Back Bar
COCKTAIL BAR
67 GREEN STREET, WINDSOR
(03) 9529 7899 • MAP P.293
OPEN TUES–SUN 5PM–LATE
BEERS $7–$8, WINES $7–$11, COCKTAILS $15–$18
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
If schmoozing in a dimly lit cocktail bar sounds like your kind of thing, look no further than Windsor’s Back Bar. Situated at the rear of Tusk Cafe, just off Chapel Street, this broody bar oozes sex appeal. Choose either the upstairs Gold Lounge or the more intimate downstairs bar, where the interior is plush – decked out in red velour armchairs and chaise lounges. It’s something you’d expect to see in a nineteenth-century smoking den, and yet the hip clientele manage to bring it back to the future. The well-heeled bartenders are ready and waiting to serve any cocktail you fancy tippling. Choose from the extensive menu or get adventurous and ask your new friend behind the counter to whisk you up an exciting creation. The beats tend to get louder later in the evening (after 9pm) as the crowd starts to grow. In winter, there’s the added bonus of a cosy open fire. So get ready to nuzzle on in.
Borsch, Vodka & Tears
BAR
173 CHAPEL STREET, WINDSOR
(03) 9530 2694 • MAP P.293
OPEN MON–WED 8AM–1AM, THURS & FRI 8AM–3AM, SAT 9AM–3AM, SUN 9AM–11PM
BEERS $6.50–$8.50, WINES $5.50–$9.50, COCKTAILS $14.50–$20, VODKA $6–$14.50, FOOD $8.50–$22
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Don’t let this small, unassuming square of Windsor fool you. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in menu choice – fourteen pages of it, in fact – and that’s mostly vodka. Categorised according to descriptions such as lightly infused, honey and spice and all things nuts, sweet and creamy, herbal, absinthe and piolunówka, the list really does go on. Over 100 vodkas, mainly from Poland, are exclusive to the cafe-cum-restaurant-cum-bar. Even on a weeknight you can expect soft lighting, a busy atmosphere and gentle gypsy music playing in the background. It’s surprisingly chilled: no drunken debauchery here. You could even go so far as to say it’s fit for a first-time date, though temptation could prove interesting later on. With tantalising Eastern European tapas and an endless supply of fluids, there’s plenty here to keep you going long after the candles have been blown out.
Chapel St Cellars
BAR
89 CHAPEL STREET, WINDSOR
(03) 9533 7769 • MAP P.293
OPEN SUN–WED 11AM–8PM, THURS 11AM–9PM, FRI & SAT 11AM–11PM
BOTTLE SHOP PRICES, FOOD $3–$12
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
‘Drink different’, the cellars’ motto, gives the first hint of the extraordinary range of wines, beers and ciders crammed into every nook and cranny of this snug store. There’s a veritable treasure trove of booze to uncork. Happy customers can tap into more than the local microbrewery beer, with one of the friendly and knowledgeable owners on hand. Pull up a seat at one of the wine barrels serving as tables for the most affordable beer and wine education, at bottle-shop prices. There’s an extensive list of 200 Aussie and imported beers and, yes, there are a couple of kegs at the back corner bar. Wine comes from all corners of the world – Chile, Argentina, Spain and Portugal included. For those who are peckish there’s a short but suitable menu of small-plate munchies. Enthusiastic locals unwillingly disclose what was once their secret – that with this range and these prices Chapel St Cellars is a super way to start any evening out on the town.
Hoo Haa
BAR
LEVEL 1, 105 CHAPEL STREET, WINDSOR
(03) 9529 6900 • MAP P.293
OPEN TUES–THURS 5PM–1AM, FRI & SAT 4PM–2AM, SUN 4PM–1AM
BEERS $4.50–$13, WINES $9–$12, COCKTAILS $12–$19, FOOD $3–$30
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Hoo Haa is not as cool as it’s rumoured to be and this is a very good thing. Whispers of ‘dress up’ and ‘go late’ or recommendations to take your best-looking friend for aesthetic support are malicious rumours. There’s the odd glamazon, but, importantly, the rest of us are also welcome. Staff are friendly, meals and drinks are approachable and the design is a lesson in how to do eclectic while remaining chic. Pressed metal, leather and floorboards create a textural wonderland and the furniture is a hodge-podge of dining tables stolen from Nanna, vintage chairs and industrial stools. Outside, or should we say ‘in the smokers lounge’, planter boxes and palms lend a plantation feel and the mandatory astroturf lines the walls. Just when you think it can’t get any hipper, DJs crank tip the scales from 10pm Friday and Saturday nights. Arrive early on weekends to avoid a cover charge, or even earlier on any day to catch the 4pm to 7pm happy hour.
Killing Time Garden Bar
BAR
11 CHAPEL STREET, WINDSOR
0142 023 1310 • MAP P.293
OPEN THURS–SUN 8PM–1AM
BEERS $5–$10, WINES $5, SPIRITS $10
CASH ONLY
You’d be forgiven for thinking this hole-in-the-wall shopfront is totally out of place on Chapel Street. But this is Windsor, not Prahran. With mismatched furniture offset by quirky touches (a statue of a horse hanging from the ceiling, a giant ball of wooden twine in the corner, a cage containing the often international DJ), it’s actually everything this area is about. Blink and you’ll miss the bar – a tiny table halfway down the side of the room. It’s more like something you’d set up at home, with a small selection of spirits, wines, ciders, longnecks and bottled beers. There’s not even a drinks menu, just some old beer labels stuck to the wall. Then there are the random items salvaged by the owner, Cam, in the garden out back: a wooden bench, worn couch, gas heater and plastic skeleton. Throw in some funky electric beats and this intimate space is transformed into a rocking house party. Opening times vary, depending on how big the night before was. But that’s the appeal. It’s small on drink options, huge on personality.
La La Land
BAR
134 CHAPEL STREET, WINDSOR
(03) 9533 8972 • MAP P.293
OPEN DAILY 4PM–LATE
BEERS $6–$11.50, WINES $7–$9, COCKTAILS $9–$20, FOOD $8
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Location ALSO IN CBD
Cosy up in the big plush velvet lounges for a smooth Chapel Street experience at La La Land, which gets even cosier in winter, when the fire is lit. In the midst of the crowd, this small, friendly bar feels like a private party in your own lounge room. The awesome crew will muddle and mix all the cocktail classics as well as some of the new. The Gummy Bear – fresh lime, vanilla vodka, cloudy apple juice and ginger ale – wins as the fave, but for ginger beer lovers they also mix a mean Dark & Stormy! There’s an emphasis on quality with local and imported beers, and the standard gin is Bombay Sapphire. The groove is good any night with a DJ from 11pm on Friday and Saturday. La La really starts singing after 10pm, with a constant queue at the bar, but getting going earlier brings some privileges – it’s much easier to grab a lounge and the half-price happy hour goes from 4pm to 8pm.
Lucky Coq
BAR
179 CHAPEL STREET, WINDSOR
(03) 9525 1288 • MAP P.293
OPEN DAILY NOON–3AM
BEERS $4.50–$7.50, WINES $6.50–$8, COCKTAILS $17, FOOD $4–$10
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
This firm local favourite continues to attract attention – and not just for its name. A mixed bunch of beer lovers and beautiful people flock to the Coq for free pool, barbecue nights, live bands and DJs. There’s a great range of beers on tap, not to mention super-value $4 pizzas every lunch and dinner – a telltale carryover from its sister joint, Fitzroy’s Bimbo Deluxe. And that’s not the only thing that feels quite similar. Downstairs there’s a deep red glow, heavy drape curtains, nooks and crannies to hide out in and couches to slump into. Upstairs remains more nightclub-esque, with pumping music, a large open space and small courtyard that’s heaving, rain, hail or shine. From the painted and porcelain roosters dotted all over the place to the downright cheeky coqtails, this is a Melbourne institution that stays true to its title.
Mothers Milk
BAR
17 CHAPEL STREET, WINDSOR
(03) 9521 4119 • MAP P.293
OPEN DAILY 4PM–LATE BEERS $6–$8, WINES $7–$9, COCKTAILS $16–$18, FOOD $5–$20
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Too often Chapel Street is dismissed as too gritty, too elitist or too ‘Chapel Street’ but, tucked all the way up the Windsor end, Mothers Milk provides an outlet that fits none of these categories. It’s chilled without being too alternative, cosy without being overbearing, and cool without screaming look at me. Inside there’s an Indian saloon feel – warm leather couches, subtle antique lighting, an open fire and a welcoming feel with a ’70s colour palette. Through the walkway and upstairs to the back you’ll find you’re not in Kansas anymore – the decked, open-air (all weather) bar fits sixty and is a brilliant place to pretend it’s summer in the depths of winter. Enclosed street seating, well-priced wines (but a limited number of beers) and a known cocktail list give Mothers Milk a relaxed vibe where you might think to start your night out on Chapel Street. Be sure to use the mirrored bathroom before you leave.
Top 10 Big Budget Blockbuster Bars
Bali beach party meets waterfront mansion: this bar is part sophisticated night haunt, part tiki hut. Lots of cash has been thrown at the fit-out to ensure the rustic touches are just that – touches. Grand statues, gorgeous paper lanterns and a large-scale party room make Alumbra worth the trip to the Docklands.
One hundred per cent indulgence, Baroq House is more about good old-fashioned extravagance than trying to live up to a theme. Think marble, chandeliers, velvet and very decadent drinks.
Essentially a penthouse bar, this glam club has views of the city from its spot on the fifteenth floor.
Spanning three floors, including the crowning glory of a candlelit rooftop garden, the Emerald Peacock (and its sister around the corner, the Red Hummingbird) invests heavily in rich furnishings and gorgeous wallpaper to make visitors feel spoilt.
Eve
334 CITY ROAD, SOUTHBANK
(03) 9696
OPEN THURS–SAT 9AM–5AM
BEERS $6–$12, WINES $8–$12, COCKTAILS $18–$25
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
The illuminated dancefloor, French furniture and statement granite bar sum up what Eve is all about: fun, style and cocktails. It’s dressed to the nines without getting carried away.
An eclectic mash-up of bar, club and Italian eatery, with an outdoor area and throbbing dancefloor to boot, Hoo Haa is hard to beat.
Featuring three levels of copper-tipped fun, this naughty pseudo-Spanish bar that specialises in pintxos and infused vodkas is surprisingly grand for grungy Brunswick Street.
What it lacks in embellishments it makes up for with paredback cool. This behemoth spreads itself over two levels, including sun-dappled balconies and beer gardens that attract Melbourne’s coolest crowd.
Glitzy and glamorous, Silk Road is all tricked up in gold, chandeliers and lavish ornaments. This OTT venue sets the benchmark for bling on the Melbourne bar scene.
As ostentatious and outrageous as Silk Road but with a Middle Eastern twist, Spice Market spares no expense in transporting a Turkish harem to our humble city. Step off the street into a world where you’ll be treated like a sultan.
Pause
BAR
268 CARLISLE STREET, BALACLAVA
(03) 9537 0511 • MAP P.297
OPEN MON–FRI 4PM–LATE, SAT & SUN NOON–LATE
BEERS $4.50–$12, WINES $7–$12, COCKTAILS $16–$20, FOOD $4–$18
VISA, MC, EFTPOS
Marrakech meets downtown Balaclava at Pause, smack in the middle of the buzzing Carlisle Street strip. Slotted incongruously between a $2 shop and a newsagency, this charming bar has been serving up its winning blend of Moroccan magic and great drinks since 2001. Swing by for a pre-dinner tipple at your peril: while Pause is conveniently close to several fine restaurants, you’ll be tempted to cancel your reservation once you get comfy on a cushion-strewn couch. A playful turquoise and chocolate colour scheme with plenty of exotic flourishes sets the scene; cheerfully unpretentious punters provide the ambience. So what’ll it be? Choose from a well-rounded selection of wines, both local and international, creative cocktails and a bonanza of bottled and tap beers – the super-friendly bar staff will offer suggestions if you can’t decide. Peckish? More-ish Moroccaninspired treats will soon fix that. As if a generous happy hour (4pm to 6pm) and weekend barbecues on the back patio weren’t enough, Pause keeps the good times rolling with its popular Sunday evening open mic session and mid-week live jazz. Bottoms up!
Pera
COCKTAIL BAR
64 CHURCH STREET, BRIGHTON
(03) 9530 5240 • MAP P.303
OPEN TUES–SUN NOON–5AM
BEERS $7–$11, WINES $9–$9.50, COCKTAILS $12.50–$25.50, FOOD $2.50–$27
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Where’s Ol’ Blue Eyes when you need him? Cranky Frankie and his Rat Pack pals would’ve flipped for this bar! From its dark wood furnishings and deep red walls to its gilt-framed mirrors and corner piano, Pera recalls a time when the jazz was swinging and mischief was in the air. Doing little to dispel this impression is a menu of almost seventy (count ’em) cocktails: tried and true classics vying with inspired originals like the Bacardi-based Brighton Beauty for your sipping pleasure. Liquor-laced coffees offer late-night kicks, while the decadent sweeties on display look almost too good to eat. Then there are the cigars – Cuban, of course, lined up in the humidor like soldiers … sí señor! Dainty Delicias for the ladies, mammoth Monte Cristos for those who’ve got all night. Pull up a cane chair among the ferns in Pera’s sheltered smoking lounge, soak up the smooth sounds on the stereo and pretend you’re hanging in pre-Revolution Havana with Sinatra, Martin and Davis. Perhaps a young Angie Dickinson will sashay by? More likely a bevy of Brighton beauties.
Treehouse Lounge
BAR
263 CARLISLE STREET, BALACLAVA
(03) 9527 8940 • MAP P.297
OPEN TUES–THURS & SUN NOON–LATE, FRI & SAT NOON–1.30AM
BEERS $4.50–$8, WINES $7–$9, COCKTAILS $13–$17, FOOD $12.50–$37
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Those expecting to stroll down Carlisle Street and find a bar perched in the boughs of a tree will be baffled (but excited) to instead find a busy spot serving delicious tapas, pizza and a vast selection of oysters with cold cider and beer on tap. Treehouse Lounge’s interior design is an interesting mix of old and new: a bar made from a TV stand, graffiti posters hanging from the wall, a zebra-striped hallway leading to the toilets, a wooden back room that feels distinctly like a childhood cubby house and small touches – a large chandelier made from tree branches and a car tyre secured to the wall by thick rope – that allude to the bar’s name. Treehouse is a late-night bar and all-day cafe that does both with seeming effortlessness. The menu is oriented towards items to share and, with the large tables both inside and out on the street, Treehouse Lounge is the perfect place to catch up with friends.
Tyranny of Distance
BAR
147 UNION STREET, WINDSOR
(03) 9525 1005 • MAP P.293
OPEN MON–FRI 7AM–1AM, SAT & SUN 8AM–1AM
BEERS $4–$10, WINES $6.50–$10, COCKTAILS $15, FOOD $4.50–$35
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
The trash-versus-treasure debate is alive and well at Tyranny of Distance, with a funky fit-out composed predominantly of recycled materials. A team of artists, from metal smiths to sculptors, transformed gas bottles into lamps, milk crates into tables and so on, before artfully placing them in a graffitistrewn garage. That was in 2009 and the result was a brightly coloured jumble of quirky objects and retro furniture. Time, not distance, is the real tyrant here and the original gloss has faded, leaving a grimy interior reminiscent of student housing. This is further emphasised when wine, from an Australiandominant selection, is served in a tumbler. It’s an unlikely setting for a bar well known for both classic and creative cocktails. Still, all it takes is a little expectation management and a carefree attitude to enjoy sipping tap beers on a warm afternoon, when the all-weather awnings are thrown open. Plus, the inexpensive tapas menu – much of which is housemade and generous – will help students save their pennies.
Windsor Castle
PUB
89 ALBERT STREET, WINDSOR
(03) 9525 0239 • MAP P.293
OPEN MON–THURS 3PM–11PM, FRI–SUN NOON–1AM
BEERS $5.50–$10, WINES $7–$10, FOOD $6–$28
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Hidden in the backstreets of Prahran, Windsor Castle is an institution among revellers. A pub with a quality dining room, it’s unpretentious, down-to-earth and a hidden goldmine of effortless cool. The crowd is a mix of young and young at heart, with a certain artisan chic about them. The interior pays homage to its past in a fashionably retro way, with heavy wood-panelled rooms and comfy lounges. The bar staff are hipster cool and manage to maintain a vague aloofness (never bordering on rude, though). The drinks selection is solid, and their food is even better – think pub fare with a sophisticated twist. A favourite spot for a Sunday session, the beer garden is one of Melbourne’s best. Mod-grassed, decorated with colourful chairs and palm trees to boot, the space is lively and intimate. The music never disappoints either. Smooth soul, indie rock and blues are just the ticket to get you in the mood for more. So grab a beer or Pimm’s, sit back and enjoy, knowing you’re onto a good thing.
Wonderland
BAR
37 CHAPEL STREET, WINDSOR
(03) 9510 1062 • MAP P.293
OPEN DAILY 4PM–1AM
BEERS $5.50–$8, WINES $7–$9, COCKTAILS $16–$18, FOOD $6.50
VISA, MC, AMEX
Although the name of this bar is questionable, Wonderland always pleases. Located on Chapel Street, at the Windsor end, it’s the perfect place to drop in for a pre-dinner beverage, or a post-work knock-off. The bar itself is nothing special, although the couches that line the walls are super-comfy. Whether you want to settle in somewhere for a Sunday sip or you need somewhere to rest those weary legs after a day of shopping, this venue is relaxing and inviting. However, there are two things that set Wonderland apart: its happy hour from 4pm to 8pm every day, and the outdoor seating area on the street. This area is filled with couches and tables designed to draw you in … making use of the primo real estate. And, if you’re feeling a little peckish, Wonderland serves up tasty pizzas that will help keep those hunger pains at bay.
Yellowbird
BAR
122 CHAPEL STREET, WINDSOR
(03) 9533 8983 • MAP P.293
OPEN DAILY 8AM–1AM
BEERS $6–$10, WINES $6–$8, COCKTAILS $10, FOOD $6–$16
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Drinks. Can a self-proclaimed bar/ eating house do them all, and do them well? The answer is yes and please sir, I’d like some more. Mexicana meets 1970s Australia at this hip spot – laminex tables trimmed with chrome, and vinyl chairs in an array of colours and styles make up the eclectic dining hall. With bird motifs along the walls and beer slab boxes lining the bar, the whole thing is a pleasant mash-up of colour and crazy. Breakfast is served all day and the menu is extensive – enjoy everything from a bar snack of wedges to an upmarket beetroot salad or risotto. Prices leave room for dessert and a cocktail. Tijuana Tuesdays are popular here (Mexican menu and exotic cocktails), as are the weekends, so you are asked to be patient. There are more than twenty beers and ciders to take your fancy, a good number of wines by the glass and numerous bottles behind the bar, indicating that spirits are popular here too. Bustling all week.