Stretching the limits of a conventional bakehouse, Antara 128 is the highly anticipated new bakery and brasserie from the Hotel Windsor Group, which also runs Sunda, Aru and Kudo.

From the crack of dawn until the dusty evenings, Antara 128 is an all dayer venue, starting in the morning with pastries, sourdough and viennoiserie by ​​Didiet Radityawan (ex-Streat) and Michael James (ex-Tivoli Road) which feature in a short sharp breakfast menu. The team has hand-selected some of the best seasonal produce from around Victoria to throw together elegant – and totally delicious – brunch boards of cured meat, local cheese, pickles, fresh crisp vegetables, leaves and bakery items.

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Cafe classic, eggs-your-way have had a glow-up with the options of an omelette with smoked trout, mint and sorrel; baked with halloumi, harissa and house-made olive bread; or a full ‘English’ with the appearance of sobrasada, mushroom ketchup and laminated pastry.

From lunch and into the evening, head chef Allan Doert-Eccles (ex-Andrew McConnell’s Trader House group) takes over, whipping up dishes like wagyu short rib with a beetroot glaze and pickled radishes; spaghetti with Skull Island and school prawns; and a very fancy-sounding blooming shallot dusted with chickpea flour and served with bearnaise sauce.

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The woodfired oven weaves through the menu, imparting everything from a heavy-handed smoky char on the half chicken on toast, to a delicate puff on the brioche catalan with burnt orange custard for dessert.

The interiors, complete with a full view of the open kitchen, a dough room and a lofty mezzanine level has been designed by Melbourne-based Kerstin Thompson Architects, who also designed the fit-out for Sunda and Aru. Heavy and luxe charcoal drapes contrast with sand-coloured furniture while brutalist concrete walls and counters are warmed with unfinished marbling and dainty pendant lights.

Antara is open now at 128 Exhibition Street, Melbourne. For more details, head to antara.melbourne.

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