Loop Roof

Overview

Sunshine, rain, cold or boiling hot weather, Melbourne has a new all seasons rooftop. Opening high above the cities favourite video bar, Loop, this new venue — officially named Loop Roof but affectionately dubbed Looptop (see what we did there) — has quickly become a must visit bar this summer.

Succulents line the edges of the rooftop oasis, perfectly framing the magnificent view over busy Meyers Place. Elbow your way into one of the tight booth seats with a group of friends or pounce on one of the many garden tables and relax in the sunshine. In preparation for Melbourne's classic 'four seasons in a day' weather, Looptop has been fitted with gas heaters and a large awning shielding the seats from possible downpours, making it the erfect rooftop bar for all seasons.

Looptop's drinks menu features a huge range of top-notch cocktails, though it's the hard iced tea selection that stands out. Our pick for the best hard iced tea is the awkwardly named, but delicious tasting, Sunset Sparkle ($19) – made with Wyborowa vodka, Pomme Verte, T2 Lychee Sunrise tea syrup, fresh lemon, grapefruit peel and an edible gold spray giving it the advertised sparkle.  Each hand-crafted tea syrup is created in-house using tea from T2, and features a different ice cube full of delicious ingredients that are designed to melt and release more flavour into your drink as you go.

If you are looking to cool down quickly make sure you try the alcoholic snow cones (yes, really, snow cones).  These icy treats are reminiscent of a sweet 7/11 Slurpee, but with some delicious (and potent) summery adult flavours. Our favourite snow cone has to be the Ketel One vodka, watermelon shrub and lime ($10), with the gin, tangy lemon and ginger a close runner up.  It's childhood nostalgia with an adult twist.  The tight bar menu leans towards the seafood crowd with marinated grilled baby octopus served with a tangy hot sauce ($15), crabmeat beignets in a crispy beer batter ($15) or — for the vegetarians — stuffed mushrooms with walnuts, chilli and blue cheese ($10).

With hot days and night on the horizon, we are anticipating many more trips up the stairs to this new gem in Melbourne's rooftop crown.

Images by Lois Romer.