Ola! The Acland St Cantina has officially launched itself into the St Kilda scene with a lick of lime and seasalt (and delicious cheesy empanadas). Upon entering a bright diner-style front room greets you in popping hues of red, white and neon. Wondering what’s down the stairs? It’s the old Prince Wine Room, still a… Read on

When first introducing their new bar, I wonder how many times the crew of Pawn & Co. have been forced to spell out the name to avoid raised brows. P-A-W-N. There are however a few similarities between this bar and the adult industry with the homonymous name; Pawn & Co. hints at mild debauchery and there… Read on

Tom Collins with a Japanese Twist at Sake On a night like this you’d be happy to escape the heat by taking a trip back to 1870′s New York (Tom Collins era) by way of Toyko this revamped classic cocktail. A few of these alongside a plate of Sake’s jalapeño-spiked kingfish sashimi by the Yarra River… Read on

My Fair Lady at SocieTEA A sunny daytime tipple; in the vein of a mimosa or a bellini. It doesn’t taste very potent yet, surrounded by the historic opulence of Werribee Mansion and plied with petit fours at high tea, who really minds? T2 French Earl Grey tea, Bombay Sapphire Gin, peach schnapps, fresh lemon,… Read on

Is high tea now passé? It seems every man and his pampered lapdog is offering tiered treats and other afternoon delights these days. So it’s about time someone sparked the idea of High Coffee; enter Market Lane Bar in collaboration with Espresso di Manfredi. It seems so obvious in such a bean-centric town such as Melbourne. Why am I… Read on

Quite often I’ll order a cocktail instead of dessert to assuage my guilt. The seductresses at New Gold Mountain have ruined this restraint by offering double the gluttony; cocktails AND dessert. Tonight is a little more special as the bar celebrates World Cocktail Week (it’s like Xmas around here) with – as they put it –… Read on

This medieval-looking cocktail ring is handmade by the genius William Llewellyn Griffiths for his Metal Couture jewellery label. It’s a solid 18ct yellow gold and blackened sterling silver setting with black diamonds and that  feature green tourmaline stone. Got $5,500 plus change? Then I’d recommend you wear this while drinking something suitably green and absinthe-y.

The sky blue stone in this ‘Bohemian Bardot’ ring by Samantha Wills makes me yearn for the return of skies of a similar colour. It’s not too long until we Melburnians will be enjoying weather that calls for sipping  - multiple – bellinis under the sun’s warming rays (there’s even a peach version of this… Read on

Dinner. Drinks. Belvedere. Vue de Monde. Just because. Belvedere Unfiltered & cucumber Belvedere Unfiltered, raisins, vermouth & orange… …with sweet corn, duck, brown butter & truffle Belvedere Bloody Mary, quince, calvados & lemon with Blackmore wagyu beef, potato & nettle (or the fanciest steak and mash ever) Cocktail inspiration.

Starring in the annual Campari calender for 2013 is Penelope Cruz. Adorned in siren red, the actress explores themes of superstition (walking under ladders, black cats, opening umbrellas indoors) all while sipping the bitter orange elixir and looking damn fine as she does so. Thanks to Campari I have a copy of this money-can’t-buy calender… Read on