- Legendary restaurateur Andrew McConnell has revealed plans for his newest Melbourne restaurant: Côte Basque.
- Inspired by the Basque coast in France, the forthcoming diner will take up residence in the space formerly claimed by the Italian venue Becco.
- Details remain thin on the ground, apart from a tentative launch window of winter 2026.
When Andrew McConnell opened the doors of Gimlet – right in the thick of 2020’s Covid lockdowns – it quickly became one of Melbourne’s most popular restaurants, resplendent with golden chandeliers, giant mirrors, and the impeccable service McConnell’s restaurants are beloved for.
Now, the restaurateur has unveiled his next Melbourne venue, set to open in winter and named after a spectacular stretch of French coastline.
After a year of whispers about what would replace Becco at 25 Crossley Street, the lid has finally been lifted on the European grill currently dubbed Côte Basque. McConnell and his longtime partner, Jo McGann, have tapped Vince Alafaci and Caroline Choker of Acme – the design minds behind Gimlet and Apollo Inn – to shape it… and they’re treating the heritage building with respect.
“We don’t have many heritage restaurant spaces in Melbourne, and to have the opportunity to restore the original features in this room is a dream,” said McConnell in a statement.
“To continue its lineage as a restaurant will contribute to the wonderful energy on Crossley Street, re-emerging as one of the great walkthrough laneways in Melbourne’s top end.”
“It’s been both a joy and a challenge reimagining this iconic space to both retain its legacy and evolve it for the future.”
Diners who enjoyed the green terrazzo floors, stepped dining room, customer-favourite bar, and those street-level windows will be delighted to hear they’re all here to stay, in a deft nod to the institution that Becco once was. Capacity? Around 100 inside, with extra seats kerbside for golden-hour spritz-sipping, as well as a private dining room upstairs in the former Bella Vista space.
While further details have yet to be announced, future patrons can expect flame, smoke, and proper European grill energy that’s naturally been filtered through McConnell’s precise vision of produce-driven plates, seafood aplenty, along with the kind of simple-but-surgical cooking the Basque coast is famous for.
McConnell added: “The name references our love of Basque culture and the coastline that bridges the northern Basque region of Spain and the southwest of France. The raw beauty of the region and a bounty of benchmark produce have long been an inspiration for us.”
With restaurant owners across Melbourne having gotten (mostly) over the devastating lull that Covid delivered, Côte Basque promises to bring renewed energy to the city’s hospitality scene. Come winter, Côte Basque it’s almost guaranteed to be the next hot destination for locals and visitors alike.
