Almost a year ago, HQ Group – behind the river-adjacent Arbory Bar & Eatery and river-riding Arbory Afloat – unveiled plans for an ambitious new multistorey mega-venue in the CBD.

Now, an exciting update. Called Her, it’ll open next month in a heritage-listed building (once home to a cigarette manufacturer) on Lonsdale Street, right across from Emporium. It’s essentially four vastly different venues in one, across four levels.

Connecting each is a stairwell paved with bluestone and lit up by an installation from French lighting designer Hervé Descottes, who worked on New York’s High Line.

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On the ground floor, you’ll be greeted by a French-influenced cocktail bar with plush banquettes and woven-cane ceilings. It’ll be serving plenty of spritzes, plus steak frites (the menu will be overseen by group executive chef Nick Bennett, alongside head chef Josh Rudd).

Next is a dedicated music room (with a well-stocked bar, of course), inspired by the vinyl-listening bars of Europe and Japan. The soundtrack will be curated by local dance-music legend DJ JNETT, who’s organising a series of weekly residencies. Look up to see a “constellation” lighting installation on the ceiling, also by Descottes.

A level up is BKK, a Thai-style barbeque joint drawing on the Southeast Asian country’s vibrant, fire-fuelled night markets. Amid the fit-out’s exposed brick, terracotta and copper, head chef Sungeun Mo (Red Spice Road) will be serving flame-licked skewers, Chiang Mai sausage and curries that put both northern and southern traditions on the table.

The inspiration returns to Europe with the pièce de resistance rooftop bar, channelling lush garden parties with stellar views, mid-century furniture and a statement mosaic.

Her is opening at 270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne in December.