360 Collins: A New Food Hub is Opening in the Heart of Melbourne's CBD

A welcome new addition to Melbourne's cosmopolitan culinary scene, 360 Collins is opening seven in-demand eateries for city workers with a recent multi-million dollar extension of the 360 Collins site, linking Collins Street to a bustling section of Little Collins Street between Elizabeth and Queen Streets.

Hand-picked to provide options which are both delicious and diverse, 360 Collins will house some of the best quality affordable dining options for city workers on-the-go, seven days a week. Taking up residency in the new development are popular food retailers Earl Canteen, Poked, Sushi & Nori, PappaRich, Code Black and the new Billy's Lane - sister venue to Lonsdale St's Little Billy - as well as 8bit's first fully licensed venue, their largest to date. The eateries are opening their doors from June onwards. Two new premium retail concepts will also launch later in the year near the Collins Street entry foyer.

The new casual dining precinct, owned by Dexus Wholesale Property Fund and managed by Dexus, will launch with a week of festivities from Monday 26 - Friday 30 June, delivering special dining offers, tastings and live entertainment to customers daily. Circus Oz will showcase their acrobatic skills with five astonishing lunchtime performances, celebrating the arrival of their new show Model Citizens, playing 20 June - 16 July under the Big Top at Birrarung Marr.

The urban plaza, which can be accessed from Little Collins Street or through the revamped 360 Collins Street foyer, is a spacious outdoor haven hidden amongst the concrete jungle. Consisting of a grassy forecourt and umbrella-covered outdoor seating, 360 Collins is the perfect spot to enjoy a morning coffee, lunch bite, or grab-and-go dinner after a busy day in the office or a day shopping in the CBD over the weekend.

City of Melbourne identified a weekday population in the Melbourne CBD of over 870,000 in their 2016 surveys. With the majority of CBD shopping food courts located east of Elizabeth Street, the western side of the city relies heavily on fast-food retailers which service the 'business end' of town. The 360 Collins tower houses over 2,500 workers and is surrounded by other corporate buildings and offices, creating a need for local and convenient lunch and dinner options, but also an experience which is more than just a food court.

"We identified an opportunity to transform 360 Collins into a meeting place in the CBD for city workers," says Amanda Pieriboni, Head of City Retail Developments at Dexus. "Dining options are generally limited in this part of town, without trekking into the larger shopping centres and when you are working to a short lunch break or late night finish and tight schedule, CBD workers don't have that time to waste."

Working closely with design and architecture firm Bates Smart, architects with a keen focus on urban design projects and who are known for specialising in commercial precincts, Dexus wanted a functional and fresh refurbishment.

"360 Collins sits at the heart of Melbourne's historic banking district and represents a fantastic opportunity to revitalise and enliven an important CBD office space. As one of the last sites in Melbourne with a north facing plaza, 360 Collins Street provides the unique opportunity to relink Collins and Little Collins Street through a welcoming and vibrant lobby and retail plaza filled with natural light," says Julian Anderson, Studio Director at Bates Smart.

The design consideration and finished result saw the plaza enhanced through the provision of new retail food and beverage tenancies, wrapping around the grass lawn to take advantage of the northern aspect. The improved connectivity between Little Collins and Collins Streets, sees the project create a seamless working, social and meeting environment that benefits both the quality of the private space and the immediate urban realm.

360 Collins is set to service the busy workers of the banking district with their selection of food and beverage retailers, ranging from light and fresh to hearty and indulgent, with each retailer offering quality lunch and dinner options that are affordable and quick.

The 360 Collins food and beverage retailers will be out offering customers a chance to sample some of the best dishes available in the new precinct with tasters, limited edition offers and VIP specials throughout opening week from Monday 26 - Friday 30 June.

What: 360 Collins launches precinct of seven eateries, with a launch week of free entertainment from Circus Oz, special tastings and VIP offers. Attendance is free.

When: lunchtime entertainment and tastings from 12:30pm-1:30pm, Monday 26 - Friday 30 June

Where: Between Little Collins Street and 360 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000. Opposite McKillop Street.

Ongoing trading will see the 360 Collins plaza open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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