Chef Adam Robinson is looking to shake up King William Road with a new wine bar, Alt, which he says will become the area’s missing link.
“I’m planning to elevate the street’s wine, cocktail and small plates offering. There are a few really good providers there, but there’s definitely scope for something like this on the strip,” Adam says.
“I live in the area and many times I’ve had friends over and wanted to go out for a wine and a nibble rather than a full meal and haven’t been able to find the perfect place. Alt will fit in beautifully with restaurants on the strip like NIDO and ShoSho, where you can head to us earlier to start the evening or after for a great vibe.”
Adam is also the owner of Burnside’s Lockwood General which is known for its great day time vibe and food. Adam will take his knowledge from the past two years of running Lockwood General and inject it into Alt with a night time twist.
“I always wanted to do night trade at Lockwood but haven’t been able to. Alt is a great opportunity to slot in that piece of the puzzle. Now I have the best of both worlds and I have the chance to cement my foot into the night life scene,” Adam says.
The venue which is set to open up next month will have an extensive wine list and also an interesting list of cocktails (designed by Alt’s venue manage, Courtney Price), which Adam says is a Hyde Park blind spot.
On the menu is a cocktail called the Siren Song which is based off a French Martini and is a mix of Ginache and sour pineapple and rhubarb, which plays into the bar’s name which is short for ‘alternative’.
“It’s about looking into things in an alternative way. The love is in the details,” Adam says.
The wine list is also a major drawcard and will be the feature of the interior. The venue will take on a brooding and monochromatic vibe to let the 200-bottle-strong wine wall that’s 7x4m long do the talking.
“I’ve learnt that I used to take the labels on wine bottles for granted, I now know how much goes into the back story of making a label. The black and white interior will let the labels do the talking and it can act as an evolving piece of art,” Adam says.
Other features will be a large timber bar that Adam has been making himself from a 150 year old piece of wood that will act as a communal table. “I love the fact that this tree has lived a long live and now it will be a part of lots of other peoples through this venue,” Adam says.
Local artist Alex Bellas will also paint a mural that will sweep across the wall and ceiling towards the back of the space, where the bar is located.
It wouldn’t be an Adam Robinson venue without a great food menu from the chef.
The venue will focus on small plates that will pair nicely with the considered drinks menu. It will be structured into small plates and snacks that will be priced by item so that you can truly pick what you want to eat without compromise. “It’s essentially seated canapés,” Adam says.
There will be oysters sourced from Kangaroo Island, anchovy crostini which come with Calabrian chilli butter, parsley and fresh lemon, plus miso devilled eggs with Golden Curry Kewpie and Shichimi Togarashi.
“The heart of this venue will be our tangible love for the hospitality industry and those who work in it. Customer service will be a huge focus as well as people who are charismatic and know about the food and wine as a point of difference,” Adam says.
“Essentially we want Alt to be a place you enjoy so much by the time you leave you’re planning your next trip back.”
Alt wine bar
Where: 151 King William Road, Hyde Park 5061
Open: Wed—Thu: 4pm ’til late
Fri—Sat: 12pm ’til late
Sun: 4pm ’til late
Launches: Early June
More info: Click here
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