For some reason, SoHo-style abbreviations for areas never really caught on in Melbourne. Trust us, we tried. But we’re living in a city that’s made for this type of abbreviation. Case in point: Ella. Ella is where Elizabeth Street meets La Trobe Street, and it’s also the name of an entertainment and dining precinct right next to Melbourne Central.
Launched in May 2019, Ella takes inspiration from the offerings you usually find in some of Asia's train stations. It spans about 2,500 square metres, with its biggest drawcard being the food offerings.
There’s Colour Bowls, an offshoot of South Yarra’s popular restaurant Atlas; the Pad, a new concept from Collingwood Thai restaurant Son in Law; a new outpost for Dainty Sichuan; premium sushi from Sushi Club as well as deep-fried Korean chicken from Sam Sam. Two former residents of the Melbourne Central thoroughfare, Chilli Everest and Ajisen Ramen, have stuck around as well.
Reverie Café and Desserts is owned by French pastry chef Pierrick Boyer and is the resident coffee shop inside Ella. Independent bottle shop Blackhearts and Sparrows is there for both your takeaway and dine-in drinking needs, plus Australia's first Aojo store (where they turn around prescription eyewear in 30 minutes).
But it’s not all about the food. Ella hosts regular live music gigs, has a regularly changing graffiti mural and is home to the second outpost for hospo co-working space Worksmith. Worksmith founders Michael Bascetta and Roscoe Power were actually the tenant curators of Ella.
You can find Ella at the corridor between Melbourne Central and the Melbourne Central Tower.
