Strato Melbourne

Overview

Five years in the making, Strato is the show-stopping crown jewel of the Oakwood Premier Melbourne — a lounge bar, five-star restaurant and private dining spread across the building's top two floors, soaring 139 metres above Southbank.

Whiz on skyward in the lift to Level 40, move through the foyer with its immersive video projection artwork, and you'll find yourself in the glamorous Strato Bar and Restaurant — boasting space for 70, and sensational vistas from its seven-metre-tall windows and a dedicated terrace.

From an impressive 16-metre-long stone bar, this sky-high haunt slings a sophisticated offering of cocktails, vino and local craft beer.

Driven by celebrated bartender Charlie Ainsbury (This Must Be the Place, Proof & Company), Strato's signature sips feel more than luxe enough to suit the lofty locale, mingling the old world with the new, and bringing rare spirits and uncommon ingredients to the forefront. Cocktails might include crafty options like a house martini made on Never Never's Oyster Shell Gin; the Moondance, infused with smoked passionfruit and French vodka; and a riff on the Manhattan starring strawberry gum, chocolate and cherry.

The rest of the drinks list harbours a slew of rare and hard-to-find pours and a curation of wine sourced from near and far, not to mention a truly hefty global array of whisky. Meanwhile, upscale bar snacks come courtesy of the same kitchen. Up here, you're in for elevated bites like foie gras macarons, caviar, braised venison croquettes and oozy baked camembert.

Venture to the mezzanine above, and you'll find a sumptuous VIP private dining space, complete with its own bar and more dazzling views.