Shhh (or should that be Schhh?). Melbourne’s newest bar has a secret CBD location. Bar Schweppes is a cocktail only pop-up bar, this time around showcasing a taste of London’s bar scene. Rockstar caterers Tommy Collins are dishing out British fare and drinks inspired by UK trends while surrounded by Union […]

Here’s my pick of the new Melbourne drinking establishments to hunt out soon & some new drinkables. — Alby Tomassi (Feast of Merit) and chef Paul Wilson’s Lady Carolina isn’t just about Latin American eats. There’s a focus on pisco (if you’re lucky served in a rather cool cocoa pod) […]

Imbibing Espresso Martinis on tap while sandwiched between Flinders Street Station and the Yarra River: we have officially reached peak Melbourne! Opening six months ago, Arbory has only just (finally!) launched their official cocktail list; coinciding with the anniversary of the first steam-train to depart the now-defunct Sandridge railway line from which […]

If you’ll excuse the obscure (and bastardized) Simpsons reference: everything’s coming up Mill House. Thus far, the new Flinders Lane bar weaves a delicate balance between a foodie bar and late night club. The spacious bar is situated in the heritage Tomasetti House building, the lower five levels of which […]

Did you know Melbourne used to have a giant motorised water chute that you could ride by the Yarra? In the early 1900’s, Melburnian thrill seekers would zip down the wooden construction – in all of their plumage and finery no less – to splash down and aquaplane across a pool […]

Here’s who has been moving and shaking in the Melbourne bar scene in the past month. — – Setting up shop next door to St Ali is new wine bar, Smalls. Now you can happily go from morning to evening without leaving Yarra Place. South Melbourne – If Heartbreaker is […]

The dive bar aesthetic has overtaken the long-standing “granny’s living room” look as the trend du jour at the bohemian end of the bar design spectrum. Sometimes that can feel contrived. After all, true dives are just places that exist! They aren’t really designed intentionally to attract rabble-rousers and scoundrels […]

Harbourside club/bar Alumbra has new New York look. Interiors now traverse the concrete jungle with bright lights, hip hop homages and painted brick via designers Black Milk. The food menu has also has a street scene revamp thanks to Huxtable/Huxtaburger chef Daniel Wilson. I dig the black hot dogs. Cocktails […]

Forget 99 bottles of beer. There are 1084 painstakingly hand-painted bottles of wine on the wall at Brunswick East Wine Bar. That’s the (rather straight-forward) name of Brunswick East Wine Store’s new bar. It has been humming away for a short while now, but officially launched as of last week. […]

Hatted chef Teague Ezard has taken up residence at Levantine Hill Estate’s vineyard. Expect Euro food and much Oz wine. You can even sit in a wine barrel inspired booth! ezard @ Levantine Hill photo by Earl Carter. Coldstream. Leonard’s House of Love is a new dive bar by the […]