News
Byblós Brisbane, reimagined and redesigned, reopens in October at Portside Wharf
3 October 2024
Brisbane icon Byblós will celebrate a full building renovation and new menu when it reopens at Portside Wharf in October 2024, as it recommits to a new era of Lebanese dining after 18 years at the premier riverside location.
Byblós launched onto the Brisbane dining scene in August 2006 as the first restaurant of Lebanese brothers Adonis and Nehme Ghanem, who went on to establish the award-winning Ghanem Group. The Group now
includes ten restaurants in Brisbane and Melbourne, including Lúc L.c which is coming to The Star Brisbane.
The Brisbane family pioneered Lebanese dining in the city when patriarch Antoine Ghanem and his wife Adrienne opened Café Violette in Brisbane’s West End in 1978 and Chez Laila at South Bank in 1992.
The family is now bringing contemporary Lebanese food to Brisbane following a research trip in 2023 to their home country, where they were inspired by the vibrant, modern Lebanese cuisine. Research trip participants
included Adonis and Nehme, their cousin and Ghanem Group CEO Vianna Joseph and Ghanem Group Executive Chef Jake Nicolson.
Ms Joseph explains there is much family sentimentality around their treasured Byblós.
“We could not be more excited for the next ten years at Portside Wharf as we introduce a more modern Lebanese concept to Brisbane diners,” Ms Joseph says. “We were blown away by the contemporary cuisine back home, and have been inspired to add more complex layers, introducing further depth to the cuisine at Byblós, which we know Australian diners are ready for.”
“We’ve retained the very essence of our beloved Byblós – generous hospitality, the exuberant culinary experience, and group conviviality – and have bolstered it with inspiration from the modern, elevated dining brilliance found in Lebanon today.”
The Byblós drinks offering will continue what it is renowned for: fabulous and fun cocktails, a broad spirits list and a strong international wine cellar. In addition, new twists will also shine through signature classics such as
Lebanese Lemonade.
In recreating the Byblós dining experience, the entire interior layout has been re-imagined to create a singular open dining and bar space with plush seating, dining booths and private nooks. The interior opens via bi-fold
glass sliding doors onto an expanded, fully weather-proof, riverfront alfresco space with lush plants creating an oasis-like atmosphere.
A luxe interior vibe by Space Cubed Design Studio captures the essence of the cuisine’s legendary past, yet also infuses fresh energy into the dining experience. Space Cubed Design Studio Associate Interior Designer Jill
Chilton explains that it was important that the evolution of the interior aesthetic kept pace with the exciting fresh incarnation of the Lebanese menu.
“The rich history of Lebanese culture and cuisine underpins the interior aesthetic, strongly influenced by elements of the world heritage site – the ancient city of Byblós,” Ms Chilton says.
“Sand-like textural rendered walls mimic the qualities of the desert terrain, sculptural dining booths with their forms inspired by the Phoenician alphabet are centrally situated in the now voluminous dining space, among
small and larger table settings, and the façade has been opened up to maximise views and connection to the waterfront.”
Textural marble slabs, with beautiful grain patterning, adorn the newly relocated monolithic bar, complemented by patinated brass, and aged mirror accents. Stepped arches dominate the monumental back bar clad in buttery Alabastrino travertine, and terracotta toned earthen render, and woven artworks boldly combine with Tyrian purple hues.
More Information: Website Byblósbar.com.au | Instagram @Byblósbrisbane | Facebook @Byblós
Media Enquiries: Sass Communications, Director, Rachel Lebihan | [email protected].