Melbourne’s The Mulberry Group checks into Hannah St Hotel

This summer, The Mulberry Group will open five new venues inside Hannah St Hotel – Melbourne’s most anticipated hotel opening of the year – creating a rhythm of hospitality that flows from morning coffee and pastry to late-night cocktails and snacks.

The Mulberry Group Founder, Nathan Toleman, has redefined Melbourne’s café landscape through venues like Top Paddock, The Kettle Black, and Higher Ground that helped shape the modern Melbourne dining experience. Today, the group operates Hazel, Dessous, Lilac Wine, Molli, and Heide Kitchen.  With the Hannah St collaboration, he has created a collection of venues that feel unmistakably Melbourne at their core and, in doing so, realized a lifelong dream to bring hospitality, design, and community together under one roof.

“From a young age, I’ve been obsessed with hotels – the excitement of checking in, exploring every corner, and discovering the magic of each space. Some of my best memories are tied to hotels: Ett Hem in Stockholm, Chiltern Firehouse in London, and Chateau Marmont in LA,” Toleman said. “For me, a hotel represents an escape from the outside world – a place where every detail tells a story.”

The quintessential lobby bar has been reimagined at Hannah St. Mulberry Group Founder, Nathan Toleman, with Time & Place Creative Director Edward Pearse and Hannah St Hotel General Manager, Peter Minatsis. 

 “With Hannah St, we wanted to capture that same sense of wonder and excitement, but with a Melbourne heartbeat. A place that feels alive, authentic, and inclusive — not just for travellers, but for locals too.”

The 188-room Hannah St Hotel is set to open this summer and is the latest visionary project from celebrated interior architect David Flack and his award-winning Melbourne-based team at Flack Studio. Renowned for their high-end residential work, the hotel marks a bold continuation of the studio’s expansion into commercial design—one that Flack himself describes as “a career highlight.”

 Hotel General Manager Peter Minatsis welcomed The Mulberry Group’s local know-how and their expertise in creating vibrant culinary destinations, saying the creative partnership with the hotel promised to deliver a fresh, immersive offering that reflected the cultural spirit of contemporary Melbourne.

 “Hannah St Hotel offers more than just a place to stay – it’s an experience that will deliver the best of Melbourne’s cultural identity in one exciting destination,” Minatsis said. “From our locally inspired interiors by Flack Studio to the curated art, food, and design collaborations, every detail is curated to reflect the city’s creative spirit.

Five Venues, Woven into Melbourne Life:
The Mulberry Group will operate five distinct venues under one roof, each designed to reflect Melbourne’s layered food culture while adding something new to the mix. From morning coffee runs to late-night soundtracks, these venues will be seamlessly woven into the rhythm of the hotel and the city beyond.

Hannah St Coffee: Designed as Melbourne’s morning ritual, this hole-in-the-wall café will serve Melbourne-made Square One Coffee, freshly baked pastries, warm cinnamon scrolls, and produce-driven sandwiches and salads.

Coupette Corner Bistro & Bar: From early morning breakfast to long lunches, after-work drinks, and late suppers, Coupette will offer a produce-driven, European-inspired neighbourhood bistro menu with a distinct Melbourne sensibility.

Terrace Lounge: A rooftop venue with sweeping views of Southbank, the Terrace Lounge doubles as a vibrant multipurpose event space and a celebration of Melbourne’s outdoor dining culture – long lunches by day and a sparkling scene of cocktails and music by night.

Bar Hannah: The quintessential lobby bar reimagined as a neighbourhood hub. In the morning, it is perfect for locals and guests easing into their day. From afternoon into evening, Bar Hannah transforms into a plush cocktail bar with an elevated snack menu and curated wine list.

The Carriage Lounge: Elegant, moody, and intimate, The Carriage Lounge is designed as a calm retreat. Whether it’s a pre-dinner glass of wine, a late-night whisky, or an intimate chat, it offers the sophistication of a private living room with the comfort of a favourite local haunt.

Developed by Time & Place, in partnership with construction specialists Hickory, MaxCap Group, and TFE Hotels, the $150 million, 188-room hotel forms part of the landmark Queensbridge precinct – a new mixed-use development designed to breathe new life into Southbank.

Hannah St is also ideally positioned to complement the nearby $1.7 billion Melbourne Arts Precinct transformation and elevate the area’s tourism, hospitality, and cultural appeal.

“Partnering with the Mulberry Group means the hotel’s F&B will be led by a deep understanding of the neighbourhood and what works at a boutique level,” said Time & Place’s Tim Price. “We like the idea of celebrating our state in our menu choices, of being Melbourne in the way our bar works, or our little secret hideaway works.”The Mulberry Group’s new venues are set to open this summer, with more details to be revealed in the coming months.