Take a peek inside Ruma, the rooftop oasis bringing island energy to Little Lane in New Farm
A new rooftop bar serving tropical cocktails and modern Australian share plates is landing in New Farm. Ruma Rooftop, from the team behind Sunsets, will soon open above the Little Lane dining precinct. Expect native ingredients, island influences and plenty of sunset-ready drinks. We took a look inside the venue ahead of its debut later this month – read on for more …
Opportunity has a habit of appearing at unexpected moments. For Daniel Tuivaiti and Katrina Mead (operators behind Sunsets Rooftop in Kangaroo Point), the chance to expand their hospitality family arrived just as their own was growing.
“I was in the birthing suite,” reveals Katrina. “And Daniel was like, ‘What do you think of this spot?’”
The spot in particular was a commercial rooftop space up for lease at what would soon become known as Little Lane – a retail and dining precinct situated on the corner of Merthyr Road and Brunswick Street in New Farm.
“I think it was a week after Katrina gave birth that we were viewing this site,” says Daniel.
While the duo admits they often keep a casual eye on real estate listings, there was something about the New Farm site – situated in the heart of a suburb undergoing dynamic renewal – that was undeniable.
“I think it was the area, which we were really keen on,” says Daniel. “Sunsets is very much a destination venue, so finding a location that has foot traffic was a plus – but also we feel like we’re joining the community within this precinct.”
Over the past 12 months, Little Lane’s empty shopfronts have gradually filled, with the likes of Anyday’s Agnes Bakery successor Idle, casual pizza joint Johnny Gio’s, Melbourne acai import Green Cup and chic gelateria Luna Gelato transforming the corner into a buzzing hospitality hub.
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Later this month, Daniel and Katrina – alongside business partners Chris and Jess Mead – will open Ruma Rooftop, an elevated venue shaped by personal influences.
“The name Ruma means home,” explains Katrina. “That’s from my mum’s language. She’s from Papua New Guinea and her village is on the coastline, so we’re trying to weave in little elements of that.”
Where Sunsets was imbued with Mediterranean influences, Ruma leans into tropical inspiration instead. Working with Alkot Studio, the team has overseen a build that mixes textures and tones, creating a space suited to everything from group lunches to intimate dinners and sun-soaked cocktail soirees.
“Conceptually, it kind of started very rustic,” says Daniel. “But it just evolved over time and became slightly more modern, because we didn’t want to mimic what we’ve already done. We wanted to match the existing brickwork, so that’s when we moved towards terracotta.”
The venue is loosely divided into sections. Ascend the stairs to Ruma’s level and you’ll first spot a strip of patterned semi-circle booths lining its Brunswick Street axis. Guests can gather around arched concrete tables custom fabricated by Blend Concrete Design, shaded by peach-hued umbrellas. Nearby, more concrete tables are ringed by rattan-clad chairs.
Inside sits Ruma’s kitchen and chef’s table – a cave-like space boasting terracotta-toned rammed-earth walls and a smooth counter flanked on one side by eight leather-bound stools. Around the corner is the venue’s bar, boasting a split-face stone counter with a smooth top and rugged edges.
“Jess is a designer and she styles a lot of things,” says Katrina. “She likes creating different pockets – you’re in the same venue, but it feels like there are distinct areas.”
Subscribe for updatesRuma’s nooks are filled with decorative pieces imported from Papua New Guinea, including baskets and clay pots. Combined with the canopy of swaying palms, Ruma feels like an island escape above the bustle below.
Helming the kitchen is Felipe Oliveira, who joins the Ruma team after a heralded stint with Tassis Group. Here, he’s applying his prodigious talents to an offering he describes as broadly modern Australian, with native ingredients woven through Ruma’s comfort-driven, share-style dishes.
“I have a Brazilian background, but I’ve been in Australia for a long time – about 14 years,” says Felipe. “I’m trying to use local Australian produce and support smaller businesses.”
The fun starts with appetite whetters like Idle sourdough with black-garlic butter and native pepperberry salt, whipped feta with toasted buckwheat and hummus sprinkled with wattleseed dust, before moving into snacks like coconut-cured ceviche with compressed cucumber, seared scallop on brioche with chorizo and wasabi mayo, and raw tuna bites with creme fraiche, strawberry and wasabi oil.
Portions increase from here, with beef tartare topped with yuzu kosho and chives, baby-beetroot salad with compressed Davidson plum and vegan fetta, and braised pork belly with pumpkin puree and nashi pear among the next options.
Large-format plates include crumbed pork cutlet with cabbage salad, steak frites with green-pepper sauce, charcoal chicken on a bed of yoghurt with herb salad and lemon myrtle dressing, and market fish with wilted baby spinach, butter emulsion and green-onion oil. Throw in a clutch of desserts and you have a menu that leans toward gastronomic indulgence.
“I know how passionate Felipe is about cooking, ingredients and maintaining a high standard of food,” says Daniel. “We were very fortunate to have him come on board.”
The beverage program has been designed to evoke the feeling of a getaway in a glass – think tropical-inspired interpretations of classic cocktails infused with citrus and fresh herbs. Aperitif time will also be a big focus, with attention paid to cocktail and food pairings.
“We have a tropical aspect to the menu,” says Daniel. “So whether it’s pineapple, mango or passionfruit, there’s a little bit of that in a few of the drinks. But we have kept it pretty minimal – we’ve got 11 specialty cocktails, and then a broad menu of classics.”
When Ruma Rooftop opens, Daniel and Katrina hope guests are enticed on all fronts – from the nostalgia-laced playlist and sun-drenched tropical vibes to the taste-bud-tantalising food and killer cocktail list.
“Sometimes you walk into a venue and you don’t know what it is, you can’t put your finger on it, but it just has a feeling,” says Daniel. “We feel we’ve captured that at Sunsets and we hope we can replicate it here.”
Ruma Rooftop is expected to open later this month – head to The Directory listing for social links and other important details.
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