Nini's Hawthorn

INSIDER tip

Bita Lowry has developed Nini’s Hawthorn into one of Melbourne’s most loved restaurant’s and event centre. Bita grew up in Persia and developed her passion for food in the kitchen of her mother and Grandma. She learned to love and use traditional herbs, spices and seasonings. The resulting family dinners were filled with flavor, joy and happiness. For many years Bita worked in the corporate environment, but her love for food and hospitality drove her to open Ninis. Nini’s rooftop bar, restaurant and event centre seats 265 guests in a stunning environment for indoor and outdoor dining in Melbourne. The hallmark of Ninis is warm hospitality which is born of Bita’s Persian upbringing. It blends the best of Middle eastern and Mediterranean styles to provide a unique experience. The cooking secrets of Greece, Turkey, Italy, Iran, and Lebanon bring you generous portions of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean heaven, matched with a bar full of cocktails and wine. Signature small dishes like Filo wrapped feta with pomegranate chili marmalade, zucchini fritters and saganaki with wild Iranian fig purée, lead into large plates of delightful slow-roasted lamb shoulder served with smashed potatoes and Moroccan-spiced pork skewers with pickled cabbage. The dishes meld fresh produce and age-old techniques, with a nod to the region’s cross- pollination of flavours and styles. The bar serves up exotic cocktails like the Turkish Delight, a highly Instagrammable number made with pink gin and garnished with fairy floss, through to the classic and summery Mojito. At Nini’s you’ll be sure to experience where the Mediterranean meets the Middle East.