Mill Place Merchants

Overview

There's something about a speakeasy bar with a hidden entrance that gets people excited. Enter via a trick bookcase at Loch and Key. Find a secret key that unlocks the door to another bar at Trinket. Or step through a 19th-century floor-length mirror to find a themed bar with cocktails and light bites.

The latter is CBD speakeasy, Mill Place Merchants.

Just off Flinders Lane, guests will have to seek out a monogrammed red door that leads them into an old dressing room filled with mannequins, rolls of fabric and a vintage sewing machine. Yes, it is a little creepy. It's also a nod to the garment workers who once called this part of the city home.

Within this room lies a 19th-century dressing room mirror. Check yourself out, and then push past to find the hidden bar lined with original bluestone walls that's been decorated with vintage rugs, chaise lounges, antiques and leather Chesterfields couches.

It's all very old-world opulence, but still with plenty of grit. Thankfully, it's not too polished.

But the drinks certainly are. Award-winning Italian bartender Giancarlo Mancino has designed a cocktail menu that oozes with old-school charm, paying homage to legendary cocktail masters of the past. Try their version of a Millionaire, made with bourbon, dry curacao, absinthe, lemon and aquafaba, or opt for the Opera that comes with gin, dubonnet, mandarin liqueur and orange bitters.

These cocktails are made for slow sipping in basements hidden away from the rest of the world. You won't find spritzes, spicy margs or super fruity numbers. It's all moody and hush-hush. Those not wanting a cocktail can always get some Victorian wines or craft beers. But you really go to Mill Place Merchants for the signature cocktails.

Drinks are the highlight here, but Chef Deepak Mishra has designed a set of light bites that pair with the vintage theme. He's got devilled eggs, steak and ale pies, jamon croquettes, and charcuterie and cheese boards. Snack through these before heading up to some of the best restaurants in Melbourne's CBD for more substantial eats.

If you're feeling mysterious, dark and moody this winter, Mill Place Merchants might be the perfect place to brood. That's if you can find it.

Images: Bonnie Savage