Victor Churchill, described by the late Anthony Bourdain as “the most beautiful butcher shop in the world”, is set to open a bar and grill at Crown Melbourne, bringing its world-renowned butchery and dining experience to the heart of the city.
Anthony and Rebecca Puharich will open the new Victor Churchill concept at Crown Melbourne in mid-2027 with chef, Monty Koludrovic, as head of culinary.
“Victor Churchill has always been about more than just meat – it’s about storytelling, craft, and creating unforgettable moments,” said Anthony Puharich, CEO of Victor Churchill.
“We’re thrilled to bring this philosophy to Crown Melbourne, where we can offer guests one of the most distinctive dining experiences in the country. This new venue will blend the heritage of Victor Churchill with the energy of a contemporary grill room, with every detail designed to feel bold, intimate and magnetic.”
Established in 1876 in Woollahra, Sydney, Victor Churchill has become a global benchmark in luxury meat retailing, combining uncompromising quality and artistry. In 2009, the Puharich family – Anthony and his father Victor, a fourth-generation butcher – elevated the heritage brand to international acclaim, blending butchery with theatre, design and hospitality.
Following the success of Victor Churchill Armadale on High Street, the new Crown Melbourne flagship will invite guests into a fully immersive restaurant that celebrates meat via intimate dining spaces and a menu led by provenance and seasonality. Anchored in the DNA of the Victor Churchill brand, the new venture at Crown Melbourne will showcase craftsmanship, reverence for produce and the theatre of service.
Victor Churchill at Crown Melbourne will see the partnering of the Puharich family with celebrated chef Monty Koludrovic, whose distinguished career includes tenures at venues across Australia, the UK, and the United States, including Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, The Dorchester Hotel, and Hollywood’s The Living Room private club.
Koludrovic said: “Anthony and I have been close friends for almost twenty years, and I am thrilled to be coming home to Australia and to be working with the Puharich family on a project of this scale and significance, we really couldn’t script it any better. Victor Churchill has earned a reputation as one of our nation’s most premium butchers and luxury food destinations, and I look forward to contributing to that legacy come 2027.”
Anthony and Rebecca Puharich are collaborating closely on the restaurant’s design with acclaimed New York design studio AvroKO. AvroKO are behind the design of some of the world’s most iconic hospitality spaces, and Victor Churchill at Crown Melbourne will be one of their first projects in Australia. Internationally recognised for creating deeply layered, multisensory environments that feel immersive, soulful and emotionally charged, AvroKO’s spaces are celebrated for their richness, warmth and creative approach to design. Their vision will create an atmosphere that is both globally significant and unmistakably Melbourne, with a sharp, sleek confidence creating a play between drama and elegance that reimagines the classic steakhouse for today’s tastemakers.
Crown Melbourne CEO, Ed Domingo, said: “This exciting new partnership brings together two icons of luxury and dining in what will be an architecturally stunning space overlooking the Yarra. We can’t wait for our guests to experience the distinctive theatre and exceptional quality of Victor Churchill right here on Crown Melbourne’s famed riverwalk.”
Anthony Puharich added: “Crown Melbourne is more than a destination. It is an institution at the heart of Melbourne’s culture and energy. To be part of its evolution and next chapter, and to introduce Victor Churchill into this iconic waterfront resort, is genuinely exciting.”
The opening of Victor Churchill at Crown Melbourne represents the brand’s continued evolution, from its 19th-century beginnings in Woollahra to becoming one of the most admired food destinations in the world. Victor Churchill at Crown Melbourne is scheduled to open in mid 2027, with further details around the concept, design and bookings to come.
Victor Churchill at Crown Melbourne: 8 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC 3006
