Inside the swanky homes of Melbourne’s top restaurateurs
Hospo royalty behind some of the city’s favourite dining haunts have been making big property moves after a tough 18 months for the industry. Step inside their stylish multimillion-dollar pads.
Hospo royalty behind some of Melbourne’s favourite dining haunts have been making big property moves after a tough 18 months for the city’s restaurant owners.
The Zagame family set a new Brighton record with the sale of their flashy waterfront mansion in a mega more-than-$25m deal a month ago, while the owners of CBD Greek institution Stalactites collected close to $10m in June for their ultra-stylish Toorak pad.
Peter Bartholomew, an investor behind the likes of MoVida, Lee Ho Fook and Rosa’s Canteen, has listed his slick Spring St dining district apartment, as the Donnini family — of Donnini’s on Lygon St — sold in Carlton North on July 31.
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Meanwhile, Lune co-owner Cameron Reid has just served to market his stylish Coburg family home as he takes the world-famous croissants to Brisbane.
The mid-year rush of action for key city hospitality players follows the standout sale of Shannon Bennett’s Lansell Rd, Toorak, mansion for more than $23m in February.
Nicole Papasavas and Lazaros Papasavas, Stalactites
8 Irving Rd, Toorak
SOLD: About $9.9m
The family behind CBD Greek institution Stalactites earned a mega price for their Toorak pad, selling for close to $10m on June 11 to Melbourne buyers, according to an industry source.
Title documents revealed Nicole Papasavas and Lazaros Papasavas — who own the Papasavas Group that runs Stalactites — as the property’s owners.
The luxury four-bedroom residence, which was built by the family four years ago, is believed to have sold at the top of its advertised $9m-$9.9m range.
RT Edgar agent Max Ruttner refused to comment on the sellers’ identity or the price when contacted, but said earlier the vendors were selling to upsize.
Stalactites has long been a popular haunt for Melburnians, holiday-makers and late-night revellers since it opened its doors in 1978.
The home was designed by award-winning architect Rob Mills on a 535sq m block.
A sitting room with a marble-lined gas fireplace, kitchen with a striking marble bench, butler’s pantry, and a self-cleaning ionised outdoor pool are among the highlights.
There’s also a parents’ retreat with a dressing room and marble ensuite, while soaring high ceilings accentuate the spaciousness of the home’s stylish living areas.
There is also a private gym, basement parking for four cars, lift access across the home’s three levels and a rooftop terrace with gorgeous views of the surrounding area.
27-29 Kent Ave, Brighton
Antoniette Zagame, Zagame’s
SOLD: $25m-$27.5m
The lavish beachfront mansion of the family behind Melbourne’s popular Zagame restaurants set a massive new Brighton house price record a month ago.
Industry sources say the luxury five-bedroom pad with spectacular city and bay views at changed hands within its $25m-$27.5m price guide to a Melbourne buyer.
The result easily topped the blue-chip suburb’s previous residential record, held by 39 Seacombe Grove, Brighton, which sold for $22m in 2015, according to CoreLogic.
A title search named Antoniette Zagame as the property’s owner.
Mrs Zagame is the wife of the late Victor Zagame, who launched his first venue, The Albion Charles Hotel, in Northcote in 1971.
Since then, the family’s business has expanded into a hotel and hospitality empire that includes Zagame restaurants dotted throughout Victoria as well as the 97-room Zagame House hotel in Carlton and a 4-star hotel and casino in Vanuatu.
Mr Zagame died aged 77 in 2017, and the couple’s sons, Victor Jnr and Robert Anthony, now run the family business.
The glamorous pad with a huge pool has an elevator for easy access across all three levels.
Massive internal living spaces, a marble staircase with artisan iron work, two double garages — one of which has a marble floor — two home offices, a garden wing, and automated controls for the lights and blinds are other luxury inclusions.
Level 10, 51 Spring St
Peter Bartholomew, MoVida, Lee Ho Fook and Rosa’s Canteen
LISTED: $7.5m-$7.9m
Restaurateur Peter Bartholomew has listed his swanky CBD pad for $7.5m-$7.9m.
The Level 10, 51 Spring St abode is smack bang in the heart of the city’s drinking and dining precinct – and within walking distance of some of the serial restaurant investor’s popular eateries, including MoVida, Lee Ho Fook and Rosa’s Canteen.
The three-bedroom apartment spans an entire level of the high-end high rise, designed by acclaimed architect Nonda Katsalidis.
A yoga room, wine cellar, garden room, and library adjoining the private lobby are just some of the luxury inclusions.
There’s also an “evening retreat” zoned separately from the huge open-plan dining, living and formal sitting area.
West, south, east and north-facing terraces have sweeping views of Parliament House, the Royal Exhibition Building, the Old Treasury, and Fitzroy and Treasury gardens.
Bartholomew also owns the Wanted Man winery in Heathcote and has invested in a vineyard on the edge of Beechworth Gorge with his partner, Donna Pelka, and vigneron Mark Walpole.
Expressions of interest for the apartment close August 9.
34 Lascelles St, Coburg
Cameron Reid, Lune
LISTED: $1.15m-$1.25m
Lune co-owner Cameron Reid is selling his Coburg family home as he takes the world-famous croissants to Brisbane.
His sister, Kate, first set up the popular pastry business in 2012, which is now renowned for its buttery treats – and the lengthy queues they attract.
After conquering Melbourne’s food scene with Fitzroy and CBD stores, the siblings and cafe entrepreneur Nathan Toleman opened the doors to a line of hundreds at Lune’s new Queensland location this week.
As part of setting up shop interstate, Mr Reid listed his two-bedroom California bungalow at 34 Lascelles St with $1.15m-$1.25m price hopes.
The unassuming facade hides a modern renovated interior with original fireplaces and period charm.
“We were going to go back and forth from Melbourne and Brisbane, but with all the lockdowns, we decided we just couldn’t risk getting stuck somewhere – I’ve got a young daughter and a wife who is pregnant,” Mr Reid said.
“There’s a lot to miss about Melbourne, but we are really excited to be up here.”
An open-plan living and dining area features a wall of glass windows and bi-fold doors that open to a spacious deck, flanked by a lush garden with a lawn.
The kitchen, with a Smeg cooker, was another of the home’s highlights – but Mr Reid said he “tried not to go anywhere near the oven” when he wasn’t at work.
“My wife and daughter were often in there with varying results depending how much my daughter got involved, I don’t think she is ready for a job a Lune just yet,” he noted.
The property, heading to auction on August 28, also includes a studio at the rear the Reids converted to a gym amid last year’s lockdowns.
43 Lansell Rd, Toorak
Shannon Bennett, Vue de monde
SOLD: More than $23m
Celebrity chef Shannon Bennett and former partner, actor Madeleine West, made an at least $7m windfall after selling their luxurious Toorak mansion for more than $23m in February.
The five-bedroom, four-level house with a pool attracted interest from 15 groups with budgets beyond $20m, with sources indicating the home sold well beyond its $21-$23m price guide.
On one of the well-heeled suburb’s most vaunted streets, it sold in less than two weeks.
Bennett, famed for his role as Rialto-top restaurant Vue de monde head chef and regular TV appearances on shows like MasterChef, and West, who has starred in films and TV shows including The Wrong Girl and Neighbours, split about a year after buying the house in 2017.
With a $16m purchase price, a renovation between sales overseen by the pair helped add at least $7m to the home’s value.
Marshall White’s Marcus Chiminello brokered the deal for the home, which was previously owned by publican millionaire Mazen Tabet.
The house features a 10-car garage, home theatre, gym, library, kitchen updated with Miele appliances by brand ambassador Bennett, and a rooftop garden with a second kitchen.
607 Canning St, Carlton North
Tiberio and Shaynie Donnini, Donnini’s
SOLD: Undisclosed, $3.5m-$3.7m price guide
Tiberio and Shaynie Donnini, well known for their family’s Donninis Italian restaurants in Melbourne and Queensland, are also celebrating a sale.
The pair will part ways with the home they’ve lived in for the past 35 years — but couldn’t face the prospect of being there in person, instead awaiting news of a sale over a beer at their local pub.
The listing with Nelson Alexander’s Nicholas West passed in, but was quickly negotiated to a sale at an undisclosed price.
Prior to auction the remarkable four-bedroom house had a $3.5m-$3.7m asking price.
“We are happy and everything is good,” Mr Donnini said after the sale.
“It’s another responsibility less in life.”
Mr Donnini is the son of Fernando and Elena Donnini who, along with their extended family, began the family’s restaurant empire in 1952 with the opening of University Cafe on Lygon St.
Over the years every inch of the grand four-bedroom Victorian has been renovated, including sleek new bathrooms, a large kitchen and indoor-outdoor entertainment area with a pool.
“Everything was done with the view to be there forever,” Mr Donnini said.
He added that despite the “beautiful big backyard” his four children had always preferred playing out front, where they would chat to neighbours and passers-by.
“We used to sit there in the afternoon and the people that walked past … that passing conversation is something that is probably pretty rare in Melbourne,” Mr Donnini said.
“I can name you all [the residents] the way down the street.
“It’s something I will remember most fondly, sitting out the front, looking at the palm trees.”
Mr Donnini said he and his wife had decided to downsize as they split their time between the Gold Coast and an apartment in Melbourne’s CBD.
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MORE: Shannon Bennett and Madeleine West sell tasteful Toorak renovated mansion for more than $23m
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Originally published as Inside the swanky homes of Melbourne’s top restaurateurs
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