Melbourne’s beloved floating bar and restaurant, Afloat, is coming out of hibernation this spring. Back for its tenth year, this seasonal venue has whisked us away to sun-drenched destinations in the past, from the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain to sun-kissed Capri in Italy. This time, the venue is transporting us to the vibrant Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. That’s right, Afloat will be inspired by Rio de Janeiro this year, and will open on Friday August 29. Table reservations, banquet bookings and beach club lounge packages for September 5 onwards, as well as tickets to New Year’s Eve and Christmas Day celebrations, can now be booked online.
Afloat Rio de Janeiro
The floating venue on the Yarra will have a brand new look, as well as a new food and beverage menu, music and entertainment program. Embrace the ‘Carioca’ spirit and sip on bright, fruit-forward drinks underneath lush green umbrellas. Inspired by natural landscapes, the venue will be quite colourful, with ocean-blue awnings, sunset shades on the furnishings, bars made from natural materials like wood, as well as plenty of tropical plants and palms scattered around the space. You’ll also find hand-painted walls and murals, inspired by street art and road-side vendors.
Throughout the season, you can also expect plenty of lively events. “No country throws a party quite like Brazil, and there’s no Brazilian party quite like Rio Carnival,” said Chief Marketing Officer Georgie Larkins. “We’re bringing all the action to this season’s events calendar. It will be jam-packed with flamboyant, samba-shaking fun, from weekday salsa classes to all-night, full-venue parties and celebrations.”
Food and drink
On the drinks menu, you can look forward to a dedicated frozen section with three rotating cocktails, such as Pina Coladas. Stay refreshed with other highlights, such as Passionfruit Pisco Sour, Caipirinha, Coconut Water & Vodka Highball, Raspberry Chilcano and a new aged Long Island Tea.
“You’ll see a lot of guava, passion fruit and acai, as well as watermelon, pineapple and plenty of citrus,” said Tom Younger, HQ Group’s Head of Cocktails. “We’re really leaning into Rio’s beach-front drinking culture, curating fresh, smashable and easy-drinking cocktails with just a handful of ingredients.”
As for food, you’ll find a diverse range of options that reflect Brazil’s cultural melting pot.
“Brazilian food reflects a cultural mosaic,” said HQ Group’s Executive Chef Paul Dunlop. “Our menu will be just the same, championing the country’s multi-cultural heritage through a mix of indigenous, European (primarily Portuguese), African and Japanese flavours, as well as Colombian and Venezuelan — all of which have played a role in shaping Rio’s assorted and flavourful cuisine.”
Feel like you’re grabbing a salty snack from a beachside vendor with empanadas, crispy prawns and fried cheese. Treat yourself to something from their selection of sandwiches and arepas, or feast on heavier dishes from the dedicated grill section.
