Bijou
Bijou may not be big, but what it lacks in space it makes up for in sheer coolness.
Overview
What Bijou lacks in space it makes up for in sheer coolness. The tiny bottle shop and bar is walk-ins only – it's the perfect space to order a wine or two before a show, or have a night cap after dinner.
Towering wine-lined shelves are the cosy backdrop to a drink at Bijou, which was founded by Ben Luzz — the same person behind much-loved Melbourne institution Gin Palace and Bar Ampere as well as the newer Black Kite Commune. Luzz knows what he's doing with this space that takes its name from a theatre that once graced Little Collins.
Carmen Zammit
Bijou's selection of boutique wine and spirits perennially includes well-known local and international varietals as well as lesser-known ones. They open new wines by the glass every day, or you can select a bottle from any of the shelves looming over you and enjoy it in-store for an extra $25.
But you don't only have to be a wine drinker to have a tipple at Bijou – the cocktail list has classics like the Old Fashioned.
While Bijou isn't a dining destination per se, it does have snacks to complement its drinks menu. Expect small bites like a truffle and white bean tartinade, charcuterie boards perfect for sharing, or a croque fromage.
Blake Alcock
Top images: Dean Schmideg, Carmen Zammit, Blake Alcock
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