First Look: Martinis and Falafels Go Together at Nobody’s Baby in South Yarra

With Hot-Listed France-Soir, Le Splendide, Yan and Gracie’s Wine Room, Toorak Road in South Yarra is already a bustling hospitality hub. But newcomer Nobody’s Baby aims to add something different to the mix. “We’re entering without stepping on anyone’s toes,” says co-owner Gustavo Prince.

Prince is behind two quintessentially northside venues: Joe’s Shoe Store and Pizza Meine Liebe, both on High Street, Northcote. His first venture south of the river, Nobody’s Baby is also co-owned with Tim Badura, the former venue manager at Young Hearts. Badura also worked for Prince at Joe’s Shoe Store in 2011 before moving overseas to tend bars in Brooklyn and run a cocktail bar in Tel Aviv.

The new bar – named after the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ song Nobody’s Baby Now – nods to the pair’s shared history. Prince introduced Badura to Cave’s music, and the fit-out, with its minimal yet moody aesthetic – dark timber and jewel tones – feels like a natural extension of Joe’s. They even brought in Julian Beattie, the same builder who renovated Joe’s in 2007.

For Badura and Prince, the design came first and the wine list followed. “We looked at the wood and the warmth and aimed for something textural – [wines] that have a little bit more mouthfeel without being fully natural,” says Badura.

Currently, you’ll find Margaret River chenin blanc, German riesling, McLaren Vale tempranillo and French gamay available by the glass, as well as changing taps with a selection of beverages from local breweries.

But it’s the playful cocktails that take centrestage. The Everybody’s Martini is made with 48-hour parmesan-washed vodka, while the Baby Brûlée – egg, vanilla, lemon, Baileys, crème de cacao, whisky – is finished with a torched-sugar top.

Brunswick’s Very Good Falafel is in residence in the kitchen, going beyond its usual pitas for a small-plate menu designed for drinking. You’ll find whiting with harissa and latkes; sumac-cured sardines with challah; and chicken with hawaij, a Yemeni spice mix, skewered with olives and served with chopped salad, harissa and tahini. Dessert is simple – choose from cheese plates or ice-cream from Luther’s Scoops.

Music is an important part of the venue with vinyl spinning often and DJs every Friday and Saturday. With space for up to 92 spread across the bar, dining area and courtyard, there’s plenty of room to dance, and Badura and Prince are curious to see how locals will make the space their own.

Nobody’s Baby
19-21 Toorak Road, South Yarra
No phone

Hours:
Tue to Thu 4pm–11pm
Fri & Sat 4pm–midnight

nobodysbaby.com.au