Shell House Dining

Shell House hosts a number of venues – from European bistro Menzies on the ground floor; to the plush rooftop Sky Bar with panoramic views of the city; and classic cocktail bar, Clocktower.

But the heart and soul of the building is this dining room and terrace on the ninth floor. Here, you’re encouraged to take your time, with the extensive menu organised into eight sections: caviar, entree, pasta, vegetables, fish and shellfish, meat, cold, and sides.

For a main dish, you might order the yellowbelly flounder with nettles, caper and lemon (an outstanding seafood main), or a 500-gram Rangers Valley dry-aged sirloin that’s ideal for sharing. But vegetables are the star – dishes include asparagus with orange wine, macadamia and fennel pollen, and coal-roasted beetroot with black fungus and blueberries.

The dining room’s cocktail list takes the best from each of the building’s bars (try the classic Sicilian Margarita with tequila, limoncello, Sichuan and fresh lemon), and the wine list is wide-ranging, including French burgundy, Chablis, as well as natural wines by small producers.

The spectacular dining-room space flows out onto the terrace with views of the CBD. It’s a celebration of Shell House’s art deco heritage, with curved booth seats and a rich timber bar that echo the shape of the cane armchairs dotted about the space.