Bijou

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