Hotel Sorrento unveils sexy rooftop bar in time for Christmas

A breezy new rooftop bar is checking into Melbourne’s summertime playground this week — boasting impressive bay views, an ocean of seafood platters and champagne.

Hotel Sorrento director Myles Pitt and executive chef Beth Candy are launching their new rooftop bar. Picture: Kate Shanasy

Rooftop bars in Melbourne come with their share of climatic challenges, but Myles Pitt didn’t think it’d be an issue in breezy Sorrento.

“When we had our first rooftop bar five years ago … we realised we weren’t capitalising to its full potential from a weather perspective,” he told Kitchen Confidential.

After realising the city’s summertime playground was susceptible to Melbourne’s ‘four seasons in one day’ trope, the Hotel Sorrento director and the team now have a sharper vision for the space.

Expect plenty of seafood on the menu. Picture: Kate Shanasy

The all-weather space will be a hit with holiday-makers and locals. Picture: Kate Shanasy

The rooftop reno is part of Hotel Sorrento’s five-year development plan. Picture: Kate Shanasy

“This new addition is double the footprint and is an all-season, weatherproof area — no matter the conditions, we can accommodate any style of event,” he said.

The Pitt family are three years into their ambitious five-year plan to turn the 152-year-old hotel into a “Gold Coast weekend escape alternative” for beach-hungry Melbourne folk.

“We saw the appetite for guests and they love a rooftop. We’ve enabled the space to have incredible views of Port Phillip Bay and surrounds,” he said.

The first stage of the revamp came with a new-look hospitality offering, shaped by celebrity chef George Calombaris in 2022, followed by the development of wellness spaces, pool and luxury accommodation last year.

Earlier this week the new-look rooftop, inspired by sun-kissed St Tropez beach clubs, and New York-inspired speak-easy Salt reopened after a schmick revamp.

A new corporate wellness centre which includes a rooftop wellness space for yoga and meditation and lobby is also slated for 2025.

Expect bay views and good times on the rooftop. Picture: Kate Shanasy

Pitt confirmed star Greek chef Calombaris was no longer consulting for the hotel, with ex-Montalto chef Beth Candy moving in as the resident executive chef in February this year to oversee the hotel’s nine foodie spaces.

“She’s really thriving,” he said.

“Her food is ideal for sharing — and it compliments having a drink. It’s not heavy, more clean and seafood driven. Think lobster brioche rolls with watercress, pizzas, crudo.”

Hotel Sorrento Rooftop, 5/15 Hotham Rd, Sorrento, Mon-Sat from 12pm till 11pm, hotelsorrento.com.au