Reynold Poernomo’s KOI Dessert Bar Melbourne enters administration
MasterChef favourite Reynold Poernomo’s high-end Melbourne dessert bar has moved into voluntary administration, with administrators now looking for a suitable buyer.
The KOI Dessert Bar outpost on Queen Street, known for its sleek presentation and elaborate sweet creations, has joined the growing list of hospitality closures. It follows the collapse of Poernomo’s Sydney venue Monkey’s Corner in May, which reportedly left nearly half a million dollars in debts, including unpaid tax, according to the Herald Sun.
KOI, which first opened in Sydney in 2017 before expanding to Melbourne, is still trading while administrators weigh up options. Managing director Ronald Poernomo told News Corp: “KOI Dessert Bar has since begun the process of seeking a new licensed retailer to take over the Melbourne location, in line with our commitment to uphold the quality and reputation of the KOI brand. The site is currently under the control of an administrator, who has listed it as a potential franchise opportunity.”
He added that the move “pertains solely to the Melbourne operations” and stressed that Sydney venues at Chippendale and Ryde, along with global collaborations, “remain unaffected”.
For Reynold, the business setback comes as he distances himself from the show that made him a household name. After placing fourth in 2015, third in 2020, and runner-up on Dessert Masters in 2023, he told Yahoo Lifestyle there is “not a chance” he will compete again.
“I can’t just be pigeonholed the whole time on the show,” he said. “It’s time for me to keep growing and keep moving onto bigger things … maybe I might go for Michelin overseas, maybe I might go into the entertainment industry overseas.”
Jonathan Jackson, 19th August 2025
