Melbourne's Iconic Rivoli Cinema Has Opened Its New Rooftop Bar
Do pre-movie drinks in the panoramic rooftop garden.
Melbourne likes movies. Melbourne likes rooftop bars. Little wonder then that the Rivoli Cinema in Camberwell is now serving cocktails at a slightly higher altitude.
Now open on the roof of Hawthorn East's iconic cinema, nineteenforty is a garden-inspired rooftop bar that offers panoramic views of the surrounding suburbs. Named for the year that the now-iconic picture palace first began operations, the east side's newest watering hole sounds like an ideal date spot, with drinks and a movie all rolled into one.
Designed by Hot Black, the rooftop bar's look is meant to complement the cinema's art deco trappings, with timber cladding, striped umbrellas, potted plants and festoon lighting. Food-wise they'll offer a selection of bar snacks including wedges, veggie spring rolls, and cheese and dip platters, along with pizzas and gourmet popcorn options like salted caramel, white raspberry, maple bacon cheese and pecan pie. As for drinks, moviegoers can pick between an array of wines, beers and ciders, or sample cocktails like the Athena (apricot brandy, cloudy apple and lime) and the South of the River (Star of Bombay, St Germain Elderflower, apple, lime and mint).
"We've always been enamoured by the history of the cinema," said Rivoli site manager James Zwack. "The rooftop bar seems like the perfect way to invite guests to enjoy the space as much as we do."
The Rivoli isn't the only cinema to look to the sky in recent times, with the recently opened Lido on nearby Glenferrie Road offering rooftop screenings throughout summer.
Find nineteenforty on the top of Rivoli Cinema, 200 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn East. Open from 5.30pm weekdays and from 2pm on weekends, subject to weather.
