Gerald’s Bar stood for 19 years in Rathdowne Street, influencing a whole generation of Melbourne wine bars after it. So when chef Audrey Shaw and husband Alexander Di Stefano nabbed the space in 2026 to open their second restaurant, Bar Carnation, the stakes were high.

Shaw, an architect by trade, balanced old with new by using recycled materials.  The back room is now a bottle shop, complete with an imposing, marble-topped tasting table. The interior’s once cluttered aesthetic has been swapped out for a cool, spare palate of stainless steel and dark timber. Custom-made lighting by Charlie White adds designer drama, while a sizeable floral work by artist Gian Manik has replaced Michael Caine’s swinging London vibe.

There’s a distinct European and Italian bar accent to the menu, with stalwart dishes that are adjusted according to the availability of ingredients. There’s oysters, cured meats, meatballs, a pasta of the day, vitello tonnato, fritto misto and steak frites with house-made, skin-on chips.

Drinks-wise, there’s an emphasis on Italian wines, and a democratic attitude to pricing.Five original and five classic cocktails are given the Bar Carnation treatment too, and all the bases and syrups – tarragon, pineapple gum, fat-washed tequila – are made in-house.