Downtown just got a taste of down under: Isla & Co. is a new Australian spot that just opened inside the Merchant Hotel at 139 Orchard Street on the Lower East Side.
More than a café, Isla & Co. is designed as a day-to-night gathering place that blends laid-back Australian pub culture with downtown New York energy. Designed by Craig Shillitto of Cycle Projects, the 70-seat dining room and intimate eight-seat bar feature lush greenery, structural lighting and floor-to-ceiling windows.
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The menu, created by executive chef Clint Snowling, leans into Australian pub classics and elevated comfort food meant for sharing. Dishes include whipped feta with fresh-baked pita, ponzu and chili squid with togarashi aioli, kangaroo skewers with celeriac purée and zhoug, and a fisherman’s basket for two loaded with tempura fish, fried prawns, crispy squid and fries. Heartier plates range from lamb ragout with rigatoni to a chargrilled steak for two finished with wild mushroom-truffle cream and bone marrow jus.
Photograph: Alexandro Loayza
The beverage program is equally central to the concept. A wine list focused on small producers and “coastal drinkability” is paired with a cocktail menu overseen by beverage director Jeremy Ortiz. Signature drinks include the pepperoncini martini, smoke show with mezcal, passionfruit and habanero, and a Margot Robbie cocktail (she’s Australian, in case you didn’t know) built on tequila, toasted sesame, lemon and honey. The standout is an espresso martini flight, which offers three riffs on the classic and already looks like a must-order.
Photograph: Max Flatow
The all-day restaurant marks the eighth New York City venue for Parched Hospitality Group, founded by restaurateurs Barry Dry and David Orr, the duo behind Hole In The Wall, Wallflower and Daintree. The LES location also signals the beginning of a broader takeover of the Merchant Hotel’s food and beverage operations, with multiple new concepts expected to debut across the property over the next six months.
“We’re thrilled to continue to expand our footprint in Manhattan and bring our Isla & Co. and Hole In The Wall concepts to the Lower East Side; one of the most dynamic and energetic neighborhoods in New York,” Dry said in a statement. “We believe that quality of service doesn’t need to be pretentious and stuffy and our goal has always been to create spaces that feel just as welcoming to locals as they do to visitors. We’re excited to bring the approachable and warm spirit of Australian hospitality to The Merchant Hotel.”
Later this winter, the lobby of the Merchant Hotel will also welcome the fifth New York City location of Hole In The Wall, bringing Australian-style coffee and all-day brunch to the same address.
Isla & Co. serves brunch Friday through Sunday from 9am to 4pm, with dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 5pm to 10pm. Walk-ins are welcome, and reservations are available via Resy. For more information, click here.