Overview
Despite the relentless challenges that came with 2021, Melbourne's bar scene has continued to grow and flourish. Against every odd, new watering holes and drinking destinations have popped up all over the city — opening everywhere from the residential streets of the southeast to sparkling 14th-storey CBD rooftops.
To celebrate the freshest entrants to Melbourne's hospitality scene, we've rounded up six of our favourite new bars that opened their doors in 2021, including a sleek brewery taproom, a three-level social club and an elegant 14-storey rooftop hideaway.
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Internet radio station Hope St Radio has a new permanent home, opening a wine bar and kitchen within Collingwood Yards. It’s an expansive indoor-outdoor space beside the precinct’s central courtyard, decked out with timber booths and mural art by Alice McIntosh. Chef Ellie Bouhadana’s food offering heroes after-work snacks and dinner options; best enjoyed alongside local beers and sustainably-produced wines. The menu rotates regularly, though expect plates like lamb rigatoni, marinated sardines, and focaccia with whipped garlic and thyme butter.
Unsurprisingly, music is a big part of the bar’s DNA, with a custom sound set-up featuring tunes from Hope St’s expert curation of artists, and a live broadcast program buzzing through the end of each week.
Top images: Tom Blachford
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Pearl Diver Cocktails & Oysters is a sparkling newcomer from The Speakeasy Group’s (Eau de Vie, Nick & Nora’s, Mjolner) Alex Boon and Pez Collier. The focus here is memorable, produce-driven cocktails and oysters sourced from the country’s best-growing regions. Libations show respect for individual ingredients and a penchant for creativity, while an oft-changing wine list has been carefully chosen to represent only that which is ‘fun’ and ‘delicious’.
Oysters are the kitchen’s headline act, served au naturale, dressed (think, creme fraiche and caviar, or a lemon granita) or cooked. Other upscale snacks include the likes of a duck terrine, house-made buffalo halloumi, and comté-topped waffle fries.
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The multi-level CBD space once home to Cheek and Peaches has been reimagined as Dom’s Social Club — a casual three-storey haunt championing classic drinks, top-notch charcuterie and handmade pizza. Sibling to Preston’s Dexter and Takeaway Pizza, it’s doing the latter exceptionally well, with puffy woodfired pizzas crafted using a three-day slow fermented sourdough.
On the second floor, a warm RSL-style space features plenty of nostalgic memorabilia and a free pool table, along with a fridge full of dry-aged meats. And upstairs, a cheery, modern rooftop bar is showcasing local spirits, classic cocktails and a whole lot of lambrusco.
Images: Julia Sansone
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Deeds Brewing finally has a taproom and tasting bar of its own, located in the same sprawling former mechanics workshop its brewery calls home. With room for 150 people, the split-level, mod-industrial space offers views of the brewing equipment and fermentation tanks from wherever you sit.
A 28-tap lineup focuses on Deeds’ own house creations, pouring year-round sips alongside a rotation of seasonal and limited-edition brews. Local wine, Aussie spirits and cocktails are also on offer, as are brewery tours and tastings.
Meanwhile, chef Paul Kasten’s (Stomping Ground, Host Dining) clever yet approachable menu incorporates both beer and classic beer ingredients throughout — expect bites like focaccia teamed with malt butter, tuna ceviche elevated with hops, and a rump cap finished with a rich ale glaze.
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The first-floor sibling to Gertrude Street’s Poodle Bar & Bistro, intimate watering hole Poodle Upstairs opened its doors this year; dedicated to the pleasure of the unplanned, spontaneous drinking session. Originally open just Friday and Saturday nights, as well as for private gatherings, it became a firm favourite for after-hours cocktails and Euro-inspired snacks.
As with the downstairs space, it’s sporting an elegant fit-out by Wendy Bergman (Bergman & Co), filled with art deco curves, cushy banquettes and luxe gold accents. There’s a private dining room with space to seat 20 and a fireplace primed for the winter months.
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Fable takes the concept of sky-high sips to a whole new level — at a lofty 14 storeys high, it’s Melbourne’s tallest rooftop bar. The plush, Mediterranean-inspired space rocks an elegant fitout, along with wild panoramic views through wraparound windows and a retractable roof.
You’ll also find a menu of innovative libations led by Alessandro Nardini (Beneath Driver Lane, Nick & Nora’s). It’s a considered lineup with a penchant for storytelling and history, filled with many clever reworkings of the classics. As a bonus, the cocktail list is mostly gluten-free, as well as being largely vegan-friendly. Meanwhile, a Mediterranean-accented food menu has a taste for decadence. Match those sunset views with Yarra Valley trout caviar blinis, focaccia bites dipped in white taramosalata, or a Greek-style lamb shoulder.
Image: Nicole Cleary