Melbourne’s hospitality scene turned out in force for one of the most talked-about events of the year as the launch of innovative new bottle shop Drop Shop rolled seamlessly into a spectacular celebration at Daphne, one of the city’s hottest dining destinations.
The evening brought together great wine, martinis, exceptional food, music and some of Melbourne’s best hospitality talent, proving once again that Melbourne does hospitality better than almost anywhere else.
Drop Shop is Changing the Bottle Shop Experience
Located in Brunswick East, Drop Shop is the rule-breaking new concept from Pinot Palooza founder and Chair of Wine Victoria Dan Sims, drinks retail specialist Courtney Keegan, and Common State’s own Luke McKinnon.
Forget overwhelming shelves and endless categories. Drop Shop strips away the confusion and focuses on how people actually buy drinks.
There are only around 150 carefully selected bottles and three simple categories:
- Weekday ($)
- Party ($$)
- Fancy ($$$)
That’s it.
The concept feels refreshingly modern. Inspired by the efficiency and confidence of Japanese konbini stores, Drop Shop has been designed to make buying wine enjoyable rather than intimidating.
Small, local and community-driven, the team want to know your favourite bottle and remember your name. It’s a bottle shop built around relationships and discovery.
The interiors, designed by We Are Humble (Good Measure, Operator Diner), are stylish and welcoming, while branding by Hamish Childs of Studio Round (Gimlet, Marion, Etta) gives the space an effortlessly cool identity.
Upon arrival guests enjoyed sparkling wine while exploring the beautifully curated selection of wines and beverages. The simplicity of the concept immediately made sense. It feels savvy, approachable and, importantly, fun.
Drop Shop is one of those ideas that leaves you wondering why nobody thought of it sooner.
Four Doors Down to Daphne
After celebrating the opening of Drop Shop, the party continued just four doors down at Daphne, where the venue played host to an unforgettable takeover.
Already one of Melbourne’s most sought-after restaurants, Daphne provided the perfect setting with its intimate booths, sophisticated mood lighting and effortlessly stylish atmosphere.
From the moment guests arrived there was an unmistakable sense that this was one of Melbourne’s hospitality events of the year.
Mini martinis and mini limoncello spritzes greeted guests, alongside glasses of Eminence Blanc de Noir 2022 from Whitelands, Victoria, while non-drinkers enjoyed the refreshing Daphne Zero Spritz and Drivers XPA Zero Alc beer.
As the evening unfolded, wine flowed and the soundtrack turned up, creating a party atmosphere that perfectly captured Melbourne’s love affair with food and wine.
Exceptional Food Highlights at Daphne
The menu showcased why Daphne has become one of Melbourne’s hottest public houses/restaurants.
Mortadella Skewer
A playful opening bite that immediately set the tone for the evening. Rich, savoury and dangerously moreish.
Anchovy Toast
Simple, elegant and packed with flavour. A perfect balance of saltiness and richness.
Fried Crumbed Olives
One of the stars of the night. Golden, crunchy and impossibly addictive.
Tuna Crudo Crostini
Beautifully fresh and vibrant, delivering delicate seafood flavours with every bite.
Beef Tartare with House-Made Chips
A standout dish. The tartare was expertly seasoned and paired perfectly with crisp house-made chips.
Pork Cheek Croquette
Comforting and deeply flavoursome, with meltingly tender pork inside a perfectly crisp shell.
Whole School Fried Prawns
Fun and delicious, delivering texture and sweetness in equal measure.
Ricotta and Spinach Ravioli
Silky pasta with beautifully balanced filling. A dish that demonstrated the refinement of the kitchen.
Beef Marrow Mini Burger with Fries
One of the biggest crowd pleasers of the night. Rich beef marrow added incredible depth while the accompanying fries disappeared quickly.
Chocolate Mousse
The perfect finish to an evening built around indulgence. Smooth, decadent and deeply satisfying.
Outstanding Wine and Drinks
The drinks selection throughout the evening reflected the same philosophy as Drop Shop itself — approachable, exciting and quality-driven.
Highlights included:
- Schmolzer & Brown Prét-à-Blanc 2025 (King Valley)
- Anti-Hero Yeowarra Hill Chardonnay 2024 (Colac)
- Local Drop Rosé by Tillie J 2026 (Murray Darling)
- William Downie ‘Tolmie’ Pinot Noir 2025
- Dhillon ‘Accidental Red’ Merlot/Shiraz/Malbec 2025 (Macedon Ranges)
The wine list showcased some of Victoria’s finest producers and complemented the menu beautifully.
Hospitality at Its Best
What stood out most was the sense of community and celebration.
Melbourne’s hospitality industry is built on relationships, creativity and a willingness to do things differently, and the collaboration between Drop Shop and Daphne captured that spirit perfectly.
Drop Shop feels like a genuine game changer — clever without being pretentious, thoughtfully designed but approachable, and above all enjoyable.
Meanwhile, Daphne continues to cement its place among Melbourne’s most exciting restaurants. The combination of stunning food, flowing drinks, beautiful booths and mood lighting made it impossible not to settle in and enjoy the evening.
The World Loves Melbourne Verdict
The launch of Drop Shop followed by a takeover celebration at Daphne delivered one of Melbourne’s hospitality events of the year.
Drop Shop is reimagining how Melburnians buy wine, making the experience easy, enjoyable and fun. And four doors down, Daphne showcased exactly why it has become one of Melbourne’s hottest restaurants.
Great wine. Great food. Great people.
A brilliant night celebrating everything that makes Melbourne one of the world’s great food and wine cities.
Drop Shop
Brunswick East, Melbourne
Daphne
Brunswick East, Melbourne
The World Loves Melbourne rating: ★★★★★