One of New Zealand and Australia’s most appreciated chefs, Sean Connolly is awaiting the opening of his latest restaurant, Shush Burger, inside the Courtyard Melbourne Flagstaff Gardens.
Connolly is well tuned to opening beloved food and beverage venues, most notably Sydney’s Steak & Co, Sean’s Kitchens in Adelaide, and Esther in Auckland. The Yorkshire-born culinary star has kept his latest project in Melbourne tight-lipped, ironically naming it Shush Burger.
Connolly describes the 50-seat foray as a colourful venue, with an aim to offer diners a luxury experience but to also be a “hidden secret.”
“I place as much importance on the music, lighting, friendly staff and vibe as the food when I open a restaurant,” said Connolly.
“Shush Burger is just a bit of fun really. It’s about great burgers, disco and cocktails.”
The hidden burger joint sits on level one of the hotel, and is paraded with lush velvet curtains and the ‘speakeasy’ theme to give it flare. The neon-lit parlour has provided a feel perfect for the menu it offers.
Although hard to find, the variety of items available at Shush Burger has all been just as carefully designed by Connolly, tearing back fuss and commotion, and focusing on high-quality produce paired with bold and vibrant flavours.
Connolly said that the atmosphere of the restaurant is just as important as the food, and that he has great ambitions for every detail, right down to the music he would like to be played.
Every restaurant has a soundtrack. Sean’s Kitchen is exclusively Brit-pop. Esther is drum and bass. And Shush Burger will have a nice poppy fun feel with disco vibes from bands like Duran Duran, New Order and Blondie,” said Connolly.
The Marriot hotel-owned hotel opened in Melbourne CBD in March 2022, the first of the chain’s Courtyard brand in the city. Connolly stemmed his inspiration for the down-under venue after experiencing a burger joint in the lobby of the Parker Meridien Hotel in New York City.
“I went to the Burger Joint about 15 years ago and the idea of it has stuck with me ever since. I wanted Shush Burger to be hiding in plain sight within Courtyard by Marriott. I want it to be a place to go to for a good time.”
Shush Burger is set to open on March 29th.
