Time to meet Mjolner, Melbourne. The viking-inspired restaurant and bar from the Speakeasy group (the crew behind Sydney and Melbourne bars Eau de Vie and Boilermaker House and who opened Sydney's Mjolner in 2017) are bringing the meaty, meady times to the old Nieuw Amsterdam site from Wednesday, March 28.

Upstairs is the restaurant, downstairs a bar. As with Sydney, you can expect dramatic trim: an allegedly genuine 1000-year-old viking sword; a whisky decanter crafted for them by a Lord of the Rings weapons maker and animal horns from which you'll be able to drink mead, beer and at least one cocktail.

It's more of a serious restaurant than you've seen from this team. Chef Andrew Wright, who has runs at Vue de Monde and the Point, will produce the menu heavy on rotisserie meats, venison carpaccio; clams and samphire, plus vegetarian options like salt-baked celeriac and bar snacks like the meaty, cheesy booze soaker "tencher", served in a whole loaf of bread.

Ex-Black Pearl bartender Mike Braun heads the bar, which you can add to Melbourne's late-night list, running until 3am on weekends.

Mjolner Melbourne opens Wednesday March 28, Sun-Thu 5pm-1am; Fri-Sat 5pm-3am, Ground Floor, 106 Hardware Street, Melbourne, 03 8393 9367, mjolner.com.au/melbourne