With 13 distinct dining and drinking options, the multimillion-dollar renaissance of the Continental Sorrento is one of leading chef and restaurateur Scott Pickett’s most exciting projects to date. Though each separate space holds its own, none is quite as special as his stunning fine diner Audrey’s.

With touches of brass, pale green velour banquettes and large windows overlooking Port Phillip Bay, it’s a warm, heartfelt homage to his grandmother, Audrey, who loved lobster and seafood.

This memory – combined with the restaurant’s oceanfront setting – inspired the five-course, seafood-dominated set menu. It’s a beautifully delicate and thoughtful offering, pairing Pickett’s childhood nostalgia with touches of modern opulence.

Snacks like bite-size gougère filled with Comté; cod roe crumpets; and kingfish with avocado and nori come on silver platters. Wagyu short ribs are served atop shiitake and endive. Add a serve of lobster with vermouth, scallop and caviar, or the wild venison with white anchovy, which has a sprinkling of cacao nibs.

Dessert is just as lush. The signature showstopper is Audrey’s vacherin, a French meringue inspired by her love of pavlova. It’s filled with spiced rhubarb, apple and ginger, and finished with a touch of gold leaf in what Pickett says is an “example of bringing nostalgia and luxury together in the menu”.

To keep the good times rolling, head downstairs to another of the Conti’s drawcards, Barlow. The lavish late-night speak-easy – and live-entertainment venue – is a nod to the legacy of the hotel’s founder, George Coppin.

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Updated: October 23rd, 2024

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