Where STARS eat in Melbourne Where STARS eat in Melbourne

Trying to guess where an international star will eat in your hometown makes great banter at the pub, especially when the choices are as eclectic as Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles or one of the many other celebrities in Melbourne recently.

Styles surprised fans last Sunday by paying an unannounced visit to Cibi, a cafe and design store in Collingwood, and ordering the signature Japanese breakfast and a green tea, which he paid for himself.

Co-owner Meg Tanaka said other guests either didn't notice the star or were very calm, allowing Styles to enjoy his breakfast outside before he browsed the Japanese homewares inside.

It is believed Styles also dined at internationally lauded hotspot Gimlet, though the Trader House group, which frequently hosts visiting celebrities at their restaurants, would not confirm this.

Sheeran made an impromptu visit to Andrew's Hamburgers in Albert Park this week, but he planned ahead for CBD restaurant Kisume, where he and one other guest enjoyed top-shelf sushi at the 12-seat , $295-a-head Chef's Table.

" We often work with managers on [high-profile guest] bookings, and they will give us an idea of what level of privacy they need to be able to enjoy themselves,'' says Lucas Group marketing manager Celia McCarthy.

Two-hatted Ides made it onto the radar of philanthropist Bill Gates, who visited in January ahead of watching the Australian Open tennis men's final . Preparing for Gates' visit included opening outside usual trading hours so his party were alone in the restaurant, having two security guards on watch and a no-photos policy for staff. Two diners made an earlier reconnaissance visit to make sure everything was up to scratch.

There was only one slip-up during Gates' meal: not having enough Coke Zero on ice for the table of eight, who weren't drinking.

" I had to run down to Coles and get a case,'' says chef-owner Peter Gunn.

Similar security was requested by rapper Kendrick Lamar last year when he visited Kisume.

Billie Eilish booked a private table at Shannon Martinez's Smith & Daughters for her touring family when in Melbourne last year, sitting within spitting distance of the public. Eilish even signed a few autographs as she departed.

Booking agent Paul Sloan says good food on tour can literally keep the show on the road. " Touring can be very hard work, and after a rough stint, food is [like] the warm bath with clean fluffy towels.''

His agency, Billions, has a toolbox of tricks and recommended dining spots it deploys to make sure its artists eat well, including Terror Twilight, Il Solito Posto and Claypots Seafood Bar. " A hidden, local neighbourhood favourite with a little goofiness or grittiness [serving] amazing, personally delivered food is usually the most revered experience,'' says Sloan.

In December, Billy Joel declared Grill Americano's tiramisu the best he'd ever had, leaving staff at the Italian steakhouse buzzing.

Melbourne Eateries

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This article is from the March 4, 2023 issue of The Age Digital Edition.
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