Joining the likes of Polly, Siglo and Candela Nuevo, there's a new rooftop bar in Melbourne serving up luxury cigars alongside its drinks. Christened Santana, the venue is a project from Abjar Kasho, the owner and founder of Bouvardia, which won our Best Cocktail Bar award in 2023.
Abjar and his team soft-launched Santana near the end of March after planning the space for over a year in collaboration with sister duo design team Studio Martin. The bright Miami Art Deco fitout of former occupant Pomelo Rooftop (since closed) has been replaced with a slinky dark haven with neon red signage, warm accents and Melbourne weather-friendly touches for the cooler months. Yes, we can totally see ourselves heading upstairs for a spicy rum potion or two this winter. Aside from cigars, the bar also specialises in South American wine, cocktails and premium brown spirits.
Get your caffeine fix with a Dominicana, a blend of dark rum, Okar mocha coffee liqueur and cream, or cosy up with the Canelazo, a mix of white rum with orange, lime, cloves and cinnamon – this one's served warm. On the vino front, all bottles hail from Argentina and Chile, except two bubbly choices from Italy and France.
The beer list is small, but it’s the spirits list where you can go wild and discover new territory – from Scottish whisky and Venezuelan rum to tequila, brandy and Cognac.
Located at Level 3, 169 Melbourne Place, the bar is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 4pm to 11pm. For more information, visit the website.
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