1806
COCKTAIL BAR
169 EXHIBITION STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9663 7722 • MAP P.277
OPEN MON–THURS 5PM–3AM, FRI 4PM–5AM, SAT 6PM–5AM, SUN 7PM–3AM
BEERS $7–$16, WINES $10, COCKTAILS $17–$22, FOOD $9–$22
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Enjoy a cocktail as they did back in 1806, when the word first entered the vernacular. This bar combines cocktails and history with delicious results. The drinks menu, split into ‘then’ and ‘now’ sections, takes you back through the evolution of mixed drinks, linking beverages with historical events. You can choose from modern blends like Angels Milk (sake with Frangelico, almond and cream) or classics like the Tom Collins, but the bar staff will happily make anything you like. The atmosphere is ‘speak-easy’: the bar is cloaked in a theatrical red curtain and tipplers can take their drinks upstairs to watch bartenders work their magic from the saloon-style balcony. Intimate tables for two make this a great place for a date, and for larger groups, the chesterfield couches lend some grandeur to proceedings. The suave staff are masters of their craft and pour concoctions with aplomb. Those really interested in the history of cocktails should check out the display vintage cocktail equipment at the entrance.
The Apartment
BAR
401 LITTLE BOURKE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9670 4020 • MAP P.281
OPEN TUES–THURS 3PM–LATE, FRI 1PM–LATE, SAT 8PM–LATE
BEERS $4–$8.50, WINES $7–$10.50, COCKTAILS $16, FOOD $4–$28
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED, $15 MINIMUM
Grander than most city bars, the Apartment descends into a sweeping parlour. You can choose to drink in the open and mingle with the stilettoed crowd, or tuck yourself away in one of the secluded corners, cordoned off by gauzy curtains. Large vases of flowers, open fireplaces, bookshelves and a chic Audrey Hepburn poster give the place character. There are two bars to ensure the thirsty throngs of city guys and girls don’t have to do anything as unglamorous as waiting for their drinks. The cocktail menu is as sleek as the decor, offering chocolate daiquiris and a Silver Streak Martini (‘finished with pearl dust for a touch of enchantment’). Half-price cocktails on Thursday nights and $10 French martinis on Fridays make this place a hot spot for the after-work crowd. A menu offers small, large and share plates to satisfy all appetites.
Bar Humbug
BAR
586 LITTLE BOURKE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9642 0115 • MAP P.281
OPEN MON–FRI NOON–LATE
BEERS $4–$10, WINES $7–$12.50, SPIRITS $7–$20, FOOD $7–$28
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
You can’t go past a good bar-name pun, but the Dickensian exclamation of fakery sits uncomfortably with this simple, friendly city bar. When it comes to the miserly and the mean, this bar is anything but. Furnished with wood and leather, complete with iron hooks to hang your coat, Bar Humbug is an amiable, welcoming spot as comfortable as your favourite pair of shoes. Nestling between the towering office blocks of the courts district, Bar Humbug draws a lot of suits, but, the staff are quick to say, they’re the cool kind of suits. There are comfy bench seats, bent back wooden chairs and subtle art that give this place a neighbourly feel. The staff are warm and attentive and the service is good. The bar offers a solid selection of staple beers and wines and the tiny kitchen serves lunch and dinner. The menu is eclectic to cater to all tastes – quesadillas sit alongside lamb stew. All is made from scratch in-house, including the two sauces on the Humburger.
Baroq House
BAR
9–13 DREWERY LANE, MELBOURNE
(03) 8080 5680 • MAP P.276
OPEN FRI 5PM–LATE, SAT 8PM–LATE
BEERS $6.50–$13, WINES $8–$42, COCKTAILS $15–$150
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Expect to queue to get into Baroq House. The masses have discovered it and they travel for miles to stand in drizzly Drewery Lane and await admittance. Big, bold Baroq House may have blockbuster stature, but, like all good Melbourne bars, it is still buried down the back of a lane. Housed in a formidable nineteenth-century building, this behemoth holds 300 people, but most nights it feels like all of Melbourne has arrived. This is a venue that charges up to $150 for a single cocktail and has, instead of a sign, a sculpted couple of nymphs twisted together above the heavy doors. It is unashamedly decadent and ostentatious and the crowds go wild for it. The interior is tricked out in gold-trimmed, bold-coloured furniture, carpet and wall coverings. The extravagance continues with marble bars and mosaic floors. Chandeliers hang from the ceilings and candelabras light the cosy corners. Baroq House may not be to everyone’s taste, but it will make your jaw drop.
Bennetts Lane Jazz Club
BAR
25 BENNETTS LANE, MELBOURNE
(03) 9663 2856 • MAP P.276
OPEN DAILY 8.30PM–LATE
BEERS $6.50–$9, WINES $8–$12.50, COCKTAILS $17.50–$20, FOOD $3–$19
VISA, MC
Bennetts Lane is a dimly lit, bona fide jazz hole that has live music pulsing through it every night of the week. Anyone with an ear for jazz knows of its eminence but for those new to the scene, there’s a rainbow neon sign to help you find it down one of Melbourne’s (rare) bare alleyways. The bar is split into two rooms. One is slim and intimate and plainly dressed: small tables crowd around a low stage, and the only decoration is the promotional posters on the wall. But with the live acts, who needs the predictable schlock of bar decor? When the music fills the room it wraps itself around everyone in it, bouncing off the back wall and warming the audience. The second room is similarly simple, but three times the size to cater to the bigger names – think Kate Ceberano and Katie Noonan. Harry Connick Jr is said to have stopped by too. The live music every night means you need tickets to get in. They are mostly available at the door but check beforehand.
Berlin
COCKTAIL BAR
16 CORRS LANE, MELBOURNE
(03) 9639 3396 • MAP P.276
OPEN TUES & SAT 7PM–LATE, WED & THURS 5PM–LATE, FRI 4PM–LATE
BEERS $10–$14, WINES $10–$15, COCKTAILS $20–$22, FOOD $4–$8
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Step into Cold War–era Germany. With a world traveller menu in hand you can choose to sit in either East or West Berlin: the two differ not only in decor but also in cocktail offerings. Settle on a bunk or huddle around a bathtub table in East Berlin and enjoy a Socialist Side Fizz, a Cabaret Number 2 or even the Great Dictator. Or, pass checkpoint Charlie (it warns: You are now leaving the American sector) into West Berlin, where the chandeliers are sparkling, the artwork is opulent and everything is gold, gold, gold, from the details of the plush carpet to the frames around the windows. Here you can slide into high-gloss black varnished booths and drink burnt butter and chestnut cocktails, cucumber and rose, or asparagus and pink grapefruit. Even the bathrooms are decked out with tapestry signs and a dramatic Klimt print. Whichever side you pick, the service is attentive. Those drinks add up, though, so just be sure to take your gold gold gold Amex.
Biero
BAR
525 LITTLE LONSDALE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9600 0940 • MAP P.281
OPEN MON–FRI NOON–LATE, SAT 6PM–LATE
BEERS $5–$50, WINES $8–$16, FOOD $6–$16
VISA, MC
Beer lovers rejoice: Biero is here to answer all your prayers with its towering list of boutique offerings. The building that houses Biero is quaint upon approach, but inside the long, lustrous beer bar is anything but. Immediately to your left is a chalkboard with more than 100 beers listed, including ten on tap. But the proudest achievement of this little-beer-hall-that-could is the BeerVault system – you’ll think you’ve died and gone to hops heaven. The glistening amber tubes of the beer vaults allow beer lovers to try the latest in boutique brews without paying for a whole bottle. The staff decant beer straight from the bottle to the vaults, where they can be doled out in small, sample-size glasses. Biero’s beers cost up to $50 so connoisseurs will appreciate the nifty device. The back bar is fitted with DJ decks beneath the barn-like pitched roof and mini-chandeliers, and a small kitchen provides a selection of food to soak up the craft beer.
Campari House
BAR
23–25 HARDWARE LANE, MELBOURNE
(03) 9600 1574 • MAP P.281
ROOFTOP OPEN MON–SAT NOON–LATE, SUN 2PM–LATE;
LOUNGE OPEN FRI 5PM–LATE, SAT 7PM–LATE
BEERS $5.50–$8.50, WINES $8–$14, COCKTAILS $10–$18, FOOD $6–$28
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
Wanted: the perfect inner-city place. Must have: ample space, a comfy lounge and an outdoor area for entertaining guests. Found: Campari House on lively Hardware Lane – prime real estate for Melburnians, interstaters and internationals. Split over four levels, Campari is a popular Italian restaurant downstairs and a function room on the first floor. The eyecatching murals and motifs lead up the stairwell to the level-two lounge, where timber furnishings and leather couches add a touch of old-world charm to contemporary surrounds. But better yet, hit the rooftop. It’s a bit of a tight squeeze with the up-for-it, after-work crowd, but it’s undoubtedly the best room in the house. Get in early on Fridays to secure a table and gas heater when the air is fresh, or congregate on the astroturf around a beer barrel and umbrella. A mish-mash of shed doors, wooden panels and odd-sods give it character and a laidback vibe that’s anything but pretentious, while to-die-for pizzas and excellent cocktails (just $10 on Mon–Wed from 4pm) keep the crowds here gossiping well into the night.
Charlie’s Bar
COCKTAIL BAR
BASEMENT, 71 HARDWARE LANE, MELBOURNE
(03) 9600 1454 • MAP P.281
OPEN MON–SAT 5PM–LATE
BEERS $6–$15, WINES $7–$14, COCKTAILS $14–$60, FOOD $8–$40
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Looking to impress but not to seem like it? This moodily lit, subterranean cocktail den is the perfect destination. One large room houses the bar and a nook with a big round table surrounded by a banquette; the other has tables behind looped-back red velvet curtains, chandeliers, art deco posters and empty bottles (Ketel One, Maker’s Mark, Veuve) lit from below by red bulbs. Groups of office workers happily chat alongside couples enjoying a tipple before dinner. Most come to take advantage of the two-for-one cocktail offer that happens from Monday to Friday from 5pm to 8pm. Basically, there’s a limited list that might include cosmopolitans, margaritas and apple and blackberry mojitos, all for the very reasonable $17 for two. If you fancy more choice, there’s an extensive cocktail list (there’s even an upper-class section, which is where you’ll find the $60 Luxury Long Island), Hoegaarden on tap, a good selection of international bottled beers, and a wine list of mainly Victorian and Kiwi drops. The music is never too loud and tends towards the inoffensive chill-out style.
Chez Regine Le Bar
BAR
270 RUSSELL STREET, MELBOURNE
0420 309 660 • MAP P.276
WWW.CHEZREGINEMELBOURNE.COM.AU
OPEN THURS & SAT 5PM–1AM, FRIDAY 5PM–5AM
BEERS $4–$10, WINES $6–$8.50, SPIRITS $6–$14.50, COCKTAILS $7–$25, FOOD $3.50–$22
VISA, MC, EFTPOS
Hosting the likes of Andy Warhol and Brigitte Bardot, Regine Zylberberg, founder of the original Chez Regine in Paris, moved in stylish circles. Fifty years on, what would the queen of discothèque think of Melbourne’s Chez Regine? There are no turntables and certainly no room to dance. Instead, this smokily lit bar steps back to prohibition era. Liquor is served in cut-glass tumblers on art deco tables, and smooth jazz tracks remind drinkers of much cooler times. A focus on whisky acknowledges Regine’s early days at Parisian Whisky-A-Go-Go, and the hefty list can intimidate non-whisky drinkers. You could learn more by joining the monthly whisky appreciation meetings or simply ask the unpretentious staff to point you towards alternative poisons. There are comprehensive offerings of your favourite spirit, and beer lovers can choose from local and international selections. Wine drinkers, however, can purchase an entire bottle or look elsewhere. Given the hard liquor slant, it’s worth mentioning food is limited, but you’re welcome to bring your own.
Chi Lounge
BAR
LEVELS 1–3, 195 LITTLE BOURKE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9662 2688 • MAP P.276
OPEN TUES–THURS 5.30PM–12.30AM, FRI & SAT 5.30PM–2AM
BEERS $6.50–$14, WINES $7.50–$11, COCKTAILS $16–$20, FOOD $6–$8.50
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED, $20 MINIMUM
The smell of incense creeps down the stairs as you approach Chi Lounge. Its musky scent prepares you for a bar whose style can only be described as oriental boudoir. The richly decorated parlour is primed with silk panelled walls, wood furniture, bronze buddhas and gold-tinted wallpaper and upholstery. There are lashings of soft fringes that demarcate private alcoves hiding Klimt paintings and curvaceous, old-world furniture. Pick a plush chair and wait for the friendly staff to serve you. Cocktails come in jugs for groups, although the Chi Punch of dark rum and fruit doesn’t have as much grunt as the traditional cocktails (try the 80,000 Demons or Geisha’s Kiss). And then of course there’s the karaoke bar upstairs. Private booths can be hired if you want to limit your public humiliation to a narrow audience of friends. Like the lounge, the booths are decked out in a princely Asian style.
Cookie
BAR
LEVEL 1, 252 SWANSTON STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9663 7660 • MAP P.276
OPEN DAILY NOON–3AM
BEERS $4.50–$120, WINES $7.50–$25, COCKTAILS $17–$30, FOOD $6.50–$41
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
You can read the entire Golden Books encyclopaedia at the large communal table just inside the entrance of Cookie. Not a stellar opener for a bar review, but so much has been written about this stalwart of the Melbourne bar scene that it’s hard to find anything new to say. Its murals, its drink, its food, its little kitsch touches – they’ve all been praised since Cookie first opened. Its high vaulted ceilings, light-filled main room and Juliet balconies are unmatched in a city stuffed with bars. So there you have it: Golden Books. If reading isn’t your thing, grab the drinks list and head to the expansive marble bar, where cheery bar staff will create just about anything you want. Although deciding what you want can take some reading, too – the wine list is a hefty tome that runs to more than sixty pages. The list of cocktails and spirits is a mere short story at forty pages. Never mind if it takes you two hours to make a choice; Cookie is welcoming and warm and always open.
The Croft Institute
BAR
21 CROFT ALLEY, MELBOURNE
(03) 9671 4399 • MAP P.277
OPEN MON–THURS 5PM–1AM, FRI 5PM–3AM, SAT 8PM–3AM
BEERS $5–$12, WINES $7–$9, COCKTAILS $16–$19
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
A trek through Melbourne’s littered laneways, following lines of stinky skips and grimy, graffitied alleys, will eventually lead you to the Croft Institute. Reaching the quirky music venue is an achievement in itself so grab yourself a shot at the bar (served in either an imitation syringe or a test tube), to celebrate. Then get exploring. It’s split over three levels. Downstairs is a dimly lit science lab, featuring industrial sinks, beakers, distilling equipment and conical flasks. Going up from there, the first flight leads you to the Departments of Hygiene (the toilets), where an old hospital bed is the feature in the ladies powder room. Venture up one more flight and it feels like you’ve stepped into an American teen movie – camp on the rostrums and pan the gymnasium, complete with a basketball ring and punching bag. Electro sounds and house music literally pound your chest while you wait for your drink at the grass-top bar and watch the cool twenty-year-old barhoppers busting a move on the dancefloor.
Double Happiness
COCKTAIL BAR
21 LIVERPOOL STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9650 4488 • MAP P.277
OPEN MON–FRI 7.30AM–LATE, SAT & SUN 6PM–LATE
BEERS $8–$13, WINES $8–$9.50, COCKTAILS $16–$17
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Pocket-sized Double Happiness punches above its weight with a compact but impeccable drinks menu and a decor that combines soothing feng shui principles with barbs of bright, communist propaganda. Leather benches are softened with silk-covered cushions and interspersed with wooden peasant stools. There’s also a miniature fireplace and tiny garden of serenity, all squeezed into a space about the size of a primary school classroom. You will become intimately acquainted with fellow drinkers – this bar draws crowds night after night. The walls are decked out in Mao-era posters and the cocktails urge you to take the Great Leap Forward (with lychee vodka and mint – yes, please) but despite the dictatorial trimmings, the mood is relaxed and comfortable. The cherry-blossom wallpaper will soothe any anti-communist anxiety as you wait for your cocktails. Order the superb Mr Foo (chilli vodka with coriander and ginger) followed by the cloudy apple and lychee cocktail, Ho Ho La, and you’ve got yourself a well-rounded liquid dinner. Martinis are a speciality and come in four variations, including plum and chilli.
The Emerald Peacock
BAR
233 LONSDALE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9654 8680 • MAP P.276
OPEN DAILY 4PM–LATE
BEERS $6–$12.50, WINES $7–$14, COCKTAILS $17.50, FOOD $8–$28
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
The sister bar to the popular Red Hummingbird, the Emerald Peacock is a popular addition to Melbourne’s bibulous landscape. Flocked wallpaper and velour banquettes can be found in many a drinking establishment, but this one features a peacock motif. Popular for after-work pizzas and impromptu cocktail parties, the Peacock’s dimly lit dining room flows nicely into the bar proper, with a variety of seating and reclining options. In the warmer months (or any month if you’re a smoker), the rooftop bar offers views of Lonsdale Street below. Cocktails rule the roost here, with the venue’s namesake at the top of the pecking order. The rest of the list comprises house designs with a handful of classics. While the range of spirits may be extensive and largely unpronounceable, you can always get a cold glass of Kirin on tap. One last piece of advice: make sure you dress to impress. The door policy is enforced rigorously, ensuring only the most stylish gain entry. As they say: ‘free to those who can afford it; very expensive to those who can’t.’
Gingerboy Upstairs
COCKTAIL BAR
LEVEL 1, 27–29 CROSSLEY STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9662 4200 • MAP P.277
OPEN MON–SAT 5PM–LATE
BEERS $7–$10, WINES $12–$20.50, COCKTAILS $19, FOOD $13–$45
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Down one of Melbourne’s many laneways, up a short flight of stairs, sits a small slice of South-East Asian hospitality called Gingerboy. While the eatery may be a stylish take on street hawker-style dining, the cocktail bar upstairs is reinventing modern cocktails with ingredients you’d usually throw in your wok. The results can be quite exciting to the tastebuds. The Thai Moon – mixed with smashed coriander and ginger, chilli-infused vodka and Licor 43 – is a spicy yet refreshing starter to your evening. Meanwhile, Gee Kang and the Crazy 88 takes muddled ginger and cucumber and mixes them with the much-maligned cousin of the alcohol world, Chartreuse (a spirit usually reserved for customers wanting ‘the strongest shot you’ve got’). It hits even greater heights of salubrious success. But don’t stress if your senses reel at the cocktail list; the bar staff are always happy to recommend a nice single malt Scotch, a fine tequila or even an aged rum to go with your wagyu and bamboo dumplings.
TOP 10 HIDDEN BARS
MELBOURNE IS RENOWNED FOR ITS HIDDEN BARS. WE DON’T WANT TO SPOIL ALL THE FUN OF FINDING THEM YOURSELF, SO HERE IS JUST A SMALL SELECTION OF SOME OF THE BEST.
Bennetts Lane is well known to jazz lovers but off the beaten track for most barflies. A neon rainbow sign will help you find the way once you’ve located the little lane.
Berlin is down an alley and up several flights of stairs. You have to buzz to be let in and if they’re full they’ll turn you away. Get in early – Berlin is fast becoming a well-known secret.
Hardly a secret anymore, Croft has well and truly graduated to institution status. It is, however, terribly hard to find if you don’t know it. When you stumble down that last bent alley, it rewards you well with science paraphernalia.
Handsome Steve’s House of Refreshment
This little bar is so secret we’re not going to tell you where it is. We promised Handsome Steve. We’ll just say that it does exist and leave the rest up to you.
Physically and spiritually in the heart of Chinatown, this Sinoinspired, silk-swathed bar sits at the top of a set of stone steps that begin in Waratah Place, next to Chinese restaurant Kum Den.
Tea candles in brown paper bags light the stairway to Murmur. Now, if only you could find that stairway …
There’s no sign, and no open door to peek through, but there is a phone number on the entrance. Call it, and they’ll let you in if you struggle. From the creators of Double Happiness, this hard-to-find secret sits in the converted tailor shop next door.
Leave it to Saint Jerome Borazio, creator of milk-crate drinking out the back of Myer, to turn drinking under a bridge into a money spinner. Take the Southgate footbridge stairs down to this island bar moored on the banks of the Yarra.
Pure Pop is a bar cleverly disguised as a record store. Don’t get distracted by the vinyl; there are drinks here.
Hidden behind the behemoth of Baroq House, this quirky, backstage bar feels like the antithesis of that ostentatious beast. Navigate its rickety staircase and seat yourself in one of its ivy-draped corners.
Golden Monkey
COCKTAIL BAR
389 LONSDALE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9602 2055 • MAP P.281
OPEN MON–FRI 5PM–LATE, SAT 7PM–LATE
BEERS $6–$18, WINES $9–$14, COCKTAILS $17–$25, FOOD $6–$10
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED, $20 MINIMUM
Step off Hardware Lane and you’ll find yourself transported to a Shanghai street. The entrance to the bar is bejewelled with a Chinese silver-screen siren on a gold-tipped film poster, strings of bright red laundry, red lanterns and a ubiquitous Beijing bicycle that hangs from the ceiling. In contrast, the bar itself, downstairs, has an opium-den duskiness. Let one of the friendly staffers lead you to your table, where you can peruse the cornucopia of enticing, spicy flavours of the orient. The many-layered drinks menu includes six types of sake and Asian-inspired cocktails with names like Green Ninja and Tao’s Garden of Serenity. The furniture is lacquered, leather and heavy wood embellished with Asian-print cushions. Cherry-blossom print lanterns light the bar, and candles lend a quiet romance to an otherwise very funky space. Golden Monkey is a low-lit red cavern where golden Asian snacks and cocktails are delivered with love and attention.
Manchuria
BAR
LEVEL 1, 7 WARATAH PLACE, MELBOURNE
(03) 9663 1997 • MAP P.276
OPEN TUES–THURS 4PM–1AM, FRI & SAT 5PM–3AM
BEERS $7–$16, WINES $8–$10, COCKTAILS $16–$28, FOOD $6–$20
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
‘Opium den’ is the term commonly applied to bars that borrow from the orient for inspiration. Silk panels, dark wood lattices, lacquered furniture, red lanterns and Asian motifs will all invite the description. But opium dens were often low-class establishments tucked away on the seedy side of town, so the term cannot be applied here. With its plush upholstery, chintz couches, glitzy wallpaper and touches of gold, Manchuria is too decadent to be called a den. It has all the trappings of an Asian-themed bar (the menu is pasted onto the pages of a Chinese directory) but the mood is more in line with an emperor’s palace. Cut up into neat alcoves by glossy wood partitions and long, luxurious fringes, Manchuria is the perfect place for an intimate gathering. The drinks list is changed seasonally, but the bar staff will happily make you an old favourite. Food, should you order it, is delivered from Chinatown restaurant Kum Den downstairs.
Match
COCKTAIL BAR
249 LITTLE LONSDALE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9654 6522 • MAP P.276
OPEN MON–THURS 4PM–LATE, FRI & SAT 3PM–3AM
BEERS $5–$9, WINES $7–$11, COCKTAILS $12–$25, FOOD $6–$50
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Match’s claim to fame is the Dale DeGroff touch. The man (allegedly) made the Cosmopolitan famous and tended the Rainbow Room in Manhattan for ten years, and now he has decamped to Match (the Melbourne and London venues). As you slide your finger down the cocktail list, pay extra attention to the drinks marked with an asterisk. Those were created by either DeGroff or one of the Melbourne Match bartenders who aspire to be like him. The cocktails are shuffled seasonally and the list features themed elements like the South American south central section (think mixes that rely on Caribbean rum or Peruvian pisco). But enough about the drinks, let’s talk about the huge balcony, the large windows letting light and air into the lofty, split-level bar and the ubiquitous squishy couches waiting for someone to sink into them. The serious adult furniture contrasts with cartoon-bright murals splashed across one of the walls. There’s a well-rounded bar menu or, for something more substantial, you can duck into the dining room for a proper meal.
Miss Libertine
BAR
34 FRANKLIN STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9663 6855 • MAP P.276
OPEN MON–FRI 10AM–1AM, SAT NOON–1AM, SUN 2PM–10PM
BEERS $4–$12, WINES $8–$10, SPIRITS $8–$18, FOOD $5–$24
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Standing bold and brassy, like an old-style saloon amid the office buildings on Franklin Street, Miss Libertine almost qualifies as one of the city’s infamous hidden secrets. From the outside she looks like a dowdy pub; inside she is anything but. Built in 1853, the grand old dame has bustle behind her staid front. Her insides have been ripped out, refurbished and reborn as a sleek bar-cum-restaurant-cum–live music venue. All this is crowned by a gallery that keeps the clientele interesting and ever-changing. The front room is a slick monochrome, strung with bare globes hanging from long wires, and the walls feature black and white graffiti and are trimmed with birdcages, pot plants and gilded mirrors. The back room, which abuts the bluestone back wall of the original building, has a stage (all a-twinkle with tiny lights) and room for plenty. DJs pump hip hop, techno and electronica on rotation through the week and the kitchen offers a full range of meals, from cheap pizzas to a proper porterhouse.
Money Order Office
BAR
DRIVER LANE, 318 LITTLE BOURKE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9639 3020 • MAP P.276
OPEN TUES–SAT NOON–3PM, 5PM–LATE
BEERS $5.50–$9, WINES $10–$25, SPIRITS $9–$45, FOOD $6–$22
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Descend the stone steps and pass through the imposing iron gate and you’ll discover a wine lover’s treasure trove in this basement bar and restaurant. Intimate booths, careworn chesterfields and corner benches beckon to weary city workers. Like the voice of Frank Sinatra, which is the type of music you can expect here, this place is classic. Wine features prominently not only in the drinks offerings but also in the decor. As you try to decide whether you’ll have a bottle from Germany, Austria, France, the US or Australia, you can admire the racks that divide the bar space from the restaurant. The range includes top drop Dom Pérignon as well as more affordable tipples. There’s also the usual selection of spirits, and James Squire and Trumer Pils beer on tap. The dark room is lit with silver orbs and candles that dribble wax over wine bottles. There’s a simple grazing menu for those who want to soak up their vino with a snack, and the restaurant offers à la carte or degustation dining.
Murmur
COCKTAIL BAR
LEVEL 1, 17 WARBURTON LANE, MELBOURNE
(03) 9640 0395 • MAP P.
OPEN MON–FRI 4.30PM–LATE, SAT 7PM–1AM
BEERS $8–$20, WINES $9–$15, COCKTAILS $17–$19, FOOD $4.50–$12.50
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
‘Rumrum’ spelt backwards, this former spice and coffee house still bears the hallmarks of its previous life. The rusty reel and hook, used for lifting and lowering sacks of coffee, pair with the raw brick and exposed beams of this lofty lounge to evoke a rustic, workhouse feel. Candles in paper bags light the stairway to Murmur, setting the tone for casual, shabby chic. Behind the bar, the emphasis is on cocktails. There’s a considerable list (with a nod to Cuban roots) but the staff prefer to mix something original, depending on the customer’s tastes and mood. The wine list is simple but solid and there are forty-eight beers by the bottle – the boutique brands are favoured but staples like Peroni are also available. The tapas menu is a cut above most, and dishes are brought up from the Portello Room below. Here, too, the Latin heat is present, in fried dates wrapped in jamon, and spicy chocolate pud.
New Gold Mountain
COCKTAIL BAR
LEVEL 1, 21 LIVERPOOL STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9650 8859 • MAP P.277
OPEN MON–THURS & SAT 6PM–LATE, FRI 5PM–LATE, SUN 7PM–LATE
BEERS $8.50–$12.50, WINES $9.50–$11, COCKTAILS $18, FOOD $4–$22
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Regulars refer to New Gold Mountain’s twin incarnations as the poppy room and forest room. The two levels are equally opulent, featuring layered, origami roofs and heavy, orientalinspired furnishings. You can choose from the soothing green room below or the subtle sexiness of the red room above. Twinkling, clinking strings of beads carve up the red level and provide a measure of privacy for intimate rendezvous. The dedicated bar staff specialise in customised cocktails, delivered to your table on weeknights. Think chilli-infused Frangelico, honey vodka or peanut butter bourbon, all made on the premises. Their espresso martini is a speciality. Snacks include port and fennel meatballs, crispy duck salad, and beetroot and eggplant dips parachuted in from Bosisto’s in Richmond. Asian-inspired bars abound in Melbourne, but an emphasis on intricate interior design makes this one a standout. Arrive after 11pm or you’ll find yourself alone in an empty bar – New Gold Mountain doesn’t get going until late.
Nihonshu
BAR
163 LONSDALE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9663 8118 • MAP P.276
OPEN MON–FRI 6PM–1AM, SAT 8PM–1AM
BEERS $7.50–$16, WINES $6–$10, COCKTAILS $8–$20, SHOCHU $7–$12, SAKE $11–$307, FOOD $8–$46
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
A stunning array of sake and shochu might not mean much if you don’t like the former and haven’t heard of the latter. It does mean that Nihonshu is a great place to learn. For newbies, shochu is distilled from barley, sweet potato or rice, and is better than sake as it’s more readily available by the glass (sake is best consumed within hours of opening the bottle). Still, it’s an acquired taste and most newbies revert to the broad range of Japanese beers, leaving the sake and shochu to the expats – Nihonshu is a home away from home for Japanese students and young professionals. From the outside it’s an uninviting, dark cubbyhole. Inside it’s cosy, friendly and a little bit daggy. Despite opening in 2008 it has a ’70s lounge room feel, decorated with Japanese knick-knacks. Somehow it works, and propping up the bar for hours on end is all too easy, particularly with bar snacks delivered from Izakaya Chuji next door. Stay here for long enough and you might just develop a taste for the native drop.
TOP 10 COCKTAILS
Light and heavenly and balanced to perfection, this dreamy drink mixes Frangelico with almonds and cream and a splash of sake for good measure.
Assassin in the Grass, Golden Monkey
Just about every cocktail on the list at Golden Monkey is a knockout, but it’s the Assassin in the Grass, with muddled lemongrass, green tea and a sprinkling of crushed rock candy, that will get you in the end.
Inspired by the Mad Men classic cocktail revival, this drink combines 60-proof whisky with sweet vermouth and wattle toffee liqueur for a toffee popcorn flavouring with kick.
A very dry, much-lauded classic made from cognac, champagne, Der Raum Kummel and citrus crusta from the Melbourne cocktail gods at Der Raum. Go and see what all the fuss is about.
The Green Apple Spring, Black Pearl
An old enduring classic, the Green Apple Spring is one of this stellar bar’s most famous creations. And remember, an apple cocktail a day keeps the doctor away.
Jackie Brown, Caz Reitop’s Dirty Secrets
Dark and silky, the Jackie Brown features rum, chocolate and chilli over ice; it’s sweetness with bite. What more could you want?
This bar is true to its Asian theme right down to the cocktail garnishes. Mr Foo blends coriander, chilli and ginger for a taste of South-East Asia.
Vodka, lemon juice, raspberries, cassis and framboise topped with champagne. This drink is part fruit basket, part pavlova, part picnic in the park on a Sunday. The perfect spring drink.
Pears and bourbon together at last. These rich headline ingredients are tempered with fresh mint and muscovado sugar. Perfection.
Ask the bar staff for this sweet and citrusy off-menu treat. As a finishing touch to the bitter drink they glaze cinnamon sugar on top of an egg foam. Crack it with a teaspoon and eat this cocktail like a dessert.
The Order of Melbourne
BAR
LEVELS 2 & 3, 401 SWANSTON STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9663 6707 • MAP P.276
OPEN TUES & WED 4PM–11PM, THURS 4PM–1AM, FRI 3PM–1AM, SAT 4PM–3AM, SUN 5PM–11PM
BEERS $7–$9, WINES $7–$9.50, COCKTAILS $15–$18, FOOD $5–$10
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
If your desire for good booze trumps your desire for exercise (but only just), skip the boot camp and head to the Order of Melbourne for a clever compromise. Situated up a hefty flight of stairs (not tucked away down an alley as would be typical) this inner-city bar can offset any gluteal guilt before your beverage bliss. After a march upwards, the grandeur of this historic delight has made many punters gasp (though they might still be catching their breath). The dark wooden floors, the spacious surrounds, the soaring ceiling and the stage, which stands testament to lively performances from bands and burlesque troupes, all create an arresting space. The bar is striking and displays an impressive selection of bottles and taxidermy. Order from the capable staff and toast under the glow of the art deco lighting, take a seat in a booth or march ever upwards to relax in the less refined atmosphere of the rooftop bar, which has more seating and umbrellas.
Paris Cat
BAR
6 GOLDIE PLACE, MELBOURNE
(03) 9642 4711 • MAP P.281
OPEN TUES–SAT 8PM–LATE
BEERS $7–$9, WINES $8–$10, COCKTAILS $15–$18
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
If jazz is your thing you’ll want to get down to the Paris Cat, a CBD venue that is putting Melbourne firmly on the international jazz map. Attracting major local and international artists, it hosts gigs up to five nights a week. The Paris Cat takes you to a different era, one where the drinks came with a decent garnish, saxophone solos wafted into darkened streets and prohibition officers might be knocking on the door at any minute. The Paris Cat has the right to claim to be the centre of a feverish community of jazz lovers. You’re truly immersed in the live music experience here – the tables are positioned so close to the stage that you could reach out and empty your favourite trumpeter’s spit valve. The venue is furnished lavishly with antiques, framed paintings attached to the ceiling and whole walls decorated with vintage jazz posters. The bar serves up a wide selection of old-time cocktails, premium wines and local and imported beer. Check their website for upcoming events and you will surely find something of interest.
Red Hummingbird
BAR
LEVEL 1, 246 RUSSELL STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9654 2266 • MAP P.276
OPEN TUES–FRI 4PM–LATE, SAT 6PM–LATE
BEERS $6–$12.50, WINES $8–$11, COCKTAILS $17.50–$18.50
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
Concealed down laneways or up dark stairs, nestled in basements or behind shops, Melbourne’s hidden bar phenomenon is well documented – and much hyped. Who hasn’t traipsed around helplessly before finally locating their chosen venue, only to discover a big fat anticlimax? No such worries at the Red Hummingbird. Keep your eyes peeled for its non-descript doorway: this delightful first-floor cocktail lounge is worth the effort. With its rich colour scheme, ornate fireplace, luxe hummingbird wallpaper and oriental aesthetic, it lives up to its evocative name. What better backdrop for some civilised sipping? The Red Hummingbird’s signature cocktails are the logical place to start: fruity and spicy, they’re among the city’s best. Up another flight of stairs is the openair rooftop, a tropical oasis amid towering concrete office blocks. Wood panelling, hanging cane chairs and a frisky vibe make it the closest thing to a Malaysian beach bar you’ll find in this town. Hugely popular with after-work and hipster crowds alike, the Red Hummingbird may be hidden but it’s no secret.
Rooftop Bar
BAR
LEVEL 6, 252 SWANSTON STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9654 5394 • MAP P.276
OPEN DAILY NOON–1AM
BEERS $5–$13, WINES $6–$8.50, COCKTAILS $10–$16, FOOD $5–$11
VISA, MC
Rooftop Bar’s open-air astroturf, industrial furniture and fashion-forward vibe speak loudly of Australia’s capital of cool. Just in case you forget you’re in Melbourne, near 360-degree views of the city’s skyline from seven floors up are a spectacular reminder. On Friday nights the six flights of stairs (or slow lift) and fast-moving queue reveal a fun summer mood that’s relatively suit-free. Decking, market umbrellas and strings of oversized light bulbs add to the barbecue atmosphere. Four beers on tap, including Little Creature’s Bright Ale, and a functional wine list by the plastic tumbler or bottle satisfy most, but $35 jugs of house-made sangria and other seasonal cocktails really set the mood. Crowd-pleasing DJs spin the tunes and summer also brings quality live acts and the iconic Rooftop Cinema: a locals’ tradition, screening a diverse program five days a week (Tues– Thurs, Sat & Sun). When hunger strikes, Beatbox Kitchen, Melbourne’s touring food van, serves burgers from a corner shack, and there’s no need to stay away in winter – outdoor heaters will keep you cosy.
Section 8
BAR
27–29 TATTERSALLS LANE, MELBOURNE
0430 291 588 • MAP P.276
OPEN MON–WED 10AM–11PM, THURS & FRI 10AM–1AM, SAT NOON–1AM, SUN NOON–11PM
BEERS $5.50–$12, WINES $7.50–$9.50, COCKTAILS $10–$15, FOOD $3–$10
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Ever sipped on a cocktail in an old car park? Wander down Tattersalls Lane to a space once reserved for engines – it’s since been transformed into a thriving ‘open-air’ bar. Welcome to Section 8. No parking inspectors allowed. Section 8 embodies the inventive Melbourne bar scene with the stand-out feature being the bar itself – a converted shipping container. Order from a selection of quality beverages, grab a seat on an old packing crate (the cushions offer some comfort) and soak up the graffiti-laden walls. The DJs deliver solid beats and the Chinese lanterns add charm. Note: outdoor heaters are on standby to cover those cooler nights. Stop by before some chow in Chinatown, or hide away in the hipness for hours. Section 8 is also a saviour by day, offering coffee, sandwiches and respite from the Swanston Street crowds.
Siglo
BAR
LEVEL 2, 161 SPRING STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9654 6631 • MAP P.277
OPEN DAILY 5.30PM–3AM
BEERS $9–$260, WINES $9.50–$50, SPIRITS $9–$200, COCKTAILS $19.50–$40, FOOD $9.80–$48.30
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Climbing the stairs through the unmarked door of the Supper Club only adds to the attraction of Siglo. The European feel of the downstairs restaurant and bar has always been well loved but Siglo takes it a step further. This quintessential Melbourne wine bar is sophisticated and elegant, refined yet relaxed, with an extraordinary international wine and spirits list. The range covers all tastes, as do the snacks, if you’re hungry. Siglo is just right for any occasion: for celebrations, for every day, to unwind, to entertain or to show off this fabulous city all year round. The marvellous rooftop space is just as busy in winter with a canopy and heaters to do the job. The sensational range of wines and spirits makes it unfortunately easy to overlook the terrific range of boutique beers and cocktails. Bar manager Cian Doyle says the ‘new’ 1959 Armagnac is the go. And they even sell cigars to puff outdoors with the brandy. Siglo is at the top of the city in more ways than one.
Sister Bella
BAR
SNIDERS LANE, MELBOURNE • MAP P.276
OPEN MON–FRI 11AM–1AM, SAT 4PM–1AM, SUN 4PM–11PM
BEERS $4–$12, WINES $7–$8, FOOD $5.50–$13.50
VISA, MC
On paper, Sister Bella may not sound particularly winning. There’s a limited selection of booze, and the only entertainment is of the people-watching variety. But, as he always seems to do, owner Jerome Borazio (of Newtown Workers Club and the now defunct St Jerome’s) has hit the right note. Young hipsters mix it with the young at heart in the upstairs room best described as op-shop chic. Forged metal gates separate the booth area, with its bad ’70s-style art, from the bar. Everything about this place is unpretentious, from the cheap drinks (if you had to guess from what people were drinking, you’d think Bella only served Coopers Pale) and short menu – chips, pizzas, burgers, nachos – to the low-key staff. The downstairs area harbours overflow punters and the daytime coffee crowd. The trick, if this sounds intriguing, is actually finding it. Sniders Lane is off Drewery Lane and Sister Bella is at the end on the right, past all the bins. Some thoughtful soul has recently painted the area around the door green to make it easier to spot.
Sorry Grandma!
BAR
590 LITTLE BOURKE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9916 9029 • MAP P.281
OPEN FRI & SAT 10PM–8AM
BEERS $8–$10, WINES $7, SPIRITS $9–$15
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
Sorry Grandma! has possibly the strangest name for a bar in Melbourne, and that’s not where the strangeness ends. Most popular with people in their late teens and early twenties, Sorry Grandma! is a kooky space where floaty curtains, portraits, cups of tea and old lady furniture contrast with the disco balls and urban grooves. You can tear it up to the house music on the dancefloor, manned by local and international DJs. Or you can chill out on the grandma-esque lounges and have a cocktail brought to you – they’re available by the litre. (If you’re looking to drink a lot, you’ll have no trouble here.) Don’t expect to just end up here at the end of a big night, though. Queues are massive by 11pm, so planning ahead is a huge advantage. You’ll be charged $20 entry, or $15 if on a guest list. Check the website ahead of time, keep the dress code in mind and you’ll have a great night out. It’s no wonder this place is called an ‘asylum of pleasure’.
The Supper Club
BAR
LEVEL 1, 161 SPRING STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9654 6300 • MAP P.277
OPEN MON & SUN 8PM–4AM, TUES–THURS 5PM–4AM, FRI 5PM–6AM, SAT 8PM–6AM
BEERS $6–$18, WINES $10.50–$14, COCKTAILS $9–$19.50, FOOD $8.50–$20
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
It’s hidden behind a tiny doorway wedged between the Wine Room and the European, so you may not think much of the location of the Melbourne Supper Club … until you reach the top of the stairs. As the professional, confident staff greet you, you’ll find yourself in a swanky parlour dotted with overstuffed antique sofas, a painting of Columbia and a huge round window overlooking the city. It’s pure class here. With staff on hand to take your order and refill your glass, the only thing you’ll worry about is whether to have single malt whisky or champagne. The wine list is so lengthy it’s divided into blends and types. You can peruse an appealing range of beers, including James Squire, Little Creatures and Heineken, and they also have cigars and a range of bar food, from roasted nuts to pâté de foie gras. But check your bank balance before you go – the prices here are as opulent as the decor. That said, the place truly lives up to its reputation, and could be one of Melbourne’s best bars.
Sweatshop
BAR
BASEMENT, 113 LONSDALE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9663 6363 • MAP P.277
OPEN MON-FRI 4PM-LATE, SAT & SUN 7PM-LATE
BEERS $7-$9, WINES $8.50-$10, COCKTAILS $17-$35, FOOD $3-$12
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
All things underground have a hint of vice about them; in the case of Sweatshop it’s coupled with a solid dose of quirky, kooky and playful. If that’s what you’re up for, approach the breezy restaurant Seamstress and take a detour downstairs, where the Seamstress’s naughty little brother lives. It’s all so wrong, in the right way. Give your eyes a second to adjust to the candlelit hues, then take in the bolts of fabric in rusty steel cages slung from the low ceiling. Perch at a chipboard table or gather on satin cushions by the door and absorb the factory vibes and industro-chic brand of grunge: polished concrete floors, graffiti-scrawled walls and deep jungle bass or funky jazz tunes. Behind all this hard-edged zaniness, there’s a serious side: a compact menu of beers and wines, with a focus on cocktails – the Disco Sour’s potent zing comes from pisco, citrus juice, egg white, sugar and blue curaçao. The bar snacks have an Asian influence with offerings like prawn crackers, wok boxes of stir-fried noodles and even deep-fried pigs’ ears.
The Toff in Town
BAR
LEVEL 2, 252 SWANSTON STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9639 8770 • MAP P.276
OPEN MON–THURS 5PM–3AM, FRI 3PM–5AM, SAT 5PM–5AM, SUN 4PM–5AM
BEERS $5–$32, WINES $8.50–$22, COCKTAILS $14–$22, FOOD $3–$14.50
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
If climbing the stairs to the second floor of Curtin House doesn’t make you work up a thirst, the staggering selection of booze and mouth-watering cocktail menu will. The Toff, as it’s affectionately known, is one of Melbourne’s premier late-night venues. It’s always busy with city suits and hipsters exiting their live music venue, which hosts local and international acts four nights a week and swing dancing classes on Monday nights. The main bar is built around a re-creation of an early twentieth-century train carriage, divided into booths that can be made private by simply drawing the blinds and closing the door. A service bell lets staff know you’re ready to order. Cocktails are the drink of choice and the bar staff’s proficiency and service are exceptional. There’s also a small kitchen dishing out delicate Thai food late into the night whenever the bar is open. No matter how often you go, the Toff reveals something new each time.
Troika
BAR
106 LITTLE LONSDALE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9663 0221 • MAP P.277
OPEN TUES & WED 4PM–MIDNIGHT, THURS & FRI 4PM–2AM, SAT 6PM–3AM
BEERS $5.50–$13, WINES $7–$9.50, COCKTAILS $8–$18
ALL CARDS ACCEPTEDM
Troika is Russian shorthand for ‘any group of three persons acting together for a common purpose’. This sounds a little more ominous and political than any aspect of this trendy CBD watering hole, unless the cut-up Coke and Marlboro ads decorating the walls are subversive in some way that isn’t immediately obvious. The only thing you’ll be contemplating after a few of their delicious boutique European beers or unique cocktails is how to open the large, solid metal warehouse door that stands between you and the street. In a strangely deserted part of the CBD Troika appears from nowhere, a kind of hipster oasis away from the rough and tumble of less salubrious venues. This is one bar that has survived for over ten years in a hugely competitive bar scene in Melbourne, the mix of concrete, wood panelling and carpet walls, luminous red plastic panel lights and comfortable bespoke seating resonating with Melbourne’s design and fashion contingent. Buy a cocktail and keep the political talk to a minimum.
Trunk
COCKTAIL BAR
275 EXHIBITION STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9663 7994 • MAP P.277
OPEN MON–FRI NOON–LATE, SAT 5PM–LATE
BEERS $4–$36, WINES $7–$12, COCKTAILS $16–$18, FOOD $4–$36
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
From the cultivated outdoor courtyard, canopied by fairy lights, to the lofty interior reminiscent of an old-fashioned conservatory, you can tell from the start that Trunk is a refreshing departure from the cramped bars in the inner city. Here is a place you can definitely spend an entire evening. Beneath the bare bulbs hanging from the high ceilings, you can enjoy a drink from the white marble bar before heading in for a meal at one of the many tables. Picking a cocktail won’t be easy, with classic champagne cocktails and margaritas, as well as more offbeat concoctions like Clockwork Orange (gin, Aperol, crème de pêches and flamed orange zest – according to legend, Kubrick made this his drink on the film’s set) and the chilli, chocolate and orange martini. Not to mention the range of bottled beer, sweet and aromatic wines, and huge assortment of spirits. Service is often slow, even on a quiet night, but if you’ve got time to spare, the wait is worth it. Perfect for a beverage under the lights on a hot summer night.
Von Haus
BAR
1A CROSSLEY STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9662 2756 • MAP P.277
OPEN MON–THURS 9AM–11PM, FRI 9AM–1AM, SAT 11AM–1AM
BEERS $7–$10, WINES $6–$15, COCKTAILS $20, FOOD $7.50–$20
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Colonial artist Eugene von Guerard inspired the name of this nineteenth-century style hangout. Stroll through the Melbourne laneways until you come across a cream door that looks battered and bruised. The A4 sheet of paper posted on this door suggests a tempting time: ‘Von Haus is cool on the inside.’ Ignore the lingering waft of Grandma’s wardrobe and tiptoe inside. You will find yourself standing in the middle of someone’s lounge room, complete with fireplace, bookshelf and one light bulb dangling from the ceiling. Distressed walls, ’50s fixtures, a communal table and a few small wall benches complete the picture. A gentle soundtrack generates a relaxed atmosphere filled with endless conversations and wonderful wines from France, Spain and Italy. Feeling peckish? There’s a meat slicer behind the bar and an extensive range of spices in massive jars which add flavour to fresh northern European snacks served until 10pm. If you still find the need to nibble, Victorian and French cheeses and olives are available with your wine into the wee hours of the morning.
Workshop
BAR
LEVEL 1, 413 ELIZABETH STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9326 4365 • MAP P.281
OPEN DAILY 9.30AM–LATE
BEERS $4–$9, WINES $6.50–$8.50, COCKTAILS $9–$15, FOOD $6.50–$9
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Once a motorcycle repair shop, Workshop has undergone a stunning and idiosyncratic redesign. Inside, it’s dark and moody, with throbbing bass emanating throughout and lots of blackened wood, dark tables and candlelight. There’s something sexy about Workshop – it feels sleazy in a good way. Situated in Melbourne’s creative hub and surrounded by universities, this place attracts a diverse crowd and is seemingly always open. The bar is well stocked, with beers of all sorts, many varieties of wine and extremely imaginative cocktails, and if you get stuck, the bar staff are happy to help with the tough decision of what to drink. Those keeping tabs on their pennies should check out Workshop’s $11 jug happy hours: 4pm–7pm Monday to Wednesday. Workshop has to have one of Melbourne’s best smoking areas: framed by large industrial windows like the rest of the venue but with the roof open to the sky above. A nice spot for a coffee in the morning, or for pizzas till late in the afternoon. Stick your head in and have a look.
TOP 10 ESCAPIST BARS
MELBURNIANS LOVE TO DR ESS UP AND SO DO OUR BARS. THESE ARE THE TOP TEN PLACES TO GO IF YOU WANT AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD ESCAPIST EXPERIENCE.
This throwback to ancient times will delight lovers of all things gothic. Think antiques, dusty books, dramatic velvet curtains and candelabras dripping with wax.
Half luxe land of capitalist extravagance, half communist bunker: Berlin’s split personality means it has broad appeal.
This laboratory bar is one of Melbourne’s most famous. The ground floor is reminiscent of a chemistry lab; the top floor is called the gymnasium and comes complete with bleachers. No Melbourne bar list is complete without mentioning Dr Croft’s creation.
All hail Chairman Mao! The Cultural Revolution is alive and well in Liverpool Street at propaganda-covered Double Happiness.
The term ‘opium den’ is thrown around a lot when describing Melbourne’s myriad Asian-themed bars. This is one of the best.
This primly appointed high tea hangout has an outdoor garden party inside and a fancy terrace outside. Even the bar staff dress in tennis whites.
This slice of South America in the heart of Melbourne’s north is so convincing you’ll think you’re in Mexico. From the colours, food and music to the many bottles of tequila, this place oozes south-of-the-border drinking den. Even the soft drinks come from Mexico.
An edgy take on the orient, New Gold Mountain combines heavy, antique Asian furniture with origami-inspired ceilings.
Another of Melbourne’s outside-is-inside bars, this is an Alice in Wonderland–esque, not-quite-kosher grunge garden party, which lets you enjoy your drinks (and dumplings) in vinecovered gazebos late into the night.
The top floor is Seamstress, swathed in billowy silks and colourful fabric swatches. The basement is Sweatshop, the dark underbelly of the venue.