The Aviary
BAR
271 VICTORIA STREET, ABBOTSFORD
(03) 9428 7727 • MAP P.290
OPEN DAILY NOON–1AM
BEERS $4–$12.50, WINES $7.50–$12, COCKTAILS $18–$25, FOOD $6–$15
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Whether you’re a hummingbird looking for a nip of something sweet, or a hawk in search of some stout prey, the aviary can cater to your needs. The drinks menu is not overly long, but has been lovingly crafted. A healthy range of local and imported beers is available as well as wines from France, Italy and Spain. Martinis come in classic and mod varieties, including variations like the Madame Bovary (gin, elderflower and apricots). The Aviary’s cocktails are interesting without being over the top – the Black Forest is touted as a Cherry Ripe in a glass. There’s also a Greek concoction that includes cucumber and yoghurt. On Sundays, the cocktails come in jugs and can be enjoyed in the sun-lit beer garden, or at the street-side tables on bustling Victoria Street. Not that you’d want to leave the main bar: the old bluestone building has been beautifully restored and adorned with bird cages and antique lights. Painted red birds dart across the white walls, and for those who don’t fly north for the winter, there’s an open fire.
Bar9T4
BAR
94 SWAN STREET, RICHMOND
(03) 9425 9644 • MAP P.290
OPEN THURS 4PM–1AM, FRI 4PM–LATE, SAT &SUN NOON–LATE
BEERS $4–$9, WINES $7–$25, SPIRITS $8–$12
VISA, MC, EF TPOS
It’s understood that the main reason that anyone is at Bar9T4 in the first place is because they want to enjoy a few drinks without the frills and frivolities of the more upmarket bars. Being locally minded, the owners have set aside any trends and fashionable pretensions and built a casual bar for anyone who’s willing to adopt it as their own. With twenty-five years of bar experience under their belts, they’ve streamlined their service down to the bare essentials: cheap drinks, classic anthems from the ’80s and ’90s, live acoustic music, happy hour on Thursday nights and a free barbecue every Sunday. Although the interior is intimate and cosy, the 3am liquor licence implies that the bar can get the odd weekend thrashing, something that has unfortunately influenced its decor. The best thing about the bar is its convenient name – something that might come in handy at two in the morning when you’ve had one too many and are calling out ‘taxi!’
The Boiler Room
BAR
ABBOTSFORD CONVENT, 1 ST HELIERS STREET, ABBOTSFORD
(03) 9419 9426 • MAP P.301
OPEN TUES–SUN NOON–11PM
BEERS $5–$8.50, WINES $5–$7, SPIRITS $7–$9, FOOD $9.90–$15
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
More than a beer garden, this open-air delight is a sprawling oasis that serves drinks in the grounds of one of Melbourne’s most beautiful historic sites. As its name suggests, the bar sits in the home of the old Abbotsford Convent boiler room. Beverages are doled out of the ancient brick building and the umbrella-covered tables are dotted around it, allowing patrons to bask in the glow of free-flowing beer. A family-friendly venue, the Boiler Room opens early and also serves coffee and juices, plus pizzas on weekends. Aussie wines and a good range of beers are the main events at the bar; basic spirits are available but no cocktails. The Boiler Room’s charm lies in its salubrious surrounds. The blocky wood tables are shaded by towering gum trees and have a view of the convent’s stone buildings and pointed turrets. The bar is rustic, displaying the boiler room’s iron innards. Musicians play live on weekends and Friday nights.
Bouzy Rouge
BAR
470 BRIDGE ROAD, RICHMOND
(03) 9429 4348 • MAP P.291
OPEN MON–SAT NOON–1AM, SUN NOON–11PM
BEERS $7–$28, WINES $9–$20, COCKTAILS $18–$22, FOOD $7–$35
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Bouzy Rouge is a bar that’s gone to a fancy dress party – permanently. Its opulent interior is a lavish mash-up of Arabian Nights and Dr Zhivago, from the wall-mounted zebra skin to a row of moose heads made, apparently, of mirror balls. Then there are the wrought-iron bar stools, the ottoman lounge and, of course, the man-size gilt tassels strung over the bar. Restraint is not on the wine list. But everything else is. Wines, whiskys, aperitifs and beers at Bouzy are culled from all over the map. You can buy a bottle of 2004 Grange or a glass of single malt Scotch; choose regional wines from France, Italy and Portugal or a dark ale brewed in Healesville, Victoria. Bouzy’s a unique bar where people dress up to have fun, dream a little and flaunt it. Stilettos and fake furs go down a treat. There’s an all-weather courtyard, an adjoining restaurant and, if Sunday nights are quiet, you can only guess what goes down on a Saturday.
The Collection
COCKTAIL BAR
328 BRIDGE ROAD, RICHMOND
(03) 9429 8333 • MAP P.291
OPEN TUES–FRI 4PM–LATE, SAT & SUN 2PM–LATE
BEERS $7–$10, WINES $6.50–$15, COCKTAILS $12–$17, FOOD $3–$50
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Make your way past the abundant factory outlets and diverse restaurants that line Bridge Road and you’ll find the Collection, a small bar with a big reputation that’s a firm favourite among the locals. Housed in a heritage-listed building dating back to the nineteenth century, the Collection is smart and sophisticated, with a lively atmosphere, classic cocktails, knowledgeable staff and a European tapas menu designed to share. Grab a seat by the bar and the staff will happily discuss the cocktail menu while crushing up fresh seasonal produce. No shortcuts here – all the drinks are made from scratch. If you’d prefer to leave the bartenders to it, there’s a selection of scattered lounges where you can enjoy a mix of traditional cocktails and house specials. Whichever you opt for, the atmosphere inside is warm and intimate. Subdued lighting and burgundy interiors add to the speak-easy vibe. Weather permitting, you can sit outside to take in the street view of Richmond’s busiest precinct.
The Corner Hotel
PUB
57 SWAN STREET, RICHMOND
(03) 9427 9198 • MAP P.290
FRONT BAR OPEN TUES–THURS 4PM–LATE, FRI & SAT 2PM–3AM, SUN 3PM–1AM; ROOFTOP BAR OPEN SUMMER ONLY TUES & WED 4PM–LATE, THURS–SUN NOON–LATE
BEERS $6–$11, WINES $7.50–$9, FOOD $8–$30
VISA, MC, EF TPOS
Mushy over music? Chances are you’ve finger-clicked, hipswayed or foot-stomped the night away at the Corner Hotel’s band room. This longstanding Melbourne music institution has played host to international and local acts time and time again. With a relentless line-up throughout the year from rock to reggae, this iconic spot draws a diversity of music crowds. Enjoy a pre-gig gathering in the front bar and fill up on pots, parmas and pool to help fuel the night ahead. A sucker for cityscapes? The pub culture continues upstairs on the summer rooftop bar. The setting offers a clever mix of undercover and outdoor areas, ample seating and a unique vista of trains whooshing past. Book a table for a Wednesday night to flaunt your mighty music mind at the Rock ’n’ Pop Culture Trivia. With three nooks to choose from, everyone can find a beer and a comfy corner at the Corner.
Der Raum
COCKTAIL BAR
438 CHURCH STREET, RICHMOND
(03) 9428 0055 • MAP P.290
OPEN DAILY 5PM–1AM
BEERS $9, WINES $9, COCKTAILS $20–$25
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
At the risk of stating the obvious, Der Raum is not a place you can just waltz into. Recently, the exclusive establishment became even more so when it turned itself into a membersonly bar, a bold move in a city that eschews pretension. The good news is that if the conditions are right (low member attendance, perhaps), you can try your luck, buzz the bell and hope to god that the bartender deems you worthy of entry – a scenario that harks back to speak-easies of the prohibition era. The staff’s approach is much like molecular gastronomy, a discipline that studies the physical and chemical processes. Although there are no physicists in sight, Der Raum’s cocktails are created with artful science and precise execution, with innovative references to popular culture and current trends. You soon come to realise that every time a drink is poured, stirred or shaken at Der Raum, art and cold science meet to make cocktail history. And this is no overstatement; the bar is world famous and its treatment of cocktail making is very serious indeed.
Dizzy’s Jazz Club
BAR
381 BURNLEY STREET, RICHMOND
(03) 9428 1233 • MAP P.291
LICENSED
OPEN TUES–SAT 5.30PM–LATE
BEERS $6–$9, WINES $6–$9.50, COCKTAILS $14–$17, FOOD $9–$29
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Richmond has no shortage of live music venues but Dizzy’s stands out from the crowd with its winning combination of dinner, drink and jazz. The star of the show is the entertainment, with an ongoing program of jazz musicians from Australia and around the world, and in the small space you have a great view and feel involved in the action as well. And what better way to enjoy the music than with some red wine and a light meal, dessert or cheese platter with your sweetie? Yes, Dizzy’s is certainly one of the more romantic date venues around – provided you like jazz, of course. On Tuesday and Wednesday the show starts at 8pm; on Thursday through Saturday there is a warm-up act at 6.30pm followed by the main event at 9pm. The main show always has a cover charge (often at a very reasonable $14) and some nights sell out in advance, so book ahead for best results.
Great Britain Hotel
PUB
447 CHURCH STREET, RICHMOND
(03) 9429 5066 • MAP P.290
OPEN DAILY 4PM–LATE
BEERS $3.80–$8.50, WINES $6–$9
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
In a suburb that’s increasingly gentrified, the GB is a breath of fresh air for those who like their boozers frill-free. It’s been around for a while, with an incarnation as a heavy metal pub at one stage, but these days things are more serene. Gigs are still a feature, but it’s also a spot for the serious beer drinker. There are fifteen taps, not one of them with a ‘brand’ name. Instead you’ll find boutique brews, like Mountain Goat, Holgate, White Rabbit and the excellent Vale Ale. There’s even a house beer called, ahem, Piss. It’s a lager style, like your Carlton Draughts and VBs, but is natural and preservative-free. (The wine list could use a bit of work.) Not surprisingly, a lot of lads prop up the front bar (love the TV fish tank!) or hunker down in some of the recycled sofas and armchairs in the back room. There’s also a sunny deck, pinball machine and pool table and the staff are cool with you ordering takeaway food to have with a pint.
Holliava
BAR
36 SWAN STREET, RICHMOND
(03) 9421 5155 • MAP P.290
OPEN TUES–THURS 4PM–MIDNIGHT, FRI 4PM–1AM, SAT & SUN NOON–1AM
BEERS $6–$8, WINES $7–$9, COCKTAILS $12–$16
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
After a recent refurbishment, Holliava is looking cleaner and more modern than ever. Concrete floors, textured wooden walls and leather lounges – this is a slick bar and on most nights is a watering hole for office workers departing the city. Located opposite Richmond station, Holliava is about the closest bar to the MCG and after any event the place is packed. There’s plenty of room to move, though, with large booths perfect for a private gathering of friends. The extensive smoking area out the back is super-comfortable, with low wooden benches, large TV screens and its own bar. It’s a great place to relax and on quiet nights the trickle of a water feature can be heard bubbling away (luckily the toilets are in close proximity). There is a wall of booze behind the main bar and the range of beer and wine is extensive, so customers are spoilt for choice. If you can’t find something to drink here, you probably aren’t thirsty.
Maeve Fox
COCKTAIL BAR
472 CHURCH STREET, RICHMOND
(03) 9427 1233 • MAP P.290
OPEN WED 4PM–1AM, THURS–SAT 4PM–3AM, SUN 5PM–1AM
BEERS $4.50–$9, WINES $7.50–$11, COCKTAILS $16–$18, FOOD $4–$8.50
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
Quirky rural decor, elegant lounges and a colourful array of cocktails make Maeve Fox a unique spot for some quiet drinks. Past the funky bar and rustic fireplace complete with logs, the back room boasts huge windows overlooking East Richmond station, which somehow looks good from such sleek surroundings. Above, a halo of branches encases the feature light in a sort of natural candelabra, adding to the offbeat country charm. Lounging on the ottomans, you can relax and browse the whimsical menu. Drinks are varied: local and imported beers, top-shelf wines and sweet ciders are all on offer. But the highlight really is the celebrated cocktail selection, which contains an assortment of original concoctions with names like Emerald City, Yo Ho Ho and Carnival. Snacks include dips, wedges, and a bowl of M&Ms. Parties can be booked in the Glass Room or the Trophy Room upstairs, while function packages and cocktail classes are also options. Grab your mates and check this one out. Plus, if you’re a local, Maeve Fox gives you a discount.
Mountain Goat Brewery
BAR
CORNER NORTH AND CLARK STREETS, RICHMOND
(03) 9428 1180 • MAP P.291
OPEN WED & FRI 5PM–9PM
BEERS $4.50–$9, WINES $7–$8.50, FOOD $8–$14
VISA, MC, EF TPOS
What started in a bathroom in Elsternwick has blossomed into one of Melbourne’s most renowned independent microbreweries. Mountain Goat is more of an attraction than your regular pub. Nick Cave or Bob Marley pumping through the insulated brick warehouse makes it a perfect place to drink and dine – chilled-style. The friendly staff, foosball table and ’50s-style lamps alongside the couches throughout the brewery make for a relaxing space. The overpowering smell of hops and yeast, combined with the delicious waft of freshly made pizzas, is an interesting combo. On a Wednesday, get in by 6.30pm for a free twenty-minute tour of the brewery – it produces 120,000 litres of quality beers a year. Wade between the kettles, vats and packaging tanks where the brewers test the density, pH levels and formula daily to ensure the freshest brews. After your educational session, you can sample four of the brewed beers – the ‘Sampler Peddler’ – and snap up a snack with a couple of tasty pizzas.
Prince Alfred Hotel
PUB
619 CHURCH STREET, RICHMOND
(03) 9428 6246 • MAP P.292
OPEN TUES–SAT NOON–MIDNIGHT, SUN NOON–11PM
BEERS $5–$13.50, WINES $8–$14, FOOD $10–$39
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Hard to believe, but this used to be a quintessential old-school pub. Beer choice was Carlton or VB, sport was on the TV, and blokes were at the bar. Reopened in 2011 after a three-year renovation, it’s going for a whole new look with heavy wood panelling, a marble-topped bar and red leather banquette seats. Elegance is the Alfred’s new attire, and the crowd of casually well-dressed (polo shirts for men, heels for women) thirty- to fifty-somethings have taken to it like a duck to the Yarra, just a stone’s throw away. Prices are no longer old-school but then again the selection of grog has ramped up a notch. You can buy organic ale from Victoria or malted wheat beer from Germany, pale ale from McLaren Vale or pilsener from Austria. The wine list covers all main varieties and ranges widely across the map, from the Yarra Valley to Argentina. The pub’s busiest on weekend nights and can get pretty wild. Come on a Sunday afternoon or evening to have almost the entire front bar to yourself.
Public House
BAR
433–435 CHURCH STREET, RICHMOND
(03) 9421 0187 • MAP P.290
OPEN SUN–THURS NOON–10PM, FRI & SAT NOON–11PM
BEERS $4–$13.50, WINES $7–$12, COCKTAILS $18, FOOD $3–$29
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
A slick urban bar, Public House blends in nicely with the arty furniture shops and funky taverns that dot this section of Church Street. Pitched at trendy thirty-somethings, the place has a definite after-work drinks feel. Contemporary furnishings complement the spacious and sleek interior, with a floral carpet adding a splash of colour and a slightly offbeat formal touch. Perched on a barstool under the dim lighting, you can watch the world go by from one of the intimate two-person tables, or bring a group and spread out in the upstairs lounge. Lunch and dinner are available every day, with Mediterranean tapas, cheese platters and tempting desserts as highlights to go with your bubbly. A large, mostly Australian wine list and selection of beers and ciders will cater to a range of tastes and, while the cocktail list is limited, the $10 Sunday cocktails are a good way to cap off your weekend.
Richmond Club Hotel
PUB
100 SWAN STREET, RICHMOND
(03) 9428 6722 • MAP P.290
OPEN DAILY 6PM–MIDNIGHT
BEERS $4–$9, WINES $7–$9.50, COCKTAILS $14–$16, FOOD $7.50–$32
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
The Richmond Club Hotel has long been a favourite haunt for inner-city dwellers, and its recent refurbishment – though still ongoing – is now bringing a new generation of drinkers to the bar. The updated interiors are understated yet sophisticated, as are many of the punters, who enjoy the upmarket pub atmosphere. Despite its size – including multi levels, a muchloved public bar, dining area, lounge bar, function rooms, booths and a deck – the Richmond Club manages to retain a cosy vibe, and there are plenty of comfy nooks to park yourself in to enjoy the range of local beers and ciders on tap. The cocktails are also appealing and, like beer, can be served by the jug. For something a little more refined, there is a two-page wine list including fortifieds. The menu is posh-but-hearty pub grub – think wagyu beef burgers, eggplant and zucchini parmagiana, and crispy-skinned fillet of Tasmanian salmon – with mains priced fairly. Visit Tuesday or Wednesday for $13 meal specials and Friday night for happy hour (5pm–7pm).
Royal Saxon
PUB
545 CHURCH STREET, RICHMOND
(03) 9429 5277 • MAP P.290
OPEN MON-THURS NOON-MIDNIGHT, FRI & SAT NOON-1AM, SUN NOON-11PM
BEERS $4.50-$29, WINES $8-$12, COCKTAILS $13-$20, FOOD $3.50-$36
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
Is it a pub? Is it a bar? It has all the Aussie favourites on tap, so it must be a pub. But it’s got a killer wine list, a swag of international bottled brews, plus a few boutique options on tap, so it could be a bar. Then again, its relaxed casual dining has got pub written all over it. But look at all those cocktails! And a cheese list! It’s all so effortlessly chic and gourmet – that makes it a bar, surely? Partly to blame for the confusion are the folk at Six Degrees, with their old-meets-new rustic designer look – bluestone walls, clean lines and exposed brick – perfect for the new breed of pubgoer. Wall-to-ceiling windows work the indoor–outdoor vibe, and Jackson Bay fig trees shading the tables outside make it a beer garden to be reckoned with. The glorious outcome of this ‘next-generation’ pub conundrum is that the one location suits both a nice intimate date and a rowdy catch-up with mates – just check with your special someone if you plan on combining the two.
Royston Hotel
PUB
12 RIVER STREET, RICHMOND
(03) 9421 5000 • MAP P.291
OPEN MON & TUES 5PM–LATE, WED & THURS NOON–LATE, FRI NOON–1AM, SAT 3PM–1AM, SUN 3PM–LATE
BEERS $4–$19, WINES $7–$9, FOOD $15–$33
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Promoting the excellence of local craft beer tends to be de rigueur in Melbourne these days, but the Royston was one of the pubs that led the charge from the mid-2000s. On the taps, you’ll find a whole range of microbrews including Holgate, Hargreaves Hill and Bridge Road Brewers (there are ten at a time but they rotate regularly). This is a true local spot, with a mix of clientele from the neighbourhood. It’s really relaxed, and the staff know what they’re talking about, whether they’re offering suggestions from the wine list or discussing what bands are worth catching locally. The high windows are slightly odd (you can’t see out of them), but that probably has something to do with the fact that this was originally the boozer that served the tannery next door. The latest reno sees stools around the U-shaped bar, red lampshades, a velvet corner sofa and plenty of exposed brick – comfy, you’d say, rather than flashy. There’s a separate room with a pool table, and a popular dining room.
Sneak
COCKTAIL BAR
69 SWAN STREET, RICHMOND
(03) 9427 7457 • MAP P.290
OPEN WED–SUN 5PM–LATE
BEERS $5–$8, WINES $6.50–$9, COCKTAILS $12–$16
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Dim but not dark, retro but not shabby, Sneak is one of the more distinguished bars around Richmond, making it an attractive alternative to the suburb’s pub and live music scene. It’s dominated by a beautiful granite bar and the elegant motif continues throughout the venue, with a blend of retro chic and modern style. There are lots of intimate areas to settle into, though the mood changes depending on the crowd. Areas of the bar can also be booked for functions. There is a good selection of local and imported beers, including taps, and lovers of wine are well catered to. But cocktails are really the go at Sneak, with the friendly staff expertly mixing up all the classics and more. Though certainly not a meat-market, Sneak is not so refined that patrons don’t let their hair down. With a 3am licence, on weekends it gets quite crowded and noisy, and the bar often hums with corporate types getting down to the funky house tunes.
The Terminus Hotel
PUB
605 VICTORIA STREET, ABBOTSFORD
(03) 9427 0615 • MAP P.291
OPEN MON 4PM–LATE, TUES–SUN NOON–LATE
BEERS $4–$14, WINES $7.50–$9, FOOD $6.50–$18
VISA, MC
There’s a certain sense of deja vu about the Termi. It’s all those shabby mismatched sofas and dining chairs, the foosball table and all-pervading sense of cheap fun – they make it feel like every share house you’ve ever lived in. That’s definitely part of the charm of this pub: no one really cares if you sprawl on the couches by the fire, palming a pint of Little Creatures Bright Ale and yelling at the TV as your footy team gets thumped again. On a Friday night, for instance, there’ll be a group of twenty-something fellas bantering over the pool table and doing their best Courteney Cox imitations as the DJ, located out the back on the deck, plays Springsteen’s ‘Dancing in the Dark’, in between Pearl Jam, Gypsy & the Cat and ’90s trip-hop. There’s a good selection of local beers on tap (White Rabbit and Hawthorn included) and in the fridge, and the kitchen does well-priced pub grub like burgers and chicken parma. There’s something on every night too (check the website) from bingo to live music.
The Vic
BAR
281 VICTORIA STREET, ABBOTSFORD
(03) 9421 3922 • MAP P.290
OPEN MON–THURS 4PM–MIDNIGHT, FRI & SAT 4PM–1AM, SUN 3PM–11PM
BEERS $5.50–$14, WINES $7–$9, COCKTAILS $17–$25, FOOD $4–$23
VISA, MC
Pop art meets industry chic in the open-fronted Vic, where smokers are welcomed inside the holey front bar and everyone else can drink in concealed comfort, snug behind panes of ribbed glass. Out back there are low white booths, raw brick walls and bare bulbs strung everywhere. Up the front, Abbotsford’s famous skipping girl graces the walls. Retro art and local artists’ work colour the walls throughout. The Vic is a local bar that reflects the best of the suburb around it – the artists, the landmarks and the landscape. Even Victoria Street’s defining menu sneaks in: dishes can be ordered from local eateries. There are Peking duck crepes and dim sims from Binh Minh or pizzas from Jesse’s Pizza. Behind the bar they serve infused vodkas, with flavours like watermelon, lavender and Redskin, and offer heaps of specials, including a threehour happy hour featuring $10 jugs during the week. DJs liven things up on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and there’s a free barbecue on Sundays.