Translated to mean ‘here’ in Japanese, Koko Cafe & Bar has taken over the space previously occupied by Boudoir Lounge, directly across the road from the G:link tram stop in Southport. By day, the intention is to operate a Japanese-inspired cafe serving a curated menu of daytime eats alongside Melbourne’s iconic ST. ALi coffee. From Thursday through to Sunday, however, the space morphs into Koko Sando Bar, which is dedicated to slinging sandos in salivation-inducing flavours such as tonkatsu striploin and succulent Borrowdale pork. Another one of the venue’s specialties is yakitori (Japanese skewers), which are cooked over a charcoal hibachi grill to infuse every bite with that unmistakable smoky flavour. Rounding out Koko’s edible offering is a show-stopping okonomiyaki (savoury Japanese-style pancake topped with bonito flakes), a Japanese curry loaded with ridiculously crisp chicken katsu and a layered creation of slow-cooked beef topped with potato straws. For those nursing a heavy head, there’s also a section for hangover cures featuring the likes of French fries with poached eggs, lotus chips with edamame cream and matcha ice-cream. As with all of the best hair-of-the-dog remedies, they are best served with a side of Japanese rice beer from Miami’s Precinct Brewing. Speaking of booze, alongside brews of the craft-beer variety, Koko Sando Bar also shakes up a clutch of curious cocktails infused with traditional Japanese flavours, such as the Ginger Ninger (Suntory Japanese whisky, plum liqueur, house-made fermented ginger with a dash of ginger beer) and the Wizz Fizz (plum liqueur, Roku Japanese gin and grenadine syrup).

It’s impossible not to be captivated by the palatial space, from the curved gold bar to the plush velvet seats. A mural on the far wall serves as both an invitation and a reminder to ‘sit down, be humble’ – a nod to king Kendrick. The effortlessly cool vibe is not at all surprising when you discover that Koko is the latest venue from Monique Assemany, the mastermind and creator of Goya Cafe in Broadbeach, alongside Thomas Beaumont-Jones, who has taken the reins on the drinkables. The cafe component of Koko Cafe & Bar is set to come to fruition in coming weeks. We’ll have all of the delicious details for you oh-so-soon, but for now, Koko Sando Bar is open from Thursday through to Sunday. Oh, did we mention there was live hip-hop music every Friday and Saturday night?

If stacked sandos, curious cocktails and hip-hop tunes sound like your idea of a fun time, head to our Stumble Guide for opening times.