One of the most delightful ways to experience Melbourne is through its eclectic bar scene. From hidden speakeasies to rooftop bars with panoramic views, the city is teeming with spots that cater to every taste.
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We sat down with Ilsa Harun, Brand Development Manager to discuss hospitality and her role at The Speakeasy Group.
Hospitality Journey: What do you love about the industry?
I absolutely love how it’s all about the experience! The hospitality industry is all about bringing people together to have a good time with great food and drinks and I love that I get to be a part of that creating that experience for others.
Walk us through your day in a life as a Brand Development Manager at Speakeasy Group.
No two days are ever the same! The best ones are definitely when I’m in a venue surrounded by camera equipment, and tasting the latest food and cocktails that are about to get added to the menu. But most days I’m in the office working editing the content we’ve created, writing social media content and email newsletters, creating digital artworks for upcoming campaigns, updating our websites or deep-diving into the analytics of our marketing systems.
What do you love about your role and working at the Speakeasy Group?
I love how it challenges both my creative and analytical sides to my brain! We’re always looking to make content for our followers that is fun, exciting and true to our incredible brands, but will also convert them into customers, and enjoying the real-life experiences we share online.
What is your favourite Speakeasy Group drink? From what venue and why?
It’s a toss up between the Sea & Shell Martini at Pearl Diver and the Smokey Rob Roy at Eau-de-Vie. I was never much of a martini or whisky drinker before working at the Speakeasy Group, but both of these drinks have certainly changed my mind!
Where would we find you on a day off?
If I’m not at home binging the latest movie or TV show, probably at a restaurant or bar in Melbourne! I absolutely love eating out, and can totally justify it being “market research”.
A huge thank you to Australian Wine List of The Year awards for recognising the hard work of our incredible wine team, led by Sommelier Mark Clemens, and the amazing producers and winemakers we’re lucky to work with.
To everyone who’s dined and sipped with us, this one’s for you! Come raise a glass with us at The Sanderson and celebrate. #WineAwards #TheSanderson #RaiseAGlass 👏🍷
Put a pin on any map and you’ll find delicious dishes to match in Parramatta. Sydney’s geographic centre is also its gastronomic heart, where you can dine your way around the world from dawn to dark, through a gourmet greatest hits of international flavours.
We sat down with Tibo Menut, Venue Manager of Eau-de-Vie Melbourne over a cocktail to discuss hospitality and his role at The Speakeasy Group.
What do you love about the industry?
I love the fact that, working in hospitality, we can relate very easily with others, which means, the industry is very welcoming and everyone supports each other. I really like to work and interact with people.
A day in a life as Venue Manager at Eau-de-Vie
The first thing I do for work is check my email. I also check if there are any events in the week. Check the staff’s shifts and I make sure that everyone is doing their job for the day. Then we run service, we want to make sure everything is good. My management, the staff, and chefs. I want to make sure everything is taken care of. Always communicate with the management team and also the staff, and have a few checkpoints in the shifts to make sure every guest is happy and everything is going right.
What do you love about your role and working at Eau-de-Vie?
It’s a very challenging role, but that’s what’s interesting about it. I have managed several venues before but with Eau de Vie’s standards, it’s definitely very challenging. Because, of course maintaining such high standards in food, service, and drinks is always hard to reach but that’s what I enjoy about it. Embracing the growth that comes with each experience. I really enjoy the interaction with people at Eau de Vie. I like working with people and working with an awesome team. Being a Venue manager can be tricky with some people, there is no direct supervision, which means that no one is directly teaching you and there are a lot of opportunities for learning by yourself.
Favourite drink on the Eau-de-Vie menu? Why?
It’s probably the Smokey Rob Roy, it represents what we really want to do at Eau de Vie in a way where we try to make amazing drinks that is presented in a beautiful way. The presentation of Smokey Rob Roy is one of my favourite presentations at Eau de Vie as well. It may seem simple but It’s a drink that you cannot recreate at home.
Where would we find you on a day off?
I actually love to go to other Speakeasy Venues. Speakeasy has a lot of great venues with people you know which I really enjoy. I love going to bars where I feel welcome and comfortable.
The votes have been counted and we are delighted to reveal the on-premise finalists for the 2024 Australian Liquor Industry Awards (ALIA).
We sat down with Michelle Silverlock, Head Batcher of Nick & Nora’s Melbourne over a cocktail to discuss hospitality and her role at The Speakeasy Group.
What do you love about the industry?
It’s something that I tried in high school, took a job while I was studying, it was convenient, and I really loved it.
I’m working at the CBD right now and I love exploring all the venues nearby. I haven’t worked in the city for hospitality when I was starting, but it’s great to see all the exciting things that everyone is coming up with.
A day in a life as a Head Batcher at Nick and Nora’s
It [Batcher] is not really a position that you hear about, it’s not really a common role. We have a lot of fancy drinks, and all the fancy drinks have plenty of ingredients. I essentially come in during the day to prep everything, get everything ready for the bartender.
What do you love about your role and working at Nick and Nora’s?
Post pandemic, I was scrolling through a job platform, and I found this opportunity, and I’m like, wow! It’s like 9 to 5, Mondays off. Tuesday to Saturday work, no late nights. It just seems like all the fun things I enjoyed about bartending without the late-night work.
I do a bit of cooking like mixing the mousse, for one of our famous cocktail. It’s really fun to get into the trial and error and a bunch of different ingredients to have new drinks for the cocktail of the month.
Favourite drink on the Nick and Nora’s menu? Why?
It’s got to be the Cafe Noir because of the mousse! I just really love that mousse!
Where would we find you on a day off?
I like to spend my days off going out with friends, there’s always another bottomless brunch in the city to try out!
Have your leopard-print jacket and oversized sunglasses at the ready. Nick & Nora’s is a cocktail and Champagne bar that serves magnificent morsels matched with lively libations for party-ready Parra types.
It’s nearly time for the announcement of all the finalists for the 23rd Annual Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards, so we are going to share with you some sneak peeks in the lead-up. Today, it’s your votes for the country’s best Cocktail Bars.
It’s nearly time for the announcement of all the finalists for the 23rd Annual Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards, so we are going to share with you some sneak peeks in the lead-up. Today, it’s your votes for the country’s best Whisky Bars.
