Marmelo & Mr Mills—A Taste of Iberia
Marmelo and Mr Mills bring the spirit of Iberia to Melbourne’s historic laneways, where international restaurateurs Ross and Sunny Lusted unveil two new destinations celebrating fire, story, and a sense of place.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Photos ANSON SMART
Guests are welcomed to Marmelo amidst an array of azulejos (traditional hand painted tiles) and original artworks by Lucy Roleff and Ben Mazey.
Wrapped around Melbourne Place, Marmelo is Ross and Sunny Lusted’s love letter to Melbourne hospitality.
Plates to share: arroz de Marisco with carolino rice and grilled, poached and cured seafood.
“Marmelo has come to life through a creative journey that I’ve been exploring for many years—having grown up in South Africa, the influences of Portugal have always been a part of our food culture.”
‘Ross and I feel a real synergy with the vibrancy of Melbourne and all of its culinary offerings, so it is an honour to be welcomed so warmly into the local dining community,’ says Sunny Lusted.
‘In the spirit of Portuguese styling, we honour the natural and tactile qualities of local materials - clay, water, and cobblestones—embracing the beauty found in imperfection,’ says Mitchell & Eades.
‘Marmelo is inspired by the small restaurants and bars of coastal Portugal and Spain where the markets, like Melbourne, are integral to the fabric of daily life,’ says Ross Lusted.
Rock oysters, piso, piri-piri and lemon at Marmelo.
Late night diners will follow the Mr Mills neon sign in Melbourne Place laneway, entering via a glass pivot door, down a staircase, journeying past a hand painted mural by Niqui Toldi.
‘I will focus on showcasing the abundant resources of the centrally located Melbourne markets as well as smaller Victorian producers—there is so much incredible produce right here in Victoria,’ says Ross Lusted.
At the Paris end of Russell Street, behind a glowing glass pivot door and a hand-painted mural, a story of fire, spice, and history unfolds. Renowned restaurateurs Ross and Sunny Lusted have recently open the doors to Marmelo and Mr Mills—two distinct but deeply connected venues drawing inspiration from the bold flavours of Portugal, reimagined through a unique Melbourne lens.
Marmelo is a celebration of wood-fired tradition and maritime influence, brought to life in a dining room of sculptural light, bespoke detail, and views across the city. Grounded in Ross’s upbringing in South Africa, where Portuguese culinary traditions were woven into everyday life, the restaurant is a love letter to Iberian coastlines, bustling markets, and the spice routes that shaped them.
A custom charcoal grill and wood oven anchor the open kitchen, where dishes are both robust and refined—parsley root nata with spanner crab, Southern calamari with goat’s milk butter, and bone-in pork loin with bitter greens and burnt orange. Desserts carry the same opulence: a woodfired olive oil cheesecake with sea salt, and Marmelo’s namesake—quince—woven through the seasonal menu.
‘Marmelo is inspired by the small restaurants and bars of coastal Portugal and Spain where the markets, like Melbourne, are integral to the fabric of daily life,’ shares Ross, ‘I will focus on showcasing the abundant resources of the centrally located Melbourne markets as well as smaller Victorian producers. There is so much incredible produce right here in Victoria.’
Below, Mr Mills offers an entirely different mood: a late-night supper club and bar, eclectic and intimate, with velvet booths, marble counters, and moody light spilling across high tables and mirrored walls. Here, swordfish in olive oil, mussels escabeche, and fillet steak with whipped anchovy are served alongside cocktails laced with tomato oil, bergamot, and rhubarb.
Design studio Mitchell & Eades has grounded the spaces in a palette of natural and tactile materials—clay, timber, and hand-painted tiles. The upper level is punctuated with artworks by Lucy Roleff and Ben Mazey, while the lounge at Mr Mills showcases works by Nick Thomm and Dion Horstmans. At every turn, texture and story collide, creating a layered experience throughout.
‘Ross and I feel a real synergy with the vibrancy of Melbourne and all of its culinary offerings, so it’s an honour to be welcomed so warmly into the local dining community,’ says Sunny.
Marmelo
Open Tuesday-Saturday: Lunch 12pm-3pm and dinner 5pm-9:30pm
No.130 Russell St. Melbourne
Book here