Abacus

A venue that shifts and shapes as the day goes on, Abacus is evolving into one of the hottest evening venues in South Yarra. And once you have fully experienced this sophisticated destination, it's not hard to understand why.

A tranquil island in the middle of an urban landscape, Abacus offers diners a serene escape from Victoria's capital city. One word to describe this eatery is 'cool', both in terms of temperature and aesthetic quality. One-half of the venue is surrounded by charcoal brick walls, the exposed kitchen serving as a theatrical beacon of light in its almost brutalist architectural design. The other half is bright, sunny and full to the rafters with potted greens. Welcome to their conservatory! The ultimate indoor/outdoor dining experience, photosynthesise and relax here as the sun goes down.

In keeping with their sustainable philosophy, they're offering seasonal menus that use only natural ingredients. Right now, the winter menu aims to warm and console with dishes like Grampians beef cheek enveloped in a smoked marrow jus, Ravens Creek pork cutlets in a rich Diablo sauce and Geelong lamb with refreshing yoghurt and cucumber.

Vegetarians and seafood lovers also have their pick of the crop with gorgeous plates featuring Bathurst Bar crayfish with sea greens, as well as roasted spiced cauliflower and house-made mushroom rigatoni. Even the desserts take their cues from the land, and nothing says sustainable quite like their hunted and gathered chocolate marquise with smoked caramel ice cream. And with that, Abacus has become a top choice for organic suppers in South Yarra.