Transport Hotel begins staged redevelopment to court younger Melbourne crowd
Federation Square institution Transport Hotel is undergoing a staged, multimillion-dollar redevelopment aimed at attracting a younger demographic. The venue which incorporates Transport Public Bar, Taxi Kitchen and Transit Rooftop Bar, has operated opposite Flinders Street Station since 2003.
The project is being led by Studio Y, the design firm behind cocktail bar Nick & Nora's and Shane Delia's restaurant Jayda. Rooftop bar Transit has closed for a major refit, with the restaurant and public bar to follow in later stages. Both will remain trading throughout their respective works.
Executive chef and general manager Tony Twitchett said the two-year redevelopment reflects a shift in the venue's customer base: "The reason we're redeveloping the whole Transport Hotel over the next two years is to culturally evolve," he told The Age. "Our demographic has become younger. Hospitality venues have to keep upgrading."
The Age noted the redevelopment comes as Federation Square shows signs of renewed momentum after a difficult stretch. The precinct has faced high-profile closures in recent years, including Karen Martini's ACMI restaurant Hero, Nornie Bero's Mabu Mabu entering liquidation, and Alejandro Saravia repositioning his restaurant Victoria as a function space — compounded by COVID shutdowns and Metro Tunnel construction disruption. Recent drawcards including free gigs, Socceroos World Cup broadcasts, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival's Bakers Dozen, and the opening of Good Nature Hotel on the former Beer DeLuxe site have helped bring foot traffic back, according to the report.
Transport's top floor has been fully gutted and will reopen with two new bars, full weatherproofing and a new palette of deep reds, dark timber and metal. The venue's original piano stage has been removed to make way for additional seating, which Twitchett says will offer city views from every seat in the house.
A revamped music program built around vinyl DJs will push the venue toward a later-night identity, supported by a custom Martin Audio sound system and programming from booking agency WAT Artists.
Twitchett will remain in charge of the menu, shifting away from snack-style, in-and-out fare toward heartier dishes drawing on US and UK influences. While the menu is still being finalised, he expects burgers and gravy-and-cheese-loaded disco fries to feature: "Classic items, but a bit more cheeky."
Cocktails will be developed by bartender and consultant Matt Linklater, who has also created drinks lists for Good Food Guide Critics' Pick venue Zareh in Collingwood and, more recently, Taxi Kitchen downstairs. Linklater's approach favours classic cocktails with unexpected twists, such as a colada made with peach in place of pineapple.
The rooftop bar is expected to reopen in mid-spring 2026.
Jonathan Jackson, 2nd July 2026
