What to expect when new bar Disuko opens
The rooftop bar opens soon in the iconic Madame Brussels space — here's what to expect.
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Melbourne was sad to see Miss Pearls sell Madam Brussels back in 2021, but this iconic space overlooking Bourke Street is finally getting a new lease on life. Opening later this year, Disuko (which means “disco” in Japanese) will be a cocktail lounge, restaurant and sushi bar inspired by 70s and 80s Japanese nightlife.
“Rooftop bars are an iconic part of Melbourne’s hospitality culture,” says Thai Ho, CEO and Director of MAMAS Dining Group, who have taken over the space and are currently in the midst of renovations. “Madam Brussels was a really important part of that culture as Mebourne’s most iconic rooftop,” Thai says. “We really want to honour that. But because of our own experiences, we want to bring in Japanese elements,” both contemporary and retro, he says.
Much of the inspiration for Disuko comes, Thai says, from his trips to Japan as a child to visit his Japanese aunt there.
“When I was young I used to visit Japan every year,” he tells me, standing amidst the detritus of construction. “I was always in awe of Japanese culture, the cuisine, the hospitality. I’ll always remember what wonderful experiences those were, so that’s the true inspiration behind Disuko. We want to make you feel like you’re in the Tokyo disco era, so the design is retro, with glass bricks and lots of traditional Japanese timber techniques.
“We want to inject that nostalgia and bring in stories from the past,” he says.
Shelves full of vinyl records will feature behind the long inside bar, while a DJ console on the main outdoor deck will be the focal point outside. Out here, table service drinking and dining with a combination of tables and banquette seating will be the main event, overlooked by a cherry blossom tree and lots of greenery, Japanese garden style. And while the table service and seated-only approach inject a more formal element to the venue, Thai stresses that it’s not a restaurant. “Outside will be reserved for walk-ins, and you definitely won’t have to order food,” he says, “but the Japanese-inspired cocktails are a must!”
Those cocktails will of course include plenty of Japanese ingredients like umeshu and yuzu, Thai says. There will be elements of traditional Japanese bartending as well, like ice carving, “but we want to deliver that experience in a more casual, more Melbourne way,” he says. Venue manager Jason Blais is also a certified saké sommelier, so Disuko is sure to have a great selection of Japan’s native rice wine.
Inside, it’s remarkable how spacious it is compared to Madam Brussels. Much of the footprint which was previously back-of-house has been opened up, with a long bar down the side of the room opposite the entrance. The ceilings have been lifted to reveal the underside of the high, peaked roof, and there’s a dining area that will seat around 70 people starting from where the bar used to be. Back here, a dedicated sushi station will have pride of place, offering omakase style service with seats along the bar.
Despite these high-end elements, Thai is adamant that the venue be accessible and not intimidating. But how does Disuko fit into the existing offerings in this part of the city?
“I see us as being a contemporary take on traditional Japanese food and drink,” Thai says. “But it’s going to be more casual, more value-focused, and more accessible than the existing offerings in that space. We want it to be homey and comfortable, like you’ve just wandered into some cozy izakaya off the streets of Shibuya.”
Disuko is hoping to open in November, and will be trading for both lunch and dinner most days so you can make the most of the summer sun. They’re still recruiting for key staff positions as well, so if shaking tins and getting sushi for staff prices on one of Melbourne’s most iconic rooftops sounds like your jam, get in touch.
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Boothby Staff