Why you goIf it’s been a hot minute since your last visit to Crown, you’ll notice the Southbank casino precinct has changed a bit. One of its freshest faces? Marmont, a California-inspired indoor-outdoor bar and restaurant making a statement right alongside the Yarra River. It’s by DJ and restaurateur Grant Smillie, co-founder of the nearby Ponyfish Island as well as spots-to-be-seen EP & LP and Grandmaster Recorders in Los Angeles, the energy of which he’s bringing home to Melbourne with Marmont. Vibes are high on the vast, greenery-flanked patio, catching the attention of those wandering by on the Riverwalk. It’s the new place to be in Southbank for spritzing and snacking as the sun goes down. As you move inside, it gets a little moodier, with dim lighting and plush booth seating better suited to those dinners where you lose track of time as late-night DJs usher in a party feel that might have you sticking around later than expected. The backdrop to it all? A colourful, 20-metre-long mural that splashes Hollywood’s night of nights – the Oscars – on the walls.
