ue de Monde’s move to the Rialto last year freed up the space in Normanby Chambers to allow Bistro Vue to spread its wings and enhance its own identity. Bistro Vue sat behind the more formal restaurant, its two rooms dressed with an old-school French bistro elegance, and while that sensibility is alive and well, the extension of the front section to include a long bar and more dining areas has allowed Bistro Vue to evolve in character.

“Vue de Monde left a big, gaping hole that meant we could give Bistro Vue some of the things it really missed in being contained in its previous space,” says Vue de Monde group general manager Anna Augustine. The main feature is the addition of the long zinc-topped bar, which acts as an anchor for thoughtfully placed antique pieces – authentic Parisian wine carriers, baskets and buckets from Andrew Wilson in Prahran sit among enormous vintage posters from Sam at vintagepostersonly.com – giving an equally luxurious and eclectic feel.

“We’ve always fought against Bistro Vue being the second Vue de Monde or the dumbed-down Vue de Monde,” explains Augustine. “We’ve always wanted it to have its own identity so people don’t even think about Vue de Monde when they’re at Bistro Vue.”

Indeed, in the five years since Bistro Vue opened, it has nurtured a culture based around familiarity, tradition and quality, where customers return to eat there regularly and in some instances, have their preferred table. The new look Bistro Vue will only continue to grow this culture, giving diners a home away from home.

Bistro Vue
Normanby Chambers 430 Little Collins Street
(03) 9691 3838

Hours
Mon-Sat 11am–11pm

bistrovue.com.au