Already home to Shane Delia’s iconic modern Middle Eastern restaurant Maha, the Bond Street laneway in Melbourne’s CBD has welcomed a new and elegant sister venue, Jayda.
Named after Delia’s daughter, the opulent cocktail bar is accessed through the ground floor of the art-deco Alkira House and is a welcome theatrical addition to what can sometimes be a quieter part of the CBD.
Cocktails are the focal point, with a bespoke list of eight considered cocktails imagined into existence by award-winning mixologist Orlando Marzo. Delia’s favourite is the Strawberry Cream Negroni, made using an unlikely but lip-smacking mix of rosehip, blackberry leaves and dehydrated yoghurt. The wine list is crafted from Maha’s very own cellar, featuring the likes of a Ngeringa Pinot Noir 2021, Wine Farm Chardonnay 2019 and Dom Perignon 2012.
Head chef Daniel Giraldo (Maha, Maha East and Maha Bar) worked closely with Delia to create the considered menu, which is presented simply into five sections designed to be eaten together: raw, snacks, more, sweet and cheese.
On the raw menu, expect hand-shucked oysters and Oscertra Caviar, before moving over to snacks such as spiced lamb, garlic and Aleppo pepper cigars with date jam and almonds, and Ortiz anchovy and za’atar. The more substantive items on the menu are perfect for a late-night feed, featuring Maha’s signature slow-cooked lamb shoulder served with a side of crisp shoestring fries.
As for the sweets menu, choose from peach and ginger, tahini and lemon, or mango and Iranian lime ice cream dipped in a rich chocolate sauce. If you’re just after something to snack on while you sip, the cheese menu features a selection of local and imported cheeses served with lavosh, quince and date jam.
The interiors are everything you’d expect from a lavish cocktail bar, though done tastefully and with a nod to old-school cigar lounges: black marble, art-deco lounges, dark stained parquetry flooring and brass details. From the moment you step inside, it’s clear that this will soon become a go-to spot for sinking into a cosy corner with a cool drink in hand, and perfectly paired snacks at the ready. Jayda offers walk-ins from 4pm until late.