Melbourne’s La Madonna reborn with Michelin-trained chef serving up caviar spaghetti
Popular Melbourne restaurant, La Madonna has experienced an exciting renaissance with the launch of a new culinary concept taking a French approach to Italian cuisine, courtesy of recently-appointed Italian-born, French-trained Executive Chef Jacopo Degli Esposti.
Bringing his Michelin Star kitchen experience at Restaurant Guy Savoy and Atelier de Joël Robuchon Étoile to Melbourne, talented under-30 Degli Esposti has introduced a menu of traditionally Italian dishes to which he’s applied classical French techniques, with a strong focus on locally-sourced produce.
Highlights of the menu include housemade langoustine (scampi) cappelletti; HarvestStack wild caught fish with Yarra Valley Wandin Yallock Farm tomato consommé and confit savoy cabbage; and spaghetti with Anna Dutch baerii caviar, lemon and French butter.
Other standouts include free-range Loddon Estate duck breast dry-aged onsite in the restaurant; duo of house-baked focaccia and French country-style bread served with both Italian EVOO and French butter; and South Australian spiny lobster tail risotto with Espelette pepper oil.
To complement the new menu, Food & Beverage Manager, Romain Le Quilleuc - also Michelin-trained having worked at Bernard Loiseau in Burgundy, France, as well as hatted Doot Doot Doot and The Dining Room at Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill in Victoria - has curated a 150+ wine list celebrating regions in Victoria, Italy and France.
Also a feature is a “build your own negroni” list of premium gins, vermouth and bitters from Victoria, France and Italy, inspired by the barrel-aging program at the adjacent La Madonna bar.
Set on level three of five-star Next Hotel Melbourne, Curio Collection by Hilton, the dining room strikes a balance of elegance and warmth to reflect the restaurant’s mix of beautifully-plated dishes and approachable European family-style hospitality. Dramatic stone walls and mood lighting combine with curved warm wood finishes and cosy circular banquettes, backdropped by a striking five-metre-drop gold chain mesh chandelier suspended above a spiral staircase.
Venetian-born Degli Esposti is excited to celebrate both sensational seasonal produce and the combination of French and Italian on the plate with this new concept.
”The French and Italian cuisines strike such a nice balance together,” Degli Esposti said. “You have the Italian simplicity of heroing the produce on the plate, with creative flair added through classic French cooking techniques.”
The new La Madonna is designed to cover a breadth of dining, from a delicious solo snack and drink, through to a long and leisurely special occasion dinner with a nine-course Chef’s Tasting Menu for $160 per person on offer.
La Madonna is open for dinner 5pm to late, Tuesday to Saturday. For more information and reservations, visit https://nexthotelmelbourne.com/drink-and-dine/
Next Hotel Melbourne, Curio Collection by Hilton
Rising out of the swanky new 80 Collins Street dining and fashion precinct in Melbourne CBD’s Paris End, is the luxe, art-forward 19-storey Next Hotel Melbourne. Opened in 2021, the 255-room hotel is a city sanctuary quietly exuding sophisticated and cool vibes, with its sleek designer spaces and contemporary art, perfectly balanced with cosy corners, homely furnishings and warm smiles from the team, creating a welcoming atmos akin to that of a chic centre-of-town residence. Slide onto a bar stool overlooking the towering backbar of spirits, tinctures and wooden barrels to enjoy a cocktail, before indulging in French inspired Italian cuisine at La Madonna Bar & Restaurant. A sophisticated sanctuary to work, play and stay, Next Hotel Melbourne joined Curio Collection by Hilton in 2023 as the boutique brand’s first Melbourne property. nexthotelmelbourne.com
La Madonna
Nestled on level three of Next Hotel Melbourne in the city’s Paris end, La Madonna is a modern French-influenced Italian restaurant that blends refined technique with the simplicity of quality produce. The menu features standout dishes like scampi cappelletti, wild fish carpaccio, and caviar spaghetti, alongside a 150+ bottle wine list and a “build your own negroni” menu. Set against a backdrop of moody lighting, curved banquettes and a striking gold chain chandelier, La Madonna offers a warm yet elegant dining experience suited to every occasion, from quick bites to milestone events. nexthotelmelbourne.com/dine/la-madonna-restaurant-bar
