A shot of the outdoor area with people sitting on stools drinkin
Photograph: Graham Denholm
Photograph: Graham Denholm

Melbourne bar and pub reviews

Looking for somewhere great to drink in Melbourne? Check out the latest reviews from our bar and pub critics

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  • Cocktail bars
  • Northcote
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Taking its name as a nod to America's great waterways, Goodwater is rapidly becoming Northcote's worst-kept secret. Inspired by the mighty Ohio — a river integral to America's whiskey heritage — the connection here runs far deeper than just the moniker. From the framed Mississippi River maps by U.S. Army Corps engineer Harold Fisk from 1944 that grace the exposed brick walls, to the carefully curated selection of over 250 American whiskeys flowing as freely as the rivers themselves, every detail reflects a profound sense of place and history. Welcome to Goodwater. Perched right in the thick of the action on Northcote's High Street, Goodwater has mastered what so many venues struggle with: being both a serious whiskey bar and genuinely welcoming space. The best seats in the house? Right up against the giant windows, which fling open on sunny days to let the good air in. Good air, good water — this is the spot to perch up and watch Northcote's evening parade while nursing a perfectly mixed Old Fashioned.  While the window seats might be prime real estate, the outdoor area offers its own backyard-ish charm. But really, there's no bad seat in the house — the warm, cozy atmosphere inside pervades every corner. The space strikes that perfect balance between classy and comfortable, with the impressive wall of whiskey bottles creating an amber-hued backdrop that feels more invitation than intimidation.  The bar is the brainchild of a veteran crew including Nathaniel White (Bar...
  • Wine bars
  • Brunswick
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Until recently, Sydney Road and its surrounding backstreets weren’t known for their wine-forward bars and restaurants. This has gradually started to change – there’s now laidback yet classy French bistro Bar Magnolia, neighbourhood wine bar Nina’s alongside the Anstey Station bike path, and intimate 35-seater Gemini further north.  You’d be forgiven for thinking Bar Magnolia is a lot stuffier than what it actually is, with its pressed white linen tablecloths and fastidiously attentive service. The more-than-a-year-old wine bar has retained the bones of the historical 1920s building it’s in – exposed red brick walls, stained-glass detailing in the upper windows. What you’ll find is a bistro fancy enough for a special date or notable occasion, but so warm and friendly it’s more akin to a neighbourhood wine bar.  There are tables out the front on the footpath, a sun-filled front room and then a cosier, darker nook out the back. There’s the option to perch by the wraparound bar, sit on stools overlooking the street, or settle into one of several tables with a view of the open, bustling kitchen where animated exclamations of “yes chef” are commonplace.  At $85 per person, the chef’s three-course seasonally rotating menu that includes nearly everything on the regular menu, bar dessert, is well worth the price tag.   Served alongside cultured butter, the Iris Bakery baguette starter performs an exemplar job of singing the praises of the crowdfunded local Brunswick bakery. The...
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  • Cocktail bars
  • Melbourne
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. On a Wednesday night, the Wesley Place precinct is anything but quiet. After dark, what should be a corporate ghost town transforms into one of the city's most coveted spots for a world-class cocktail. Caretakers Cottage, "probably" Victoria's smallest bar, has built a reputation that looms large. Being crowned the 21st best bar in the world on the 2024 World's 50 Best Bars list is just the tip of the highball iceberg when it comes to accolades under its belt. Once home to the caretaker of the nearby Wesley Church (it's in the name, people), the bar is the brainchild of cocktail heavyweights Rob Libecans, Ryan Noreiks, and Matt Stirling—the trio behind the beloved pop-up Fancy Free. Whether it's a school night or not, customers spill out of the petite bluestone onto the concrete steps and nearby grassy patches. Inside, the vibe shifts. Step through the doorway, and it's like stepping into a house party, complete with a DJ spinning vinyl, warm lighting and long sheer curtains. The space seats just 25, and that's part of the magic. If you're among those lucky 25, you're treated to an intimate cocktail theatre. The bar runs like a chef's pass, with bartenders churning out drinks at a pace that's impressive to watch but never rushed in experience. As I'm visiting in December, I'm lucky enough to try their "Best...
  • Cocktail bars
  • Carlton
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. How often is it in Melbourne that you walk into a bar on a Monday night and it’s almost completely full? No matter which ‘burb you happen to frequent, the answer is not very – as good an indication as any that Bar Bellamy is an exceptionally well-loved local. We’ve slipped in at around 7pm on the first day of the week, ready to immerse ourselves in the kind and charming spirit of this neighbourhood bar, which is named after an anglicised amalgamation of the French words ‘bel’ (beautiful) and ‘ami’ (friend).  Softly buzzing on leafy Rathdowne Street, Bar Bellamy immediately gets the ‘cool’ tick of approval; lighting is golden-warm and moody, the small space is cosy yet not at all squishy and tasteful custom artworks give the impression of a thoughtfully curated offering to come. The bar is run by married couple Danielle and Oska Whitehart, who together bring experience from a variety of popular Melbourne venues – Archie’s All Day, the Everleigh and Gimlet, to name just a few.  Martinis are known to be a specialty here, so we ask for one first off the bat.  We’re twiddling our thumbs for a little while but the wait is well worth it. The bang-on perfect Martini is far more interesting than your average stock standard, a creatively mixed blend of Never Never Triple Juniper gin (arguably one of the best right...
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  • Pubs
  • St Kilda
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. On the first day of winter in 2023, husband-and-wife team Alex Back and Sophie Machin opened a cosy pub on Grey Street in St Kilda – perhaps a risky proposition in a suburb known for its summertime appeal. But Back’s 20 years of experience managing popular venues around the UK (the Boundary Rooftop in Shoreditch, Badger and Co in Edinburgh, among others) and his recent stint with the Stomping Ground Group have certainly helped get things off to a rip-roaring start. Machin has brought her graphic design and art direction skills from the advertising world to renovate the handsome space – and just like that, the Lion and Wombat has rocketed up the ranks to become one of Melbourne’s most respectable watering holes for traditional British pub food and drinks.  Friends of mine – an English couple from Norwich – recommended it to me out of the blue on a night out. “You’ve got to go in and review this place,” they said. “It’s just like being back home.” In my experience, it’s always the loveliest kinds of places that spread via word of mouth. “Best Scotch egg I’ve ever had in Australia,” one happy customer wrote online (though perhaps they ought to try the one at Reed House, too). Consider us curious. Blown in from the bitter chill, we’re glad to be seated swiftly at a candlelit table next to the window. Exposed...
  • Wine bars
  • North Melbourne
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
North Melbourne is having a moment. In the last eighteen months, locals have been blessed with a spate of of exciting gastronomic events: the renewal of Italian restaurant Sosta Ristorante; the cosy refurbishment and reopening of the Courthouse Hotel; the location migration of Moroccan Soup Bar; and the sustainable reno and menu glow-up at the historic Central Club Hotel. And that’s without even paying mention to the openings of funky new vino spots Pour Diane and Lumen People. The latter is where we’re shining a light today – a sleek day-to-night café and wine bar from Emma Sheahan and Marichi Clarke.  We arrive on the dot at 6pm one Friday night to discover a quiet atmosphere – it looks and feels like your typical inner-city brunch café, except one that’s strangely open after dark. Soulful jams fill the space, and we sneak a peek at the bags of coffee beans for sale along the walls. The Scandi-leaning decor is clean and minimal, almost as if to seem purposefully bare. But those who don’t know Lumen People in its night mode are missing out; what follows is an intentional and touching wine bar experience. But first, a cocktail. After chatting about all the different kinds of Martini types with our generous and personable hostess, she asks me how I like mine and so I opt for a dirty gin Martini. It’s slippery and flawless with a big fat green olive at the bottom. I totally needed this after a long day, and I melt into the wooden chair. I’m in good hands here. The wine...
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  • Wine bars
  • Carlton North
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
For anyone who follows dining trends in Melbourne, it’s old news that wine bars are having a long, delicious moment. Less formal than a by-the-book restaurant but carrying a greater sense of occasion than a small eatery or café, the wine bar is where you can dip your toes into a snack 'n' sip sesh instead of diving headlong into the commitment of a full meal.  In any case, it’s vino-paired lunch my partner and I seek one fine Sunday afternoon and so off we trot. We already know we’ll be in good hands at Marama; the bar is run by cousins and business partners Grace Dowell (Proud Mary) and Tom Gunn (Capitano, Proud Mary), who are both no strangers to providing winning neighbourhood hospitality. They focus on local producers here, networking with Victorian farms and small suppliers within a five-kilometre radius to deliver their seasonally adaptive menu. All the bar’s beers, too, are Victorian, while even the cocktails on offer stick to Aussie-made spirits and liqueurs.  When we take our seats at around midday, soft jazzy piano fills the air and nicely dressed families and locals are lunching along with us. There’s a set market lunch menu at just $45 a head on Sundays, which we’ve booked for in advance. Legendary winemaker Owen Latta seems like the perfect kick-off point and I decide to try his What-A-Melon rosé. Far from the flirty, un-serious drink its name indicates (and let’s be real, I didn’t mind if I received), this drop is a funky, somewhat savoury blend of pinot...
  • Pubs
  • Fitzroy North
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. It’s almost as if a bunch of jaded publicans recently got together at a committee meeting and unanimously agreed: the old-school Aussie pub experience needs to come back. Such is the revival of the vintage pub (pubcore?) experience in Melbourne right now, one can’t help but muse at the irony of something built on reversing trends… well, becoming somewhat of a trend.  But hey, we’re not complaining. It’s about time you could once again get a proper VB or Carlton Draught on tap (‘cause mate, all that craft shite’s hoppier than a cane toad infestation) and get stuck into a gravy-drenched schnitty at your inner-city local. G’day mate, indeed. Last year, the Albion Hotel in Collingwood reopened to embrace its OG ‘70s design and a dedication to serving only schooners. Next, Fitzroy’s Punters Club was reborn, willingly paying homage to its legendary ‘90s era with a gig program, banana splits and even juicy dim sims on the menu. Brunswick’s recently refurbished Hotel Railway also feels like a nod to the not-too-distant past, with its packs of mates watching the footy over a round of frothies and youngsters huddled outside to roll cigs and talk politics – mullets, flannies and all. And now adding to the northside wave of true-blue Aussie pub revivals, we have the North Fitzroy Arms. On previous visits, I thought of it...
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  • Windsor
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. An ol’ disco classic once preached to us that ‘young hearts run free’, and at this eclectic Windsor establishment, it seems they certainly do. So it’s quite fitting that the bar’s moniker quotes a lyric from soul singer Candi Staton’s 1976 record.  But is that what it takes to make a great bar? A feeling of letting your hair down? Freedom from the nine-to-five grind? If escapism into the glory days is central to the average Southside watering hole’s recipe for success, then yes, Young Hearts – a boozy enclave hidden upstairs from High Street – gets it right.  We’ve chosen a Saturday night to experience the bar in peak pre-drinks mode, and we’re not disappointed. Upon ascending the staircase, we’re warmly enveloped by its moody warehouse-like interiors. Hello, NYC apartment. Colourful wall-to-wall artworks showcase the latest exhibitor and a loft-style mezzanine floor looks cosy and chic upstairs. I almost feel like I could be in an episode of Sex and the City’s earlier seasons. Time to channel my inner Carrie. My Mr Big? Well, I’ve brought along the boyfriend and luckily, he’s no flake when it comes to these sorts of missions. We’re here on business – to eat, drink and kick back. The centrepiece of the entire operation is a circular stage-in-the-round DJ station, where an expert music curator mans the decks....
  • Melbourne
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Update October 2024: This review was originally written in 2015, so please be aware that some elements may have changed since. Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. "Which one?" It's the question we're asked when we call to book a table at MoVida, and it's a fair one. In the years since Frank Camorra and business partner Andy McMahon opened their Hosier Lane flagship tapas restaurant, the pair have launched an Armada of Spanish eateries that now includes MoVida Next Door and MoVida Aqui. But don’t let all that rampant breeding put the fear of neglectful parenting into you – MoVida is captained by a trusty crew and still offers one of the best bar dining experiences in Melbourne. Camorra annually pillages Spain for all things delicious and preserved from rosy haunches of jamon to tasty tinned things, which head chef Dave Roberts converts into seriously ramped up versions of traditional Spanish tapas, all matched head on by some of the best grenache and tempranillo wines the Rioja and Victoria can throw your way. Perhaps there will be a wafer-thin crouton piggybacking an oil-slicked brown anchovy, tiny capers and a savoury ball of smoked tomato sorbet. It’s a hell of a riff on the anchovy-on-tomato-rubbed-bread Catalonian classic. Crisp shelled croquetas shoot a rich, satin-smooth paste of blood sausage right across the table when you bite into...
  • Cocktail bars
  • Northcote
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Taking its name as a nod to America's great waterways, Goodwater is rapidly becoming Northcote's worst-kept secret. Inspired by the mighty Ohio — a river integral to America's whiskey heritage — the connection here runs far deeper than just the moniker. From the framed Mississippi River maps by U.S. Army Corps engineer Harold Fisk from 1944 that grace the exposed brick walls, to the carefully curated selection of over 250 American whiskeys flowing as freely as the rivers themselves, every detail reflects a profound sense of place and history. Welcome to Goodwater. Perched right in the thick of the action on Northcote's High Street, Goodwater has mastered what so many venues struggle with: being both a serious whiskey bar and genuinely welcoming space. The best seats in the house? Right up against the giant windows, which fling open on sunny days to let the good air in. Good air, good water — this is the spot to perch up and watch Northcote's evening parade while nursing a perfectly mixed Old Fashioned.  While the window seats might be prime real estate, the outdoor area offers its own backyard-ish charm. But really, there's no bad seat in the house — the warm, cozy atmosphere inside pervades every corner. The space strikes that perfect balance between classy and comfortable, with the impressive wall of whiskey bottles creating an amber-hued backdrop that feels more invitation than intimidation.  The bar is the brainchild of a veteran crew including Nathaniel White (Bar...
  • Modern Australian
  • St Kilda
  • price 3 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
When you first step into the stylish airlock entrance at Stokehouse, the transportation to another world is immediate. Suspended in the liminal space, the door behind you closes and the noisy buzz of St Kilda’s busy streets fades to a calming hum. A journey begins. Up the stairs, we head to the first floor where the magic awaits. The host is attentive and charming from the outset, offering to take our coats and guiding us to our seats before introducing the other service staff who’ll be taking care of us for the night. But while impressed, we’re not really surprised. This is Stokehouse, after all, a bastion of traditional hospitality and serene comfort since the early 1990s. But I want to know – after all this time, does the food and drink still stack up to the restaurant’s lofty reputation?  Let’s find out. During the day, Stokehouse’s broad, floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the glistening beach, flooding the dining space with rays of sun. At night, however, it’s a moodier setting, with warm lamps and designer chandeliers elevating the interior decor – a theatre for food and sea under the moonlight.  On this chilly  evening, the beach is roaring as loudly as the wind is howling, and my partner and I are feeling cosy and romantic by the window. The only word for it is cinematic. After placing our orders, we’re paid a visit by the sommelier. He’s got drink suggestions to pair with our menu choices if we’re interested – of course, we are. A dry Tasmanian brut and a bright...
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  • Cocktail bars
  • Melbourne
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. On a Wednesday night, the Wesley Place precinct is anything but quiet. After dark, what should be a corporate ghost town transforms into one of the city's most coveted spots for a world-class cocktail. Caretakers Cottage, "probably" Victoria's smallest bar, has built a reputation that looms large. Being crowned the 21st best bar in the world on the 2024 World's 50 Best Bars list is just the tip of the highball iceberg when it comes to accolades under its belt. Once home to the caretaker of the nearby Wesley Church (it's in the name, people), the bar is the brainchild of cocktail heavyweights Rob Libecans, Ryan Noreiks, and Matt Stirling—the trio behind the beloved pop-up Fancy Free. Whether it's a school night or not, customers spill out of the petite bluestone onto the concrete steps and nearby grassy patches. Inside, the vibe shifts. Step through the doorway, and it's like stepping into a house party, complete with a DJ spinning vinyl, warm lighting and long sheer curtains. The space seats just 25, and that's part of the magic. If you're among those lucky 25, you're treated to an intimate cocktail theatre. The bar runs like a chef's pass, with bartenders churning out drinks at a pace that's impressive to watch but never rushed in experience. As I'm visiting in December, I'm lucky enough to try their "Best...
  • Fitzroy
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
In Melbourne’s fast-paced hospo scene, it’s easy to take for granted the local haunts we frequent over the years and have come to know and love. Bright, shiny openings dominate our feeds, and, especially in the food space, there’s always somewhere new and compelling to visit. But some places seem to maintain an indistinguishable allure, bolstered by their persistence to keep things fresh and their loyal patrons happy – and judging by Marquis of Lorne’s consistently packed-out capacity since its 2014 refurbishment, it’s one of them. In fact, we’re lucky to have even scored a spot on the Sunday arvo we visit – it’s the last dining table, fortuitously made available on the back of a cancelled booking. While it’s been a while since our last lunch here, we know the drill: hearty gastropub fare in a somewhat shabby-chic yet charming space, with a diverse drinks list that’s bound to get us feeling thirsty fast. We start with a round of Stomping Ground pale ales on the small sunny rooftop. Up here, there’s a separate bar with a dedicated beer geek who gives us the scoop on a new exciting craft brewhouse opening in Richmond: Tasmania’s Fox Friday. We try a tipple (it’s great), before strolling down the creaky stairs to take our lucky place in the ground-floor dining room. The atmosphere is warm and buzzing, with large groups of families, friends and a smattering of cool kids sporting the latest haircuts (fluffy mullets must be trending right now) sharing meals over pints....
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  • Cocktail bars
  • Melbourne
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. Any epicure worth their dirty martini knows that an unassuming alley often holds the best treasures. One or Two is further proof of this.  Located down a backstreet in the heart of Chinatown, this cocktail bar delivers cool and contemporary without pretence.  Stepping through the understated black door will immediately transport you to Shimokitazawa in Tokyo. And I don't mean the flashy, neon-lighted, anime-character-ed interpretation that Melbourne hospo often attempts. I mean the real, effortless, and timeless version. This conveyance I experienced upon entering One Or Two is no coincidence. Owner Andy Chu designed the bar with the Japanese aesthetic of "Wabi Sabi" in mind. Celebrating transience and imperfection, Wabi Sabi aims to highlight the beauty in impermanence.  The small bar is intimate, with space for just 24 people. With dim lighting, dark wood finishes, and slate-tiled floors, it’s quietly romantic and makes for an excellent date spot. Although I see nothing "imperfect" about the space, it conveys the feeling of serenity synonymous with the philosophy.  However, the R and B tunes blaring from the sound system are less serene and more vibey, encapsulating the harmonious blend of tradition and modernity One or Two pervades.  The menu divides the cocktails into subsections under the headings' All...
  • Fitzroy
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Update October 2024: This review was written in 2019, so please be aware that some elements may have changed since. Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. Melburnians never needed the succession of big international awards to know that the Black Pearl is where you go for a bloody good cocktail – though undoubtedly those accolades benefited the travellers who now flock to the bar as a checklist destination. Tash Conte’s family-run bar has been a beacon of excellence for decades, and they’re the place many of us learnt how to appreciate a fine drink. Not content to sit pretty on tried-and-tested masterpieces, their list is always on the move, keeping step with moods and seasons. All summer they’ve been leaning into a tropical, fun-loving theme, taking the tacky cocktails you’d get at an all-inclusive resort and reimagining them into serious contenders. You won’t find many world-renowned cocktail bars serving up a frozen Cosmopolitan, but here they do, made with proper, locally crafted curaçao to give depth and fragrance to the good-times drink. It’s the same kind of pluck that sees them doing an inspired bourbon-and-banana number in the Lady Finger, with citrus, Earl Grey and falernum lifting then tempering their burly flavours for a refreshing tipple that defies logic. A true legend is a magnanimous one, and in this regard the Black Pearl stands...
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  • Cocktail bars
  • Collingwood
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Above Board
Above Board
Update October 2024: This review was originally written in 2022, so please be aware that some elements may have changed since. Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. The austere design of Above Board – with a simple wooden benchtop and all the alcohol hidden away in drawers in unmarked decanters – has bartender Hayden Lambert standing at the 12-seater bar like a blackjack dealer doling out drinks instead of cards. The difference here is that whatever you bet on from the short, thoughtful menu will be a winner. The precision with which Lambert designs the menu around the limited drawer space means that no drink is a gamble; all killer, no filler, if you will. The backlit, mirrored cupboards give the place a futuristic atmosphere but there are some retro rippers on Hayden’s cocktail list. Celebrate the criminally underrated liqueur Midori in a Japanese Slipper with curaçao and just the right amount of lemon juice to balance the sweet melon flavour, or a Martini with just the added hint of orange bitters. The other half of the menu is dealer’s choice with Lambert’s own creations such as the Gentlemen Caller with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and gran classico, a rich and smoky number that is like a weathered leather briefcase in drink form. The Hot Minute riffs on a Margarita with tequila, lemon juice and bitters. The end result of climbing the stairs...
  • Windsor
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. An ol’ disco classic once preached to us that ‘young hearts run free’, and at this eclectic Windsor establishment, it seems they certainly do. So it’s quite fitting that the bar’s moniker quotes a lyric from soul singer Candi Staton’s 1976 record.  But is that what it takes to make a great bar? A feeling of letting your hair down? Freedom from the nine-to-five grind? If escapism into the glory days is central to the average Southside watering hole’s recipe for success, then yes, Young Hearts – a boozy enclave hidden upstairs from High Street – gets it right.  We’ve chosen a Saturday night to experience the bar in peak pre-drinks mode, and we’re not disappointed. Upon ascending the staircase, we’re warmly enveloped by its moody warehouse-like interiors. Hello, NYC apartment. Colourful wall-to-wall artworks showcase the latest exhibitor and a loft-style mezzanine floor looks cosy and chic upstairs. I almost feel like I could be in an episode of Sex and the City’s earlier seasons. Time to channel my inner Carrie. My Mr Big? Well, I’ve brought along the boyfriend and luckily, he’s no flake when it comes to these sorts of missions. We’re here on business – to eat, drink and kick back. The centrepiece of the entire operation is a circular stage-in-the-round DJ station, where an expert music curator mans the decks....
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  • Melbourne
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. Melbourne loves a secret bar. From State of Grace’s swish cellar accessible via bookcase to the new speakeasy with a Narnia-esque wardrobe entry Mill Place Merchants, our map of hidden drinking lairs remains a fountainous source of pride and joy for Melburnians – and it’s one we especially love spouting off about when our interstate friends come to town.  But while there’s a tendency to romanticise mystery and intrigue in our fair city, there’s indeed a great deal of substance behind the smoke and mirrors. Solid proof comes in the form of sultry new Latin-inspired bar Santana, which is offering one of the CBD’s most sensual and thoughtfully curated casual drinking experiences above ground level.  Consider puffing away on a Montecristo Short while nursing an El Presidente – a perfect balance of dark rum, dry vermouth, curacao and cranberry grenadine. Or swirling a glass of Emiliana Natura carménère from Chile while you take in moody views of the city’s nightscape.  Carménère is a deep red grape varietal with origins in Bordeaux, widely presumed extinct after a phylloxera plague in 1867 nearly decimated all the vineyards of Europe. Now rarely found in France, the largest grower in the world is Chile and the wine world is taking a renewed interest in its potential for blending with other varietals. Our bartender...
  • Wine bars
  • Fitzroy
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Whatever iteration Marion’s menu is in, one can never go past the flatbread with fromage blanc, a staple so universally adored it’s never left. Salt-speckled, garlicky wedges of dough give way to the most pillowy interiors, which go a treat when dipped in fresh cheese so smooth and spreadable it’s akin to a yoghurt.   Housemade seed-studded rye crisps are the standout accompaniment to the smoked trout rillette, a rich and creamy mixture that’s more textured than a pâté but just as indulgent. Be rewarded with chunks of fresh smoked trout layered within the rillette and fresh pops of roe atop, with the radishes doing a great job of cutting through everything with its mild pepperiness.  Every wine bar in Melbourne has a crudo, carpaccio or tartare on its menu and though Marion’s raw tuna goes by a simple name, it evokes the same feeling. Light, summery and zingy, the tuna is enlivened by a light soy dressing and the crunch of coriander seeds.  A smokiness assails our senses as soon as the baked pipe rigate is placed in front of us. Lightly charred snail shells soaked in a spicy vodka sauce so lustrous there’s cheese pull is what’s on offer, and it’s a worthy addition to Marion’s menu. A Father’s Day special when we visit is the immaculately crumbed veal cotoletta in a crispy sage butter with zucchini pickles. The veal within is tender and medium-rare pink. For a green side to your mains, the Ramarro Farm leaves sweetened by bursts of pickled wild figs is a highlight.  It’s...
  • Cocktail bars
  • Northcote
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Taking its name as a nod to America's great waterways, Goodwater is rapidly becoming Northcote's worst-kept secret. Inspired by the mighty Ohio — a river integral to America's whiskey heritage — the connection here runs far deeper than just the moniker. From the framed Mississippi River maps by U.S. Army Corps engineer Harold Fisk from 1944 that grace the exposed brick walls, to the carefully curated selection of over 250 American whiskeys flowing as freely as the rivers themselves, every detail reflects a profound sense of place and history. Welcome to Goodwater. Perched right in the thick of the action on Northcote's High Street, Goodwater has mastered what so many venues struggle with: being both a serious whiskey bar and genuinely welcoming space. The best seats in the house? Right up against the giant windows, which fling open on sunny days to let the good air in. Good air, good water — this is the spot to perch up and watch Northcote's evening parade while nursing a perfectly mixed Old Fashioned.  While the window seats might be prime real estate, the outdoor area offers its own backyard-ish charm. But really, there's no bad seat in the house — the warm, cozy atmosphere inside pervades every corner. The space strikes that perfect balance between classy and comfortable, with the impressive wall of whiskey bottles creating an amber-hued backdrop that feels more invitation than intimidation.  The bar is the brainchild of a veteran crew including Nathaniel White (Bar...
  • Melbourne
  • price 1 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
This massive outdoor eatery and beer garden sandwiched between two Melbourne icons (the Yarra River and Flinders Street Station) stretches for 120 metres along the river bank and is officially Melbourne’s longest bar. They’ve got Espresso Martinis and Aperol Spritz on tap for quick-fire service so you can spend more time kicking back and less queueing, otherwise the juicy tang and fresh kick in the Tommy’s Watermelon Margarita is a just reward for your patience. Swap your rosé tinted glasses for the orange variety, specifically a bottle of the 2011 Pheasant Tears Katheti from the Georgian Republic if it's still available. Some of Melbourne's best DJs rotate weekly on the decks, so grab a date or a group of friends and settle in for the night. You can make a booking here.    
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  • Cocktail bars
  • Melbourne
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. On a Wednesday night, the Wesley Place precinct is anything but quiet. After dark, what should be a corporate ghost town transforms into one of the city's most coveted spots for a world-class cocktail. Caretakers Cottage, "probably" Victoria's smallest bar, has built a reputation that looms large. Being crowned the 21st best bar in the world on the 2024 World's 50 Best Bars list is just the tip of the highball iceberg when it comes to accolades under its belt. Once home to the caretaker of the nearby Wesley Church (it's in the name, people), the bar is the brainchild of cocktail heavyweights Rob Libecans, Ryan Noreiks, and Matt Stirling—the trio behind the beloved pop-up Fancy Free. Whether it's a school night or not, customers spill out of the petite bluestone onto the concrete steps and nearby grassy patches. Inside, the vibe shifts. Step through the doorway, and it's like stepping into a house party, complete with a DJ spinning vinyl, warm lighting and long sheer curtains. The space seats just 25, and that's part of the magic. If you're among those lucky 25, you're treated to an intimate cocktail theatre. The bar runs like a chef's pass, with bartenders churning out drinks at a pace that's impressive to watch but never rushed in experience. As I'm visiting in December, I'm lucky enough to try their "Best...
  • Modern Australian
  • St Kilda
  • price 3 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
When you first step into the stylish airlock entrance at Stokehouse, the transportation to another world is immediate. Suspended in the liminal space, the door behind you closes and the noisy buzz of St Kilda’s busy streets fades to a calming hum. A journey begins. Up the stairs, we head to the first floor where the magic awaits. The host is attentive and charming from the outset, offering to take our coats and guiding us to our seats before introducing the other service staff who’ll be taking care of us for the night. But while impressed, we’re not really surprised. This is Stokehouse, after all, a bastion of traditional hospitality and serene comfort since the early 1990s. But I want to know – after all this time, does the food and drink still stack up to the restaurant’s lofty reputation?  Let’s find out. During the day, Stokehouse’s broad, floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the glistening beach, flooding the dining space with rays of sun. At night, however, it’s a moodier setting, with warm lamps and designer chandeliers elevating the interior decor – a theatre for food and sea under the moonlight.  On this chilly  evening, the beach is roaring as loudly as the wind is howling, and my partner and I are feeling cosy and romantic by the window. The only word for it is cinematic. After placing our orders, we’re paid a visit by the sommelier. He’s got drink suggestions to pair with our menu choices if we’re interested – of course, we are. A dry Tasmanian brut and a bright...
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  • Melbourne
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Update October 2024: This review was originally written in 2022, so please be aware that some elements may have changed since. Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. In 2021, Melbourne nearly lost one of its most iconic venues. But, thanks to Tom Rattigan (Lily Blacks, Double Happiness, New Gold Mountain) and Joshua Stevens (New Gold Mountain), Madame Brussels – a former brothel and all-round good time parlour – was resurrected. Tucked up on the third floor of an unassuming office block and manned by staff in kitschy cute tennis outfits, Madame Brussels is the garden party that never stops. This quintessential Melbourne rooftop bar is a pastel fantasy of pink, green and white, and comes decked out with more Astro-Turf than you can poke a parasol at. Boasting a leafy skyline vista made for scoping out city streets and catching killer sunsets, this is the spot to wow spritz-loving out-of-towners.  No longer helmed by hostess with the mostess, Miss Pearls, the reopened Bourke Street bar has lost a little of its flirtatious charm. The double-entendre-laden menu has been stripped out and replaced with a list that instead nods to the area’s heritage and famous figures.  Sangria has long been synonymous with Madame Brussels, and the Parliamentary Mace (created in honour of the Victorian mace that was lost in the brothel in 1892) ensures this legacy...
  • Cocktail bars
  • Melbourne
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Bar Margaux
Bar Margaux
Nobody would be shocked to hear that the cocktails at Bar Margaux are good. The CBD basement bar has excellent DNA, with a lineage that includes trophy-laden cocktail saloon the Everleigh and dive bar-esque Heartbreaker, where the booze quality is equal to the late-night debauchery. What is perhaps more surprising is that the cocktails at Michael and Zara Madrusan’s third bar are only one part of a very smart equation that, in true Melbourne style, thoroughly and successfully blurs the lines between bar and restaurant. A Melbourne take on a New York version of a Parisian bistro, Bar Margaux ticks all the right design tropes – chequerboard floor, shiny white subway tiles, booths, wired glass dividers, golden back bar lighting – and deftly assembles them so that the space sidesteps cliché and becomes very much right place, right time. Michael Madrusan’s time tending bar in New York was well spent, given how intrinsically he understands the kind of spaces a late-night joint like this needs – privacy in shadowy booths down one end, room for display around the bar. There’s also been serious thought put into the food. Like the fitout, the menu is a roll call of classics, offering the kind of French bistro dishes you’d expect in a place that looks like this. What you might not expect in a watering hole where the kitchen’s open until 3am (and beyond on weekends) is that you’re going to get such a good French onion soup or credible steak frites or such a ridiculously rich lobster...
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  • Fitzroy
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Update October 2024: This review was written in 2019, so please be aware that some elements may have changed since. Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. Melburnians never needed the succession of big international awards to know that the Black Pearl is where you go for a bloody good cocktail – though undoubtedly those accolades benefited the travellers who now flock to the bar as a checklist destination. Tash Conte’s family-run bar has been a beacon of excellence for decades, and they’re the place many of us learnt how to appreciate a fine drink. Not content to sit pretty on tried-and-tested masterpieces, their list is always on the move, keeping step with moods and seasons. All summer they’ve been leaning into a tropical, fun-loving theme, taking the tacky cocktails you’d get at an all-inclusive resort and reimagining them into serious contenders. You won’t find many world-renowned cocktail bars serving up a frozen Cosmopolitan, but here they do, made with proper, locally crafted curaçao to give depth and fragrance to the good-times drink. It’s the same kind of pluck that sees them doing an inspired bourbon-and-banana number in the Lady Finger, with citrus, Earl Grey and falernum lifting then tempering their burly flavours for a refreshing tipple that defies logic. A true legend is a magnanimous one, and in this regard the Black Pearl stands...
  • Fitzroy
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
In Melbourne’s fast-paced hospo scene, it’s easy to take for granted the local haunts we frequent over the years and have come to know and love. Bright, shiny openings dominate our feeds, and, especially in the food space, there’s always somewhere new and compelling to visit. But some places seem to maintain an indistinguishable allure, bolstered by their persistence to keep things fresh and their loyal patrons happy – and judging by Marquis of Lorne’s consistently packed-out capacity since its 2014 refurbishment, it’s one of them. In fact, we’re lucky to have even scored a spot on the Sunday arvo we visit – it’s the last dining table, fortuitously made available on the back of a cancelled booking. While it’s been a while since our last lunch here, we know the drill: hearty gastropub fare in a somewhat shabby-chic yet charming space, with a diverse drinks list that’s bound to get us feeling thirsty fast. We start with a round of Stomping Ground pale ales on the small sunny rooftop. Up here, there’s a separate bar with a dedicated beer geek who gives us the scoop on a new exciting craft brewhouse opening in Richmond: Tasmania’s Fox Friday. We try a tipple (it’s great), before strolling down the creaky stairs to take our lucky place in the ground-floor dining room. The atmosphere is warm and buzzing, with large groups of families, friends and a smattering of cool kids sporting the latest haircuts (fluffy mullets must be trending right now) sharing meals over pints....
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  • Cocktail bars
  • Collingwood
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Above Board
Above Board
Update October 2024: This review was originally written in 2022, so please be aware that some elements may have changed since. Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. The austere design of Above Board – with a simple wooden benchtop and all the alcohol hidden away in drawers in unmarked decanters – has bartender Hayden Lambert standing at the 12-seater bar like a blackjack dealer doling out drinks instead of cards. The difference here is that whatever you bet on from the short, thoughtful menu will be a winner. The precision with which Lambert designs the menu around the limited drawer space means that no drink is a gamble; all killer, no filler, if you will. The backlit, mirrored cupboards give the place a futuristic atmosphere but there are some retro rippers on Hayden’s cocktail list. Celebrate the criminally underrated liqueur Midori in a Japanese Slipper with curaçao and just the right amount of lemon juice to balance the sweet melon flavour, or a Martini with just the added hint of orange bitters. The other half of the menu is dealer’s choice with Lambert’s own creations such as the Gentlemen Caller with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and gran classico, a rich and smoky number that is like a weathered leather briefcase in drink form. The Hot Minute riffs on a Margarita with tequila, lemon juice and bitters. The end result of climbing the stairs...
  • Melbourne
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Update October 2024: This review was originally written in 2015, so please be aware that some elements may have changed since. Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. "Which one?" It's the question we're asked when we call to book a table at MoVida, and it's a fair one. In the years since Frank Camorra and business partner Andy McMahon opened their Hosier Lane flagship tapas restaurant, the pair have launched an Armada of Spanish eateries that now includes MoVida Next Door and MoVida Aqui. But don’t let all that rampant breeding put the fear of neglectful parenting into you – MoVida is captained by a trusty crew and still offers one of the best bar dining experiences in Melbourne. Camorra annually pillages Spain for all things delicious and preserved from rosy haunches of jamon to tasty tinned things, which head chef Dave Roberts converts into seriously ramped up versions of traditional Spanish tapas, all matched head on by some of the best grenache and tempranillo wines the Rioja and Victoria can throw your way. Perhaps there will be a wafer-thin crouton piggybacking an oil-slicked brown anchovy, tiny capers and a savoury ball of smoked tomato sorbet. It’s a hell of a riff on the anchovy-on-tomato-rubbed-bread Catalonian classic. Crisp shelled croquetas shoot a rich, satin-smooth paste of blood sausage right across the table when you bite into...
  • Cocktail bars
  • Collingwood
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Above Board
Above Board
Update October 2024: This review was originally written in 2022, so please be aware that some elements may have changed since. Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. The austere design of Above Board – with a simple wooden benchtop and all the alcohol hidden away in drawers in unmarked decanters – has bartender Hayden Lambert standing at the 12-seater bar like a blackjack dealer doling out drinks instead of cards. The difference here is that whatever you bet on from the short, thoughtful menu will be a winner. The precision with which Lambert designs the menu around the limited drawer space means that no drink is a gamble; all killer, no filler, if you will. The backlit, mirrored cupboards give the place a futuristic atmosphere but there are some retro rippers on Hayden’s cocktail list. Celebrate the criminally underrated liqueur Midori in a Japanese Slipper with curaçao and just the right amount of lemon juice to balance the sweet melon flavour, or a Martini with just the added hint of orange bitters. The other half of the menu is dealer’s choice with Lambert’s own creations such as the Gentlemen Caller with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and gran classico, a rich and smoky number that is like a weathered leather briefcase in drink form. The Hot Minute riffs on a Margarita with tequila, lemon juice and bitters. The end result of climbing the stairs...
  • Wine bars
  • Fitzroy
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Amarillo
Amarillo
You are in danger of feeling too comfortable at Amarillo, the low-lit, mid-century-styled wine bar and café on Brunswick Street. Once you sink into those rump-cupping swivel chairs in the front window you might start thinking about taking off your shoes while you sip that Minius Godello, a Spanish white that tastes like ripe melon and lemon drops and is one of their best sellers.  We certainly aren’t the only ones treating this bar like a second home. On a Sunday night someone has booked a birthday dinner for ten, only to have 24 people to show up. The staff just tacked more chairs onto the snaking group table and went out the back to break it to the chef. Imagine if someone took a little European café and Marie Kondo’ed the hell out of it, paring it right back to tall white walls, blond timbers, flatteringly low lighting, a few choice art works and a shining Simonelli coffee machine on the bar. That’s the vibe here. The wine list reads like an 18 year-old’s gap year hit list with most of central and western Europe getting a look in, plus a whole lot of Victorian drops leading the local charge. But we can’t help but live a summer holiday fantasy through a smashable Sicilian (Ciello Bianco Catarratto) with just a hint of soapy grip to it. The menu definitely has Spanish sensibilities to it, with plump mussels served on the half shell and doused in a tomato sauce punctuated with rich, porky sobrasada pieces. It’s less surf-and-turf than paddock-and-estuary, with a whole lot...
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  • Brunswick
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Amelia Shaw
Amelia Shaw
Brunswick’s finally got a real cocktail bar. You may not know about it yet – it’s brand new. But chances are you’ve been here before. Amelia Shaw occupies the upper floor of Brunswick pub legend the Retreat, and this high-falutin' lady is just as elegant and sophisticated as her nether regions are beer stained and rowdy. Like a bonnet, on a bogan. Powerhouse can shakers Lou Dare (New Gold Mountain, the Alchemist) and American muso Elizabeth Barker, are dividing their time here between making cocktails and vigorously stoking the three fires that grace Amelia’s art deco rooms. The fitout is incredible, masterminded by designer Danielle Brustman who’s pulled together an artist's trove of treasures. Check out the cubic chandelier of pearlescent glass boxes from a Japanese casino, and the lush, red, round pool table. Make sure you cop an eyeful of the goodies inside Gonzalo Varela’s circus-style peep show too. These centrepieces, along with wicker chairs, and bushels of peacock feathers are all posed against the elegant bones of the Victorian rooms. Painted in reds, or large geometric murals it’s Bauhaus meets parlour party, and it’s all glam as hell. The drinks, meanwhile, are all Australian. On the rail is Tromba tequila, West Winds gin, Tassie vodka 666, and as many Australian infused liqueurs as they could get their mitts on. The result is a cocktail list of classics with a Dame Edna accent. Settle by the hearth with a Qantas, (their Aviation) with a violet liqueur from...
  • Fitzroy
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Anada
Anada
Añada is Spanish for ‘year’s harvest’, an apt choice of name for a restaurant with a commitment to seasonal ingredients and a constantly shifting menu. Established by a pair of Australian Hispanophiles, previously of London’s River Café and Melbourne’s much-loved Movida, this diminutive, warmly lit venue serves Spanish-style tapas and raciones without slavishly imitating ‘traditional’ Spanish cuisine. Añada hold two dinner sittings per evening, at 6 and 8pm, and boasts a row of comfortable leather barstools for those only looking for a quick bite or a drink. Parties of eight or more are confined to a set menu, at $50 for a generous nine courses or $65 for an extravagant 12. The kitchen has no difficulty catering to special diets – ours was a particularly awkward party of two omnivores, two vegetarians, two pescatarians and one vegan, and all of us dined like obnoxious Saudi princelings. Highlights include natural oysters with lemon; fried eggplant with sour cream and slivers of very hot chilli; green tomato gazpacho with cucumber and green onion; whole mackerel wrapped in vine leaves; and sweet, tender mushrooms fried in ghee. The very large sherry list is exclusively Spanish, while almost every wine, beer and liqueur offering is either Spanish or Australian. The service is excellent: waitstaff are both observant and knowledgeable and the restaurant abounds in thoughtful, un-showy little touches, from the tiny pots of black salt on the tables to the fresh flowers in the...
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  • Melbourne
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Angel Music Bar
Angel Music Bar
Angel Music Bar is the meeting of two very different minds.  In one corner, you have Con Christopoulos, the powerhouse restaurateur with City Wine Shop, The European, Syracuse, Neapoli, Spring Street Grocer, Kirk’s, Kirk’s Wine Bar, French Saloon and Butchers Diner under his belt. In the other, you have Georgina O’Connor, one of Melbourne’s best-dressed, Gen-Y artist types, who is the ultimate cool girl. On paper, it is an odd pairing, but together, they’ve brought the sometimes low-key, always pumping Angel Music Bar to the CBD where the old Korova Milk Bar used to be. Music is front and centre, with a collection of records pumping out of Funktion One speakers specifically installed to fill the room with one of the most enjoyable soundtracks we’ve come across in a bar. We visit on a Tuesday, where it is unofficially Jazz Night, and Angel Music Bar’s definition of jazz is pretty loose. The speakers drip with John Coltrane, Susan Wong, Esther Phillips and Ute Lemper with scatterings of David Bowie and the newly released Tarantino playlist while the laid-back, midriff-baring bartender, who is the very embodiment of contradictory cool, is mixing a Martini while admitting that she is a teetotaller. Gotcha. So how does a Martini by a non-drinker taste? Not wet as requested and a little over diluted, but it does the trick. At $20 a cocktail, it isn’t the worst version of a Martini we have received, so colour us stunned.  Wines and fortifieds get a bit more consideration, as...
  • Melbourne
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Long before news broke of an opening date, we’d been thirsty for a first look at Apollo Inn. The mysterious cocktail bar is the newest sibling to the glowing jewel in Andrew McConnell’s crown Gimlet at Cavendish House, and is nestled deep within a 1920s Neo Renaissance-style building on the corner of Flinders and Hosier Lanes. As the cool kids exclaim these days: say less! If you’re familiar with the Trader House team’s mastery of aesthetics, you won’t be fooled by the bar’s unassuming entrance. We’d seen the photographs before and knew it was going to be beautiful inside – and it is. As soon as the enormous, leather-studded doors open, we’re ushered into a quaint corridor with tasteful soft-focus artworks lining the walls. If this dim waiting cocoon wasn’t so classy, the scene in the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film where Willy Wonka suddenly seems oversized would come to mind. But we’re not here long, and soon escorted to a space that whisks us breathlessly away to the old-world cocktail bars of 1950s Europe. Now we’re talking.  It’s a Thursday night and the place is heaving with important-looking, finely dressed people, their faces aglow with the golden light of table lamps. We kind of wish it wasn’t so full so we could see all the charming art deco details concealed by the huddle of bodies, but then at places like these, the people-watching quickly becomes part of the appeal. It’s bursting with life and in a CBD cocktail bar on a weeknight, that counts...
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  • Melbourne
  • price 1 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
This massive outdoor eatery and beer garden sandwiched between two Melbourne icons (the Yarra River and Flinders Street Station) stretches for 120 metres along the river bank and is officially Melbourne’s longest bar. They’ve got Espresso Martinis and Aperol Spritz on tap for quick-fire service so you can spend more time kicking back and less queueing, otherwise the juicy tang and fresh kick in the Tommy’s Watermelon Margarita is a just reward for your patience. Swap your rosé tinted glasses for the orange variety, specifically a bottle of the 2011 Pheasant Tears Katheti from the Georgian Republic if it's still available. Some of Melbourne's best DJs rotate weekly on the decks, so grab a date or a group of friends and settle in for the night. You can make a booking here.    
  • Windsor
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Atico
Atico
Beat a path through the hungry taco fans at Fonda (Windsor edition) to the staircase at the back. At the top you’ll find Atico: a bright, breezy bar that puts the chilli on this crazily busy eatery’s enchilada. A lot of punters wind up getting corralled in here for pre-dinner Pacifico beers, but it works as a stand-alone bar. You’re looking down the barrel of a whole lot of fruit-driven drinks in jars that wouldn’t look out of place on a beach. A Spanked Basil Gin Smash is a tall glass of citrusy freshness. Go for a Mexicano of tequila, red vermouth and Campari served straight if you’re after something a little more red blooded. They also do a roaring trade in grapefruit, tequila and Aperol slushies if you really want to channel Cancun. The space is set up for leaning and lounging. There’s a scattering of low, candlelit tables and the room is bordered by benches stacked with bright cushions. If it gets busy, drag some down and make a nest on the floor. Hit the deck if you like late afternoon sun or smoking. The menu is just meant as a warm-up for downstairs, but you could always order up some guacamole, rock ling croquettes and dishes of fried potatoes with spicy aioli and build yourself a little Mexi-tapas meal.
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  • Brunswick
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Atticus Finch
Atticus Finch
As the name suggests, Brunswick’s Atticus Finch is a bar of the literary persuasion. Directly opposite the Alderman, it’s a deep, dimly lit venue that combines modern comfort with old-fashioned eccentricity. Scattered with old books and housing a collection of rustic ephemera including paraffin lamps, pinned insects and a handsome stuffed pheasant, it feels a little like the hunting lodge of a well read country gentleman. Contradicting that impression however is a full set of decks, a record collection that ranges from bluegrass and modern folk to Grace Jones and Daft Punk, and a Storm Trooper helmet displayed like a prized artefact behind the bar. Large, comfortable leather booths that seat up to six occupy the front of the bar, with more formal seating to the rear. There’s a sweet garden, and a small shed containing a free pool table at the very back. Returning for the moment to matters literary and libational: the cocktails, which you’d be well advised to try, include the Catcher in the Rye, the De Balzac and the gentle Rose of Carringford. An impressive whisky list is prefaced with the tale of the SS Politician – the sinking of which inspired the book Whisky Galore! Sixteen bucks buys a ‘whisky flight’, a tasting selection of half-shots of any three whiskies. There are wines from all over Europe and Australasia, and a large selection of bottled beers organised by type, including lagers and pilsners, English real and Belgian ales. The tap beer selection changes...
  • Armadale
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Auterra Wine Bar
Auterra Wine Bar
The flowy linen smocks in muted tones for sale at the shops of Armadale’s main drag want to seem casual, but there’s a self-consciousness to their boutique-ness. Not so at Auterra, where excellence is charmingly unassuming. Here, easy going neo soul plays and light streams in from the heritage shop windows over a beautiful but unfussy room in tones of white and deep red with accents of copper. It’s an inviting space, made more so by the warm greeting of the staff.   A glass of orange wine from ARC in Gippsland is recommended with a side of engaging conversation from our young but savvy server, and it’s just the thing to kick off on a sunny Saturday arvo - all soft peach skin, grapefruit pith grip and bright acidity without tipping over into kombucha funk. It goes great with the lighter seafood options on the snack menu, all super reasonably priced and probably reason #1 among many to settle in here.   The food is designed with wine in mind, and with some real imagination. Ranging from the Instagramable (fancy hot dog) to the high concept (cured bass grouper with hemp seed, quark and burnt citrus), there’s some serious skill and creativity on display, all infused with a sense of fun. If you’re worried it sounds too serious, the unpretentious service and the “F*ck it, we’re all in” feed-me option should prove that it’s more about sharing the quality than putting it on a pedestal.   A bite of steamed scallop with bonito hollandaise is a surprisingly light harmony of savoury,...

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