Afloat Is on the Road to Rio

The first sign of winter ending is here. Today, Afloat, the floating bar and restaurant that pops up on the Yarra River next to Flinders Street Station, announced its new theme.

The venue from HQ Group (Her Rooftop, Music Room) operates with a different theme each year. Past versions of Afloat have taken Melburnians to Miami, Mexico, the Turkish Riviera and Capri.

When Afloat reopens on Friday August 29, the team will celebrate 10 years by transforming it into an ode to Rio de Janeiro, albeit one that lifts cultural reference from right across Latin America.

In place of last year’s pizzas and spritzes, there’ll be empanadas, arepas, pastels, crispy prawns and other Brazilian-inspired plates by HQ Group executive chef Paul Dunlop. As for drinks, the group’s head of cocktails Tom Younger, says there’ll be “a lot of guava, passionfruit and açai, as well as watermelon, pineapple and plenty of citrus”. He’s curated a list that includes a Passionfruit Pisco Sour and frozen Pina Coladas.

As usual, there’ll be a stacked calendar of events including salsa classes and a rocking New Year’s Eve party.

Afloat reopens on Friday August 29. Bookings open on Friday August 1.

afloat.melbourne
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