African Sky by The Meat & Wine Co

Melbourne’s dining scene is never short on impressive steakhouses, but The Meat & Wine Co’s newest opening brings something more than prime cuts and polished service to the table. Newly opened at 88 Collins Street in the heart of the CBD, the 220-seat flagship is the brand’s 14th Australian venue and its first Melbourne restaurant to embrace the immersive, African-inspired ‘Safari’ design concept.

Known as African Sky, the concept transforms dinner into something of a sensory journey. Designed by international studio COOOP.co, the expansive restaurant takes inspiration from the colours, textures and shifting atmosphere of the African savannah. The centrepiece is an impressive draped ceiling installation, brought to life by theatrical lighting that changes throughout the day and evening, creating the feeling of an evolving twilight sky above the dining room.

It is dramatic without feeling overdone, and from the moment we arrived for dinner, it was clear that this is a venue designed to be experienced rather than simply visited. Warm, atmospheric and undeniably glamorous, the space feels particularly well suited to its Collins Street address, surrounded by Melbourne’s luxury hotels, designer boutiques and corporate headquarters.

The new flagship represents an evolution for The Meat & Wine Co, a brand that has been part of Australia’s dining landscape since 2000. While its reputation has been built on premium Australian steak, its South African heritage remains an important part of the experience, influencing everything from its hospitality philosophy and culinary flavours to the interiors themselves.

Of course, the steak remains at the heart of the menu.

The Meat & Wine Co’s signature steak programme is built around Australian beef from three provenance tiers: Monte grass-fed beef, O’Connor long grain-fed beef and Mayura Station Wagyu. Steaks are cooked over the restaurant’s proprietary high-temperature grill and finished with the brand’s signature basting, a recipe that has been part of The Meat & Wine Co story for 35 years.

For those looking to delve deeper into the world of beef, the AGED Programme offers dry-aged and butter-aged cuts designed to amplify flavour, tenderness and complexity.

But while the restaurant’s name makes its priorities abundantly clear, dinner here is far more than a steak-and-sides affair. The menu draws on the brand’s South African influences with dishes such as Mozambican peri-peri King Prawns and Blackcurrant Kangaroo Skewers, alongside contemporary starters including AGED Wagyu Tartare and Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi. Flame-finished Beef and Pork Ribs, indulgent Truffle Mac ‘&’ Cheese and larger-format sharing plates round out the offering.

There is a pleasing sense of occasion to dining here. Whether you are settling in for a celebratory dinner, entertaining clients or simply looking for a memorable night in the city, the menu encourages guests to linger, share and explore. Classic steakhouse sides and a carefully curated wine offering provide plenty of opportunity to tailor the experience to the table.

No proper dinner at The Meat & Wine Co would be complete without dessert, and the signature Chocolate Fondant provides a suitably decadent finale.

The scale of the new venue also makes it a versatile addition to Melbourne’s CBD dining scene. Alongside the main dining room, multiple private dining spaces cater to everything from corporate functions and client lunches to birthdays and special celebrations. Yet despite seating 220 guests, the African Sky design brings a warmth and intimacy to the space that keeps it from feeling like just another large-format city restaurant.

After enjoying dinner at the new Collins Street location, it is easy to see why The Meat & Wine Co has chosen this address for one of its most significant Victorian investments. The restaurant successfully combines the things Melbourne diners value most: quality produce, thoughtful design, atmosphere and a sense of occasion.

Location: 88 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD

Phone: (03) 9810 6088

Link: https://themeatandwineco.com/melbourne-restaurants/collins-st/