On Tuesday, 23 September, celebrated Queensland operation Fanda Group (Rick Shores, Central, Norté, Sueño, Southside) will open the doors to Marlowe, an elegant Australian bistro in South Brisbane’s vibrant Fish Lane precinct. Housed in a heritage-listed 1938 apartment block once known as the Merivale Flats, Marlowe channels the warmth and charm of its past across a series of intimate dining rooms, bar spaces, and private corners.
“There’s a level of homeliness to the space that informs all aspects of the venue’s philosophy,” says Fanda Group Director David Flynn. “We want Marlowe to embody the same comfort as dropping into a friend’s house, and the same generosity and lavishness as a Sunday lunch at your grandparents’.”
Creating a sense of place was equally essential for Head Chef and Co-Owner Ollie Hansford (Stokehouse Restaurants, Gauge). Marlowe’s menu combines inspiration from vintage Australian cookbooks with staples of contemporary dining, and will evolve regularly in line with Hansford’s hyper-seasonal focus and close relationships with local growers and makers.
Highlight dishes include a prawn cocktail tartlet in shatteringly crisp pastry with classic Marie Rose; braised duck pie on a bed of radicchio jam, with jus poured tableside; yabby-crowned surf and turf; coral trout Wellington finished with a rich caviar butter sauce; and a sweet-and-tangy trifle layered with rhubarb jelly, macadamia sponge and custard.
“It’s a nod to the comforting meals that shaped us, and a celebration of the small, local farmers around us,” says Hansford. “I’m lucky to have locked in five kilos of jumbo yabbies a week from a farm just outside of Gympie, and 20 whole heritage-breed chickens from Joyce’s Gold, too. For many of the producers we’re working with – like Chauvel Wagyu – Marlowe will be the only restaurant in the region they’re supplying.”
A custom-built woodfire hearth by Sam Fraraccio (The Brick Chef) fuels the significant grill offering, while a dedicated raw bar provides front-row views of chefs shucking oysters and carving seafood to order.
Group Beverage Director Peter Marchant’s 200-bottle wine list shows the breadth and brilliance of Australian wine, honouring the timeless appeal of the classics while championing emerging and next-generation producers. Patrons can taste their way through verticals from iconic estates such as Henschke, Grosset, Mount Mary and Shaw + Smith or explore a 35-drop by-the-glass section with an extensive Coravin program. The addition of French Champagne is the only exception to the all-local selection.
On the cocktail front, native ingredients and nostalgic flavours bring a Marlowe spin to benchmark serves. Signatures include a lemon myrtle and eucalyptus highball topped with house-made Mandarin creaming soda, and the Marlowe Martini – a silky blend of Tasmanian gin and macadamia-infused Oloroso.
Following three successful restaurant design collaborations – and a recent win for subterranean Hong Kong dumpling bar Central at the Australian Interior Design awards – Fanda Group has once again partnered with acclaimed Brisbane architecture and interior design practice J.AR OFFICE to bring Marlowe to life. Envisioned by Director Jared Webb, the interiors pay homage to the building’s Art Deco heritage, preserving much of the site’s original character, and respectfully ushering it into 2025 with J.AR OFFICE’s signature modern verve. Retaining the original layout of the four 1930s apartments, the venue unfolds across nine distinct dining and bar spaces, a verdant terrace, and four enclosed sunrooms over two levels. The dining areas envelop patrons in rich walnut timber, polished chrome, curved furnishings, and a palette of sky blue, buttercream and deep crimson.
“There’s real momentum building in Fish Lane, and we’re proud that Marlowe can be part of its evolution,” says Flynn. “With so many great operators already in the precinct, and some of Queensland’s key cultural institutions just a stone’s throw away, Fish Lane is well on its way to becoming one of Brisbane’s premier dining destinations.”
An entirely unique offering from an all-star hospitality lineup, Marlowe is set to be one of 2025’s most anticipated openings.
Marlowe will open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday, 5pm-late, from Tuesday, 23 September.
Lunch will be served Thursday to Saturday, 12pm-3pm, commencing Thursday, 2 October.
Marlowe details:
- Website: www.marlowebne.com.au
- Address: 105 Melbourne St, South Brisbane QLD 4101 ● Instagram: @marlowebne
Image credit: Jessie Prince
