What do you get when Australia’s best bar meets Italy’s iconic coastal cuisine? Meet La Costa, the new venture by Australia’s number-one bar, Maybe Sammy, and the team behind Salt Meats Cheese and late-night Roman joint, Eterna.
Housing four venues inspired by Italy’s sun-soaked coastline and riviera, the multi-level Fortitude Valley destination is launching the first phase of the venture with two bars (La Costa Bar and Cielo Rooftop) on Friday, December 10, followed by a restaurant and wine bar early next year.
Filling the space vacated by Foresters Restaurant and Altitude Bar (nestled behind the historic facade of 209 Brunswick Street) all four venues in La Costa draw inspiration from the organic layers of the Italian coast (sea, land, and sky), as well as the iconic flavours and lifestyle of the region.
The Maybe Sammy team (World Number 11 Bar (World’s 50 Best, 2020), The Best Bar in Australasia (World’s 50 Best, 2020), Best Bar Team (Australian Bar Awards, 2019) among others!) are behind the beverage menus for the operation, with owners Stefano Cantino, Vince Lombardo and Andrea Gualdi bringing their knowledge of delivering an experiential venue to Queensland for the first time.
“To work again with my life-long friend, Stefano, on a venue that’s inspired by our home and memories is so much fun,” says Salt Meats Cheese, Eterna and La Costa owner, Stefano di Blasi.
“We moved to Sydney together back in 2008 with my cousin Edoardo (Perlo, also an owner of Salt Meats Cheese, Eterna and La Costa) with a dream of bringing the simple pleasures of Italian bars and dining to Australia, and La Costa is just the next step in that journey!”
Upstairs at the inside/outside rooftop bar Cielo (accessed via an internal lift), cocktail culture takes centre stage with the Maybe Sammy team stretching their muscles on a menu of inspired sips featuring the flavours of the region! Stand-out cocktails to sip over summer include the Portofino with Ketel One, mango, passionfruit, maraschino, orange Curaçao, lemon and a tropical bubble, and the Venice Beach combining the classic strawberry daiquiri and piña colada.
Alongside the world-class cocktails, a selection of champagnes, wine and spirits are on offer, with a seafood-focused menu featuring octopus carpaccio with fried capers, kingfish ceviche with shaved fennel, grapefruit and dill, and prosciutto, bocconcini and honey en croute perfect for summer rooftop snacking.
The bright, breezy ground-level venue, La Costa Bar, pays homage to the golden age of boozy coastal holidays with fine spirits, classic cocktails, plentiful champagne, and Italian wine varietals on offer. Here, the Maybe Sammy team’s cocktails include the Mango Coffee Margarita with Calle 23 Blanco tequila, Mr Black Coffee Liqueur, mango and lime.
With a small but satisfying food menu inspired by aperitivo culture, guests can enjoy house-made antipasti including DIY tapas boards and small plates like parmesan fries and crab bruschetta alongside their drinks, with live music and DJs bringing the beachy atmosphere.
To enter the new year with a bang, Cielo will be throwing a New Year’s Eve event set to transport guests to the Amalfi Coast, with booth packages and general admission from $195, including a four-hour beverage package, canapés, and live entertainment. Tickets to Cielo’s event can be purchased here, while La Costa Bar will be open to the general public on New Year’s Eve.
La Costa Bar will open Wednesday-Sunday and Cielo Thursday–Sunday weekly. The La Costa Restaurant and an all-day wine bar that complete the La Costa family are due to open late January, 2021.
La Costa Bar and Cielo Rooftop Bar
Opening Friday, December 11
209 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
La Costa Bar
Wednesday to Friday: 6 am-2 pm | 5 pm till late
Saturday and Sunday: 7 am-2 pm | 5 pm till late
Instagram | Facebook | Website
Cielo
Thursday: 11 am-12 am
Friday and Saturday: 11 am-2 am