The fact that Her has only been around for a year is almost unbelievable, right?

In that short time, the HQ Group’s (Arbory Bar & Eatery, Arbory Afloat) five-storey mega-venue has become one of the best new places to lose a night.

Music Room was filled to within an inch of its life for a secret set by Flight Facilities, and won big at the Eat Drink Design Awards for its glowing, timber-clad fit-out hidden behind an unmarked door. The oasis-like rooftop bar has become the kind of place you’ll almost unknowingly gravitate towards to at golden hour – and insist out-of-towners do the same. BKK emerged as a fast-paced, fire-fuelled and fun as hell new Thai diner for the CBD, spearheaded by chef Sungeun Mo. And Her Bar – the all-day bistro and cocktail bar – is bringing French flair to the ground floor.

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“After so many years of prep and planning, it’s been amazing to see the venue, and each level within, define an identity of its own over the last 12 months,” says Her culinary director Nick Bennett. But there’s plenty more to come in the next 12 months.

That includes the official unveiling of a whole new level – the Lonsdale Street building’s second storey – which punters got a sneak peak of at Her’s debaucherous New Year’s Eve party. Until then, it had never been open to the public before. And while details around just what the fifth and final venue will be are thin, what we do know is it’ll open this year.

Between BKK and Music Room, the space – dedicated to arts and entertainment – will first soft-launch in a pop-up capacity. Expect day parties and music-themed cinema nights, record sales and book launches, and ephemeral art installations and exhibitions. Then the raw, bare-bones space will be completely transformed ahead of the opening.

Elsewhere, BKK is charging into the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival arena with two events as part of the 2023 program. The first is a fiery one-night-only dinner in collaboration with Bangkok’s acclaimed one-dish diner Phed Mark, famous for its pad kaprao. There’ll be five levels of heat to choose from. The second is a vibrant Thai street-food market in Drewery Lane, with the BKK team cooking alongside their counterparts from Soi 38 and Dodee Paidang.

At Her Bar, the plan for this year is to kickstart a series of chef collaborations and takeovers, and introduce a new range of tap cocktails. And to celebrate Her turning one, the Music Room line-up will be curated by names such as Sadar Bahar and Osunlade, both legendary US house producers, and local stalwarts In2Stellar. Keep an eye on Instagram for the full roster and, in true Her fashion, some special surprises. It’s gonna be a big year.

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