11

Arlechin

This tiny bar, the newest addition to

the Grossi family’s hospitality stable,

has all the sophistication of Florentino

with the spontaneity and fun of Cellar

Bar. To look at the dramatic vaulted

ceiling and the stained glass in the

wine cabinets, you’d never guess

it was born by accident. “We took

the space over as a cellar for all the

venues,” says Guy Grossi, “and then

it dawned on us to turn it into a bar.”

Start (or end) your night with Italo-

Australian wines, and cocktails by

Romeo Lane’s Joe Jones. And keep

things ticking over with sourdough

bread with moretum, a Roman herb

and cheese spread, or a cabbage

steak with fermented chilli. The best

part? The kitchen’s open till 3am.

What to order: A twirl of Midnight

Spaghetti with sugo, colatura di

alici, capers and chilli, is a must. ➤

Mornane Pl,

Melbourne,

(03) 9662 2413,

arlechin.com.au

Galah

Step through a bottle shop slinging

minimal-intervention wines, then

climb the stairs to fi nd a warehouse

space with a DJ spinning vinyl and

a mood that celebrates all things

Australian. Native fl owers and tropical

plants decorate the place, you’ll fi nd

all your favourite boutique Australian

spirits, such as Archie Rose gin, plus

the likes of wattleseed kangaroo loin

with candied macadamias, and lamb

ribs with Kampot pepper. It’s all-out

Australiana without the kitsch.

What to order: A Miss Peach, Galah’s

take on a Peach Sour, made with

tequila, lemon juice, peach liqueur

and peach syrup.

216A High St, Windsor,

(03) 9521 5325,

galah.melbourne

VIC

Basement 37-41

Little Bourke St,

Melbourne,

(03) 9639 4944,

julietmelbourne.com.au

Bar Romantica

Is it a romantic idea for a Melbourne bar to serve

exclusively Victorian craft beer, local spirits, sustainable

wines and predominantly organic Victorian produce

deep into the night? Not if you ask the folks at Lygon

Street newcomer Bar Romantica. This thoughtful

late-nighter makes the likes of kangaroo tartare

and Jean Foillard Côte du Py at 4am, all with a side

of cool, its business. On tap is an impressive line-up

that might include Collingwood’s Stomping Ground,

Alphington’s La Sirène or a smoked porter by

Cheltenham’s Wolf of the Willows.

What to order: Crudités with smoked cashew butter

• and just about anything on the wine list.

52 Lygon St,

Brunswick East,

(03) 9191 9410,

barromantica.com.au

Juliet Melbourne

Neon pink-lit Juliet celebrates the talents of women in the

drinking world with a list stacked with pours from female

producers and distillers. Cocktail names, meanwhile, take

their cue from literature; Shakespeare inspires the Casa

di Giulietta, for example, made from gin infused with black

tea, ginger liqueur and almond syrup. The bar also does

a nice line in G&Ts – New Zealand’s Island Gin, perhaps,

with tonic water, lemon and burnt thyme.

What to order: Hit the I’m Feelin’ Lucky button. You choose

your spirit and your mood, and the Juliet team matches it.

Clockwise from

left: Cry Baby;

the Miss Peach at

Galah; the bar at

Juliet; Arlechin.

GOURMET TRAVELLER 83

PHOTOGRAPHY SARAH ANDERSON (ARLECHIN).