Silo No9: A hidden gem for locals in Melbourne’s industrial west

Tucked between the clatter of freight lines and the platforms of South Kensington Station, a surprising new destination has quietly opened its doors, bringing a fresh wave of hospitality and charm to a little-known corner of West Melbourne.

Welcome to Silo No9, the latest project from award-winning hospitality group Talisman, and the only culinary offering to open within the emerging Lennon Mills precinct – a historic industrial site now being reimagined for modern life.

The café, wine bar and events space sits at the heart of this ambitious revitalisation of West Melbourne’s former flour mill, nestled behind Dynon Rd and just steps from South Kensington Station. While it’s currently best accessed via Lennon St, Silo No9’s operators are in discussions with the City of Melbourne to unlock a fence that would allow direct pedestrian access from the station – a move that would make it even more accessible to residents in North and West Melbourne and Kensington.

For those who make the journey, what awaits is a truly unique experience. Set within a restored brick building beneath Melbourne’s first high-rise concrete grain silo, Silo No9 is a venue rich in texture, history and hospitality. Exposed brickwork, natural light and a relaxed, open layout complete with a rooftop terrace lend the space a rare warmth that bridges the industrial with the intimate.

“We wanted Silo No9 to feel like an escape – a place that’s inviting and unexpected,” said Vince Lombino, founder of the Talisman Group. “You walk in, and you’re greeted by the smell of baked focaccia, fresh coffee, and a team that genuinely wants to connect. It’s café, bake shop, and wine-friendly all in one.”

“It’s a little hidden gem. When you drive into the precinct and see the towering silos and the red brick building that houses Silo 9, you feel like you’ve stumbled across something special.”

The group, which began in 2021 with the opening of Sasso Italiano in Brisbane’s South City Square, has since built a name for delivering design-driven, experience-led hospitality. Its portfolio now includes Bar Sasso, South City Wine, and Melbourne’s recently launched Casa Chino, a vibrant Latin American-Chinese fusion venue in Brunswick.

Across all Talisman venues, the ethos is consistent: create places where energy and connection come first. “For us, it’s about giving great energy, having great energy – and making people feel something special when they walk through the door,” Mr Lombino said.

The Silo No9 kitchen is helmed by Amalfi Coast-born head chef Gabriele Di Landri, who has worked at some of Australia’s most exciting restaurants including the Dolphin Hotel and Matt Moran’s Chiswick Restaurant and Aria.

Silo No9 offers a tight, flavour-focused weekday menu built around all of its house-made staples – from focaccia sandwiches to sausage rolls, pies and pastries – with Detroit-style pizzas on the way. There’s also St Remio Coffee, while a curated selection of imported pantry items, including pasta and sauces from Italy, is also available to purchase.

Beyond its daily service, the venue is also available for private events and functions, offering one of the west’s most distinctive new hospitality spaces. The main room can accommodate up to 50 seated or 80 standing guests, while its rooftop terrace, which looks out across the city skyline and Port of Melbourne, can host up to 90 people for cocktail-style gatherings.

From corporate breakfasts to intimate celebrations or catered office lunches, Silo No9’s flexible event offering aims to service the emerging business and residential community in the surrounding precinct.

“We want Silo No9 to be more than just a café, it’s a space that evolves with the people around it, a place for food, connection, and community,” Mr Lombino said.

Located in the $130 million Lennon Mills precinct developed by The Perri Group, the venue is part of a broader transformation of one of Melbourne’s most historic industrial sites. Spanning 1.5 hectares, the precinct has already attracted major commercial tenants and is set to become a new hub for creativity, business and community.

For Mr Lombino and his team, the early response has been heartening.

“We recently had a visit from a local family whose grandfather built and operated the original flour mill on the site,” Mr Lombino told North West City News.

“They brought three generations with them, shared stories of the old mill, and told us how thrilled they were with the way the site had been brought back to life. Moments like that mean a lot.”

And there’s more to come. Mr Lombino hinted at a busy calendar of community-facing events, including weekend trade, pop-up markets and even a moonlight cinema series in summer.

“We’re currently exploring weekend trade to give locals even more reason to visit, and we’re having conversations with a few creative businesses about using our outdoor lawn space for pop-ups, things like vintage and thrift markets, which feel like a perfect fit for the precinct,” he said.

“We’re also tossing around ideas for a moonlight cinema series in summer and looking at curating a calendar of monthly events. Nothing is locked in just yet, but there’s so much potential here and we’re excited about what’s to come.”

Find Silo No9 at Lennon Mills (entry via Lennon St, West Melbourne), open weekdays from 7am to 3pm.

silo9.com.au •