Hot Listed Byrdi, ranked number 35 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2024, has wiped everything off its Instagram account prior to May 30. And if the pop girlies have taught us anything, that can only mean one thing – a new era is here. Enter Ephemera, a temporary rebrand with a more relaxed service style, a bigger focus on wine, and a change in the bar’s cocktail offering. While Byrdi’s lists were high concept, with a small number of drinks designed around
themes as broad as “moment” and as specific as “the autumnal colours of Victoria” or “the unique ways that native flora has evolved to disperse its seeds across Australia”. Ephemera’s list follows a more classical cocktail bar structure. There’ll always be a Martini, for example, though what that Martini is will change constantly. Currently, it’s Onion & Strawberry, a spin on a Gibson that incorporates pickled onion weed, preserved strawberry, tomato umeboshi and cape gooseberries from Wandin Yallock Farms. “It gives our team the freedom
to be highly responsive,” says Luke Whearty, who founded Byrdi with Aki Nishikura in 2022. The wine list, formerly two whites, two reds and two sparkling options, has expanded to include twenty Australian wines, all available by the glass or bottle. And the food offering is now solely focused on snacks such as prawn toast with pepperberry mayo, and Shark Bay scallops with chicken fat and soy sauce. Byrdi always had seasonality at its core, but true to its name, the offering at Ephemera will
be even more fleeting. “We wanted to create something that felt alive and reflective of a particular moment in time,” Whearty says. “Nothing is intended to stay the same for long. Wines rotate, cocktails change weekly and the food offering evolves with what’s available. “It’s also our response to the realities facing hospitality and guests right now. Cost-of-living pressures are real, and people are being more selective about where they spend their money. We wanted to create something that remains thoughtful and exciting, but feels
approachable enough to become part of people’s regular lives, rather than an occasional treat.” Cocktails, formerly $30 each, are now $26; snacks range from $10 to $20 and wines by the glass go for $17 to $24. “By focusing on great wine, snacks, simple pleasures and a constantly evolving drinks list, we’re able to offer a more accessible and affordable expression of Byrdi without compromising on quality or creativity,” he says. He expects Ephemera, which is being pitched as a pop-up, to run until later
in the year, while the team continues to work out what’s next for Byrdi. Ephemera at Byrdi211 La Trobe Street, Tenancy GD075, MelbourneNo phone Hours:Daily 5pm–midnight byrdi.com.au@byrdimelb
Byrdi, Ephemera, bar pop-up, wine list, Melbourne cocktails, Luke Whearty, Aki Nishikura, World’s 50 Best Bars 2024
Wait so they wiped Insta and now it’s wine only? Sounds like a rebrand for people who don’t even like cocktails.
If martinis change weekly then how do you even order it lol. Also “onion & strawberry” sounds like a dare not a drink, but I guess $26 isn’t terrible?
I feel like this is just cost-cutting like they got rid of the “fancy” menu because people are broke. Snacks for $10-$20 and wine $17-$24 = still pricey, just different branding. Also the pickled onion weed part threw me, why is that even a selling point?
They said the cocktails were $30 before and now $26, so that’s 100% a discount to “make it approachable” right? Meanwhile it’s still a pop-up where everything rotates so you can’t even plan a night out. And deleting their Instagram doesn’t mean “new era” it just means they’re bad at social media lol.