For years, Brisbane’s Italian dining leaned traditional: white tablecloths, suited waiters and bold reds from the cellar. Then came the mid-2010s, when “small plates” and share-style menus reshaped the city’s palate. Today, while institutions such as 1889 Enoteca , Otto and Ristorante Tartufo continue to set the benchmark, it’s casual Italian that dominates the local scene. Now, coastal hospitality group Arcade Agency – the team behind Byron’s Light Years , Pixie and The Smoking Camel – is stepping into the ring with its own take on the genre.
Owners Kim Stephen, James Sutherland and Lorenzo Toscani opened Miami’s Bar Monte in late 2024. Now they’re replicating it for Brisbane. They’ve taken a few elements from their Byron Italian, Pixie. “It’s not casual but not formal,” says Stephen. “Bar Monte was a sort of testing ground for us. When we were approached to look at this Brisbane site, we felt the location and demographic were a perfect opportunity.”
The fit-out was designed by Will Rathgeber of Studio Plenty. Rathgeber has reimagined the space that previously housed Euro restaurant Allonda. They have softened a concrete-heavy space with timber finishes, carpeting and booths. A large mural by Nathan Pickering, created in collaboration with Kat Turner and Tommy’s Booze, anchors the space.
On the menu, Bar Monte Miami’s greatest hits are carried over – gnocco fritto with San Daniele prosciutto, vitello tonnato, chicken liver parfait with cherry – while the larger kitchen allows for more rotating specials and an expanded pasta offering. There will also be a barbequed diavola chicken with fermented chilli, pepper sugo and salmoriglio; and a porcini-rubbed bistecca, finished with onion and marrow butter.
The cocktail program will adopt a minimal-waste ethos, like the Caprese – a punch-esque Martini on the rocks made with vodka infused with overripe tomatoes, burrata water, stale bread, basil and olive oil. Around 100 wines round out the drinks list, guided by sommeliers Andrea Martinisi and Lorenzo Toscani.
In classic Newstead fashion, there’ll be laneway DJ sets on Sunday afternoons, blending Arcade’s lively concepts with the familiarity of long Italian lunches. “The DJ will play out towards the courtyard [in front of] this giant mural. It makes sense to bring that atmosphere to the laneway. It’s not something we’ve done before, only because I feel like if you do it wrong, it feels a bit cliche.” Stephen says. “No bloody big raves. Just some nice Sunday afternoon beats.”
Bar Monte will open at 17 Longland Street, Newstead in early September.
@barmonteitalian
Dining and Cooking