Very few bars in Canberra are conceived with an idea of heritage. This week, Dan and Dion Bisa of East Hotel are tipping their cap to their Italian heritage with a new venue named after their father and drawing inspiration from his home near Venice.
With a solid marble bar, rich wooden tables and an eclectic collection of lighting fixtures, Joe’s Bar is set to be a great addition to the Kingston drinking scene.
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Dan Bisa: We’ve had a great restaurant through Ox, but what we really wanted to do was develop a bar that would really integrate with the foyer and bring that busy energy through. This original space was a little too big, and with a great new tenant next door, we were left with the perfect sized-space for a little bar!
So with the space recognised you must have had plenty of ideas of where to go. What did you decide in the end?
Italiano! It’s something that I’d always wanted to do, and it felt like the snug little feel that was perfect. There’s nothing like sitting down with Italian wines and Italian food, and it’s something that people can easily understand. Our Dad is Joe, so we thought it would be the perfect name for a bar that shows a little slice of culture.
It’s great seeing that Canberra is growing some really interesting Nebiollos and Proseccos.
It really is. We worked with Fergus McGhie to build the wine list, and he kept us really focussed on some great local wines as well as amazing imports. As a result, we’ve got a great list with some strong local names, and some really interesting stuff from Italy. We’ve even put together a list of classic Italian cocktails, and reinvented some other classics to give them an Italian edge.
East Hotel is known for its strong design sense. How did you draw the Italian feel through the interior fitout?
Kelly Ross from Gentry Design was in charge of the interior, and she sat sown and listened to our story and heard what we wanted to achieve. Joe’s is not decorated in an overtly Italian style, but Kelly really latched onto the idea of using Murano glass to decorate a lot of the shelves throughout the space. It’s a product that Dad’s region is famous for, so it’s a really lovely, subtle touch.
Kelly was really keen to make sure there were plenty of different areas within the small space. You can relax in a couch, or prop yourself up at the bar for a quick drink on the run.
You can’t leave an Italian house without a bellyful of food…
Absolutely. You can see our cheese and meat fridge beside the bar. Antipasto will be the absolute star of the venue. Our chef, Francesco, is developing a great range of snack plates and oysters and pastas and all sorts of treats. He’s worked in Rome, so has a really good feel for what we’re trying to achieve.
Any other treats we need to be aware of?
Well, the house-made ginger beer might be non-alcoholic, but has a hell of a spicy kick. We’re also washing our bourbon with prosciutto and are making a gin that’s been infused with rhubarb – so lots of great treats made up as we go.
As for the fit-out, we loved getting a hold of a chandelier from the Canberra Glassworks that was made from a collection of Sambuca bottles. It’s much more subtle than you might imagine, but is just another gentle touch that brings a little bit of Italy to the fore.
Joe’s Bar opens this Friday afternoon. You can find it on the left side of the entrance to East Hotel on Giles Street in Kingston.
