State Library Victoria is adding a new reason to linger beyond the bookshelves, with cafe Biblio opening in the building’s north-west wing on Saturday 14 November.
The new dining destination, created by hospitality group The Big Group, will serve breakfast, brunch, lunch and evening drinks, with a mix of indoor seating and an outdoor deck overlooking the library’s impressive surrounds.
To celebrate opening day, the first 100 customers through the doors from 9am will receive a complimentary cold brew called The Librarian, finished with orange syrup, cold cream foam and orange zest.
Biblio’s menu draws inspiration from both Melbourne’s food scene and the library’s own history. One standout is a sausage roll based on a recipe found in an 1864 cookbook held in the library’s collection, bringing a taste of the past to the modern cafe.
Also making its way onto the menu is a chicken sandwich previously reserved for guests in the Birdcage at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. It will now be available year-round at Biblio.
Breakfast options include folded eggs with seasonal asparagus, a carrot cake granola bowl and French toast brioche with labne, miso caramel and seasonal fruit.
For lunch, diners can choose from wagyu and black angus cheeseburgers, Aleppo-spiced gaufrettes and passionfruit spongecake.
Coffee will be supplied by Melbourne roaster Single O, while those stopping by later in the day can enjoy an aperitivo, including an Aperol Spritz.
Inside, plush banquette seating complements the library’s historic architecture, while the terrace offers a spot for a leisurely meal in the sunshine.
Biblio opens on Saturday 14 November in State Library Victoria’s north-west wing. Visit Biblio for opening details and the menu.
