Coming Soon: Purple Pit, a “Dark and Romantic” Basement Cocktail Bar From Two Hospo Heavyweights

Two big names in the Aussie food and drink scene, Joe Jones (founder of Romeo Lane) and Maurice Terzini (the restaurateur behind Sydney stalwart Icebergs Dining Room and Bar) are joining forces to open Purple Pit, an intimate cocktail bar in the basement of the neo-gothic Queens & Collins building underneath one of the year's other big openings, Reine and La Rue.

Opening in early December, it's inspired by Europe’s grand hotel bars – think Harry’s Bar in Venice and the American Bar in The Savoy London – and will serve modern and classic Euro-style cocktails, and late-night-friendly drinking food.

“It’s a collaboration between myself and my dear friend and partner Maurice Terzini that emerged years ago from our joint adoration for both classic linen-clad hotel bars and really divey clubs with great music and purposeful drinks,” Jones tells Broadsheet. “Not unlike my last venue [Romeo Lane] it’ll be dark and romantic with table service.”

It's the pair's first Melbourne venue since they opened the short-lived trattoria Cucina Povera Vino Vero with chef Joseph Vargetto in 2022, which closed after a month of service.

The drinks menu – which will be regularly updated – is set to star pours such as the Ticket to Ride, a half-Martini with 90 millilitres of champagne, served up on a silver platter alongside a spoonful of caviar crowning kochu (taro) crème fraîche.

There’s also a Bellini that steers less sweet than your average, with peach essence and burnt honey vodka spiking the fizz, a Dark and Stormy, with rich Bermudan rum and fresh lime finished with cold pressed ginger and chamomile beer, and the Emerald City, a highball made using a house-made jasmine spirit with lemon, sherry and green apple soda.

“It’ll very much be a venue [centred] around cocktails,” says Jones. “If you’re familiar with any of my old work, you’ll know what you’re in for... Eurocentric, fairly minimal and easy to enjoy with the occasional vogue ingredient thrown in.”

The food menu is described as “champagne food” – expect calzone with a selection of fillings, a tomato tartare brushed with shio koji giving a texture like dry-aged beef, and a sharp and acidic tuna loin.

Terzini’s passion for pairing food with music will shine through in a closely curated post-punk soundtrack, as well as music programming that’ll span everything from DJs playing electronic beats to jazz trios.

“We want it to be a fun place that includes everyone,” says Jones. “Somewhere that you could feel comfortable, be it ordering a bottle of Krug, or a shot of Jack Daniels – the two aren't mutually exclusive, by the way – and be served with the same sense of gusto.”

Purple Pit will open at 376-390 Collins Street, Melbourne in early December.

purplepitbar.com