By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
A revamp of Merivale’s ivy Pool Club has been revealed this month, with the rooftop bar taking on an Italian Riviera look – with a food and drinks menu to match.
The décor of the Pool Club has been overhauled with furniture reupholstered instripes of mandarin and cream and terracotta pots filled with citrus plants, figs and geraniums. Muted grey awnings and cream umbrellas finish the Italian beachside look. The menu has also had its own Italian Renaissance, thanks to Uccello’s head chef, David Lovett, who has spent long stretches of time in Italy and is a master of the cuisine.
“We’ve expanded the Pool Club food offering to embrace its fresh new look. The influence is southern Italy (Sicily and the Amalfi coast). Think chargrilled swordfish, panini with meatballs or prosciutto and fried calamari with lemon parsley – all alongside Vincenzo Biondini’s unbelievable pizzas,” says Lovett.
“ It’s a relaxed extension of Uccello, a poolside dining experience where you can wile away the afternoon in the sun as if you were kicking back in the Italian Riviera. Our Italian festival week, La Dolce Pool Club, will be an amazing way to experience it all first hand. I can’t wait for the Mumbo Italiano dinner, a beautiful long table feast around the Pool.”
The official relaunch of ivy Pool Club will be kicked off on 19 October, with five days of Italian-themed festivities dubbed La Dolce Pool Club. The week’s events will be hosted in partnership with Havana Club Avión Special and Absolut Elyx.
The celebrations begin on Monday 19 October with ‘Date Night with Sinatra’. Pizzas and pastas will be on offer from $15, and a list of Italian-inspired cocktails can be enjoyed while listening to a live band play hits from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and other songs that evoke the era of the Rat Pack.
Mumbo Italiano, held on Tuesday, offers guests a decadent five-course dinner, with Havana cocktails to start and Italian wines throughout. The menu includes all of the Italian classics: antipasti, pizza, pasta, porchetta (roasted and thinly shaved pork) and tiramisu to cap it all off.
Wednesday night sees the Pool Club transformed into an Italian piazza market, with several food stalls set up offering items as varied as Italian barbecue, cheese, charcuterie and gelato. A variety of cocktails from Avión Espresso, Havana Club and Absolut Elyx.
The festivities will conclude on Thursday and Friday with barbecue lunches hosted by Mr Wong’s Dan Hong and the newly-appointed Danielle Alvarez and Ben Greeno of The Paddington (set to launch in November). Aperitivo Hour will also be hosted from 3-6pm, with Italian classics to sip on, as complimentary antipasti are served.