By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Named after the Japanese word for ‘disco’, Disuko, the latest venture from MAMAS Dining Group, opened this week. Taking over the former Madame Brussels and turning it into a disco-drenched Japanese playground, it delivers a nod to Tokyo’s nightlife of the 1980s with red timber panelling, terracotta hues and low-lit lounges straight out of a city that never sleeps.
From the moment you step off Bourke Street and into the lift, the vibe hits you. Up top, mirrored reflections bounce off a constellation of disco balls while a DJ spins vinyl, setting a soundtrack somewhere between Japanese soul, smooth disco and old-school hip hop.
The 8-metre backlit bar glows in retro-orange, beckoning you to perch for cocktails or sake before, during or after dinner. Bar Manager, Joshuiea Scott shakes, stirs and pours a menu that reads like a love letter to Japanese spirits. Highlights include the Hana Nashi - Roku gin, rose water, lemon, pear, cloudy pear soda, the Ginza Girl - red shiso-infused Grey Goose with burmutton sake dry vermouth and the Shogun - green tea, lemon, yuzu syrup and ginger beer.
The interior is a lacquered den of cosiness. Designed by Thai Ho and MAMAS in-house designer Joan Budiono, with construction by DIRECTITUDE, the space is panelled in red timber with amber accents, bottle-green booths and cherry-red ruched leather banquettes. It’s a place to sit back, sip and savour the city as much as the flavours on your plate.
Leading the kitchen, Creative Culinary Director Stolley and Head Chef Hoa, formerly of Kisumé and Nobu, have crafted a playful menu of izakaya-inspired dishes. Opt for the $65 pp Disuko Setto or pick from a la carte options.
From smoky hibachi bites to nigiri and hot comfort food, the menu is a playground of Japanese flavours. Try the fillet-o-ebi sando, inspired by the Japanese McDonald’s classic, with crumbed prawns, prawn mousse, alfalfa and tonkatsu sauce.
The udon carbonara wields chewy Udon noodles with dashi smoked bacon lardo and miso sauce, topped with nori and shoyuzuke yolk. Other highlights include citrus-yuzu soy-dressed hiramasa, lightly seared Wagyu tataki with yuzu kosho cream and crisp potato topping, and the hibachi-flame grilled shoyu-yaki chicken, brined in sake and finished with blood-orange kosho.
For a front-row experience, the 8-seat omakase bar lets diners watch a 12-course sushi and sashimi menu unfold under the hands of master Chefs. It’s the perfect spot for sushi lovers who want theatre with their nigiri.
Outside, the terracotta terrace and 30-seat private dining room, The Tokyo Sky Mezzanine, offer skyline views that pair as well with sake as they do with cocktails. Day or night, the space feels alive, a city within the city, where neon nostalgia meets modern Melbourne energy.
The music program is key. Each weekend, DJs take over the vinyl decks and bespoke boomboxes, crafted with kumiko joinery, pulsing with curated beats, encouraging guests to linger, sway and lose track of time. Disuko isn’t just a dinner spot, it’s a celebration of nightlife, where the rhythm is as important as the menu.
Thai Ho, CEO and Director of MAMAS Dining Group, says: "The inspiration for Disuko came from visiting family in Shibuya, Tokyo. The city’s culture, cuisine and energy are electric. Disuko is our way of bringing a slice of that life to Melbourne. Think neon, nostalgia and nothing but good times.”
Disuko is open seven days a week from noon until late, inviting Melburnians and visitors alike to step into a world where 1980s Tokyo disco meets modern Japanese cuisine, skyline cocktails and vinyl-backed vibes.
Whether you’re here for hibachi-smoked bites, omakase sushi, sake flights or skyline cocktails, Disuko promises a night out that’s more than a meal. It’s a disco-drenched, rooftop experience that makes you want to linger, sip and dance with your eyes on the city.
