A new two-storey open container bar has opened at the end of Whitehart Lane in the Melbourne CBD. The venue, name Whitehart after the lane it’s located on, is built on a converted car park site.
Created by husband-and-wife team Stephen Johnson and Sabrina Santucci, the containers sit amongst a large recycled steel frame.
In collaboration with local artists Daisylegs, several multistorey visual art installations and wall projections have been created to highlight the urban feel of the venue.
The drinks menu features more than 10 local and international beers on tap, with several more offered in bottles and cans, as well as a selection of Australian and international wines. A rotation of Melbourne food vendors will cater to the space, with Ironbark Artisan Smoked Meats currently on offer along with a number of sides, including vegetarian chilli, green apple slaw and blackened corn with habanero butter and gruyere.
“We had been parking in the old car park located at the end of Whitehart Lane for several years and had often thought the car park was an awesome space that was under-utilised; an opportunity waiting to happen,” said Johnson.
“The space is large yet intimate, industrial but green, outdoors yet undercover, you’re in the CBD yet hidden away and the artwork is world class.
“The idea of a shipping container bar has been with us for a long time. I am a filmmaker and have been fortunate in my life to have lived and travelled around the world. Sabrina is an artist who is extremely passionate about food and has done some serious hospitality work in her time. We have seen some great bars over the years and the thought of creating one of our own always excited us.
“Our aim is to make Whitehart like no other bar experience in Melbourne. I think we’ve achieved that.”
