A three-level Greek dining and hospitality destination from the team behind Aegli has opened on Glenferrie Road, with a wood-fired menu, regional wines and a rooftop bar set to follow in November.
Malvern has a new Greek dining destination, with the opening of Helios, a three-level hospitality venture from chef and Aegli owner Ioannis Kasidokostas and his wife, Maria Tsilfoglou.
Named after the Greek word for sun, Helios occupies the former Sagra site at 256 Glenferrie Road, bringing together three distinct spaces under one roof: Atlas restaurant on the ground floor, Elysian on the mezzanine, and Asteria, a rooftop bar and function space scheduled to open in November.
For Kasidokostas, the project has been eight years in the making. Having kept an eye on the site for much of that time, he envisioned a multi-level destination that could bring a broader expression of Greek hospitality to Melbourne, drawing on regional culinary traditions and his fine-dining background.
The menu takes a considered approach to familiar Greek flavours, with an emphasis on local produce, house-made elements and proteins cooked over a Josper grill. Rather than relying on the expected staples, the kitchen is looking to broaden perceptions of Greek cuisine, with Kasidokostas making everything from dry-aged beef loukaniko sausage to hot spelt bread in-house.
Among the dishes are wood-fired prawn dolmathes with spiced prawn salsa and preserved lime, a contemporary interpretation of the classic Greek preparation; a rotating pie of the day, currently batzina made with wild greens and corn semolina; and lamb in grape molasses, slow-roasted overnight and served with lamb jus. For something sweet, there’s carob molasses parfait with crumbled baklava.
The drinks list follows a similarly regional approach, placing lesser-known Greek wine varietals at the forefront, alongside Greek spirits and liqueurs including ouzo imported from Athens, tsipouro and Corfu kumquat liqueur.
The building retains much of its original façade and interior, with an open foyer connecting the three levels and natural light filtering through the space during the day. In the evening, warm lighting, upholstered seating and white linen tables bring a distinctly Greek identity to the dining rooms. The mezzanine will also double as a gallery, showcasing works by local artists.
With capacity for up to 300 guests, Helios is also positioning itself as a destination for group dining, private functions and corporate events. Dedicated function rooms are equipped with audiovisual facilities, while a resident Athenian DJ will add a further dimension to the venue’s atmosphere.
The first two levels are now open, with Asteria’s rooftop offering to follow in November, completing the venue’s three-part concept.
Helios
256 Glenferrie Road, Malvern, VIC
Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 5pm–10.30pm
Now Open: Atlas restaurant and Elysian mezzanine
Coming In November: Asteria rooftop bar
