Sunhands is keeping it local. The new kid on the block has transformed Carlton’s Ima Project Café into a sun-drenched corner shop that’s equal parts café, deli, wine bar and general store.
It’s the brainchild of Ishella Butler, Matt Roberts and Nathen Doyle – the veteran hospo team behind much-loved mainstay Heartattack and Vine, and who also count stints at Bar Romantica, Old Palm Liquor and Smith and Daughters (plus many more Melbourne institutions) to their resumes. Wanting to champion their relationships in the area, they created a venture dedicated to the inner-north community.
The relaxed space is sure to quickly become a local hangout, with a diverse offering suitable for all Melbournians. Dine in on dippy eggs or baked ricotta with agrodolce, grab a seasonal salad to go, stock up on homemade pickles and sauerkraut, or pass the time with an outdoor afternoon vino.
Local growers, makers and suppliers are the hero here: Long Paddock Cheese and Sporadical City Mushrooms are stocked in-store; produce from Day’s Walk Farm features across the seasonal menu; Two Hands provides sustainable seafood; and local drops come from Upside Wine, Blood Moon Wines and Beyond The Glass.
The venue’s deliberately neutral and light-filled fitout is complemented by work from local artist Poppy Templeton, while custom plates, vases and wine buckets come from ceramicist Kelly Greenhalgh.
Sunhands operates throughout the day, but plans are underway to add late-night drinking and dining once the space is licenced in the coming months.