venue Co is proud and excited to be a part of taking Death & Co international for the first time.

“Melbourne’s Flinders Lane is a natural first location and Brisbane will be opening soon after beneath the iconic Regatta Hotel. Each bar will capture the essence of Death & Co, but with a local accent.” 

Hero Death & Co Melbourne cocktails include:

• Telegraph (By Tyson Buhler, Death & Co Denver, 2018) – Four Pillars Dry Gin, highlighting Australian native Eucalyptus – Inspired by its namesake gin Martini variation, this chilled serve combines pear, eucalyptus, pine and juniper, evoking an alpine fruit orchard in a glass.
• Sound & Fury (Tyson Buhler, Death & Co NYC, 2015) – El Jimador Blanco, Ancho Reyes, raspberry, red bell pepper, lime – Playing off the unusual but delicious pairing of raspberry and red capsicum, this smokey-riff on the Margarita balances ancho chillies and tequila with bright bursts of raspberry and the red capsicum flavours. 
• Buko Gimlet (By Matthew Belanger, Death & Co LA, 2019) Four Pillars Navy Gin, Cachaca, Coconut, Lime, Coconut, Pandan – A refreshing spin on the classic gimlet, reimaging the Filipino dessert, buko pandan in cocktail form. Aromatic gin distilled with finger limes forms the base, layered with herbaceous cachaça, coconut liqueur, coconut water, and pandan syrup.

The cocktail menu also features Death & Co’s internationally recognised signatures, including the Naked & Famous and Oaxaca Old Fashioned.

Guests can also let the bartenders find a cocktail to suit their mood with Dealer’s Choice. Conversation between the bartender and the guest is core to the Death & Co experience. Through a few questions, the bartender will decipher what type of cocktail the guest is in the mood for and delve into two decades of Death & Co cocktails and classics to select a drink specifically catered to them.

The food offering at Death & Co Melbourne is designed to be paired with the cocktails, with highlights including Gilda (a traditional pintxo cocktail snack), Kingfish (cured with gin botanicals), Chip & Dip (finely sliced tempura vegetables & leaves), Cheeseburger (dry-aged beef patties), Tête de Moine Tart (a modern take on cheese & fruit) and Brillat-Savarin with Apple Tarte Tatin.

The interior of Death & Co Melbourne features plush banquettes, cosy booths, stools perched at the bar, warm tones of burgundy, woods throughout and unexpected pops of florals create a sense of mood and discovery. A highlight of the venue is the Party Pod, a curtained private space for groups of 6, with the option for chef’s selection of nibbles to get started. 

Open seven days a week from 4pm to 1am, there’s seated table service across both levels and walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the evening.

Australian Venue Co is also planning to open a Death & Co venue in Brisbane.