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RODD & GUNN UNVEILS FIRST PHASE OF GLOBAL FLAGSHIP

Rodd & Gunn

A subterranean Cellar and immersive retail floor anchor the flagship’s debut, blending Melbourne’s heritage with

Rodd & Gunn’s signature craft.

 

Rodd & Gunn, the leading New Zealand brand renowned for its refined style and hospitality, is thrilled to unveil the first chapter of its most ambitious project yet – the opening of the lower levels of its global flagship at 280 Little Collins Street, Melbourne.

 

The first phase, opening Friday 3 October, invites guests to experience the ground-floor Rodd & Gunn retail store and the lower-ground Cellar Retail & Caffetteria. Upon descending into The Cellar, visitors are immersed in a moody, contemporary retreat where oversized checkerboard floors, bluestone laneway walkways and intimate booth seating pay homage to Melbourne’s rich heritage while offering a refined new destination to linger and explore.

 

Here, Michelin-starred Executive Chef Matt Lambert and Head Chef James Evangelinos serve up an Italian-inspired menu that’s equal parts refinement and revelry. Decadent handmade pastas, from silky mafaldine tangled with wild boar ragù and pecorino, to delicate lumache crowned with spanner crab, brown butter and tarragon, and rich paccheri a la vodka, entice alongside vibrant antipasti and aperitivi made for sharing. Think golden gnocco fritto draped with prosciutto di Parma and blistered shishito peppers kissed with orange and chilli - the perfect prelude to a wine-soaked lunch or an afternoon of effortless grazing.

 

For Lambert, his philosophy to curating a perfect menu is simple, “it’s not about reinventing tradition, but about consistency, respect for produce, and creating dishes that feel both primal and luxurious. For me, success is when the food feels effortless – where a plate of pasta or a glass of wine can carry as much weight as a ten-course menu because it’s made with care, balance and a sense of place. That’s what we’ve tried to capture in the Cellar.”

 

At the heart of The Cellar lies a first-of-its-kind Cocktail Laboratory, helmed by trailblazing mixologist Matt Bax - the creative mind behind Melbourne’s cult favourite Bar Americano. Outfitted with rare distillation and infusion apparatus, the Lab gives Bax and his team the freedom to push boundaries and play, conjuring bold new flavours far from the constraints of service. The result is a cocktail list as daring as it is elegant - from a house-made limoncello margarita laced with tequila and mezcal, to a sunlit seasonal spritz distilled from mandarins and Prosecco, and a velvet-smooth mocha martini. Each creation is meticulously designed to harmonise with The Cellar’s menu, elevating the experience into a seamless symphony of food, flavour and theatre.

 

“The Laboratory allows us to explore and refine ideas without compromise,” says Bax. “We can distil mandarins at the height of the season, test new vermouth blends or create infusions that add depth in unexpected ways. Here, cocktails are not an afterthought, they sit at the very centre of the experience.”

 

Complementing the avant-garde cocktail program is a wine list curated by Cameron Douglas - New Zealand’s only Master Sommelier and one of just over 300 in the world. Douglas has curated a offering that celebrates heritage and storytelling, with every pour evoking a distinct sense of place. The Melbourne list celebrates Victoria’s most renowned regions - from the cool elegance of the Yarra Valley to the coastal charm of the Mornington Peninsula and the rich, sun-warmed soils of Heathcote - while more than twenty boutique New Zealand producers, available exclusively at The Lodge, bring a rarefied edge. Guests can also wander The Cellar’s collection of global gems, from a pale, ethereal Provence Rosé to a crisp Rías Baixas Albariño. As Douglas puts it, “Wine is memory, it’s connection, it’s discovery. Every glass at The Lodge carries a sense of place — whether it’s the vineyards of New Zealand or the terroir of Victoria.”

 

Proudly on display within The Cellar is the Rodd & Gunn Wine Collection - the brand’s own exclusive label and a bold new chapter in its legacy of craftsmanship. Conceived as an extension of Rodd & Gunn’s timeless ethos, the collection showcases wines from New Zealand’s most renowned regions: the bold, layered elegance of a Central Otago Pinot Noir, the bright, chiselled character of a Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay, and the vibrant freshness of a Marlborough Rosé. Each bottle has been meticulously selected and blended in collaboration with leading winemakers, offering a tasting journey that carries Rodd & Gunn’s signature commitment to quality from the wardrobe to the table.

Above The Cellar, the ground-floor Rodd & Gunn retail space represents the heart of the brand — and the perfect place to wander after lingering over a glass of wine. Corniced plasterwork, marble joinery and heritage-inspired balustrades meet modern product displays and warm aromatic timbers, creating a space that feels both relaxed and elevated.

 

With the opening of the Cellar and retail floor, Rodd & Gunn sets the stage for Melbourne’s newest destination. One where fashion meets food, wine and craft in equal measure. The Cellar Retail & Caffetteria and Rodd & Gunn retail store open Friday,  October 3, with the upper levels – the Members’ Bar and Dining Room – to follow later in early November.

 

Sip. Savour. Shop.

 

Imagery can be found HERE

 

Key Dates:

Rodd & Gunn Retail Store and Cellar Retail & Cellar Caffetteria – 3 October 2025.

Member’s Bar and The Lodge Dining Room – early November 2025.

 

Bookings are now open to experience the Cellar from Monday, 6 October.

@roddandgunn @thelodgebaranz      www.roddandgunn.com/au

 

ABOUT RODD & GUNN NEW ZEALAND

A proud Kiwi brand established in Auckland, New Zealand, with an ever-growing global presence, Rodd & Gunn has earned a reputation for crafting timeless garments that are made to last. From the fabrics sourced, to the techniques used to construct clothing, quality is the undercurrent that buoys us as a brand. Rodd & Gunn have accrued international acclaim for its classic collections of unrivalled quality, with authentic sustainability innately at the core of all production practices.

Rodd & Gunn’s global retail footprint comprises of 208 first stores/concessions and outlets across New Zealand, Australia, America, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Italy & Denmark. This is accompanied by a growing number of concessions across the globe, including Europe’s largest department store Galeries Lafayette, Denmark’s ILLUM, Hong Kong’s Sogo, Singapore’s Takashimaya, America’s Bloomingdales and Macy’s, and United Kingdom’s John Lewis, Fenwick and Morelys.

 

ABOUT THE LODGE GROUP

The Lodge Group by Rodd & Gunn is a pioneering concept that redefines experiential retail by uniting fashion, food, and wine under one roof. Rooted in the brand’s proud New Zealand heritage, The Lodge Group offers a uniquely elevated lifestyle experience where craftsmanship and hospitality converge.

The Lodge Group's mission is to meld fashion and food into a uniquely elevated experience.

From the shores of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown to Auckland’s Commercial Bay, Brisbane’s James Street and Melbourne’s Little Collins Street, each Lodge destination brings the spirit of Rodd & Gunn to life. Guests are invited to explore the latest collections before savouring refined dishes and curated wines, delivering a holistic experience that reflects the brand’s timeless quality and connection to nature.