The Bar Next Door

In May 2016, Naz Mahari and Dawit Kebede opened Mesob in Northcote. They wanted to share their Ethiopian heritage with Melbourne by serving traditional dishes from their upbringing in a space with as much African heart and soul as they could fit inside the building.

The pair plans to open their second venture in late-October. It’ll be called The Bar Next Door, named for its location relative to Mesob.

The two venues are run separately but customers can experience both on the same night in different ways. Food can be ordered at Mesob and delivered next door to the bar. Diners can also BYO meals from other local favourites such as Tahina, Pizza Meine Liebe and Lâm Lâm.

The venue fits roughly 60 people – 40 seated – with high tables near the front entrance and seating around a U-shaped bar. Towards the back of the room there’s a lounge area, large tables for big groups and a courtyard. It has a rustic Ethiopian feel with earthy colours and a dried-grass pergola above the bar.

There’s African beers alongside Australian beer, cider and wines, plus classic cocktails. And Spris, a classic Ethiopian fruit juice that features layers of fresh fruit such as avocado, strawberry, papaya and mango.