In the Press

Thank you to Broadsheet for honouring Marmelo the People's Choice award at The Best of Broadsheet 2025 event.

Broadsheet Melbourne shared:

"In 2025, one restaurant on the The Hot List - and the rest of the site - was a clear favourite:

Marmelo, the Portugal and Spain focussed spot from Sydney restaurateurs Ross and Sunny Lusted at Hyde Melbourne Place.

It wasn't just one of the most popular stories of the year when we published it. If anything, Marmelo only got more attention from Broadsheet readers as the year went on.

"At Broadsheet, we can actually see how popular a venue is by the thousands and thousands of people that come to the site," said Wachtel.

"People's Choice this year goes to a restaurant that has brought the spirit of the Iberian Peninsula to Melbourne, blending Portuguese culinary tradition with Victorian produce in a beautiful space."

"It's been almost 12 months since we've been here and I just want to thank Melbourne for welcoming us," said Ross Lusted accepting the award. "We just opened a little Portuguese restaurant, and tried to tell their story, and it's very close to my heart, so thank you very much."

This win challenges a few assumptions about the city. Maybe Melbourne's finally ready for hotel dining to be a thing. It might even be ready to accept a restaurant opened by Sydneysiders. The people have spoken."

HANDE RENSHAW
April 4, 2025

"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."

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Nikita Bhopti
March 21, 2025

"Designed by Mitchell and Eades, the Portuguese-inspired eatery honours the natural and tactile qualities of traditional materials such as clay, water and cobblestones."

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