Best balconies and rooftops – Part 1

Thursday 28 October 2010, 12:10 PM
By The Team | Posted in Places

Recently we asked our fans and followers to name their favourite balcony or rooftop in Melbourne. If the enthusiastic responses are anything to go by (we’ve lost count of the number of exclamation marks used) our love for open spaces and city views did not waver during winter.

Fortunately for us outdoor-loving souls, Melbourne has no shortage of quality bars offering a perch above the city streets. We’re so perch-happy in fact that we’ve had to split this story into two parts. If we missed your favourite here, wait for the part two, we have more coming!

And so, on with the show: Part 1 of our guide to rooftops and balconies in Melbourne city ­– as dictated by our Melbourne-loving fans and followers.

Siglo Bar

With one of the most impressive views in the city, Siglo is the icing on the cake for the building that houses The European (ground floor) and The Melbourne Supper Club (level one). Flanked by the beautiful Princess Theatre, and facing Parliament House (pretty as a picture at night), Siglo offers an elegant, sophisticated balcony experience with an extensive drink list.

Red Hummingbird
Flamboyant but tasteful décor, an array of actually comfortable couches plus generous cocktail mixes is enough to get noticed in the Melbourne bar scene, but when you add an awesome rooftop bar to the mix, you get a special scarlet feather in your hummingbird’s cap. Look for the red bird cage on Russell Street to find the entrance to this lovely spot.

Emerald Peacock
There’s plenty to admire at the Peacock. Vintage wallpapers give each space its own distinctive look. Perch on a plumped ottoman sipping the house cocktail until the sun comes out, then dash up to the knock-out rooftop deck and roost yourself in front of a respectable view.  During summer Emerald Peacock hosts Manhattan Sundays on the deck with DJs, laid back urban beats, ‘hot dawgs’ and a summer breeze.

Sarti
Found in Russell Place, Sarti is a sophisticated spot for those who like their al fresco authentically Italian. Boasting a seriously urban view and extensive wine list, Sarti offers a stylish, quiet nook to hideaway in the middle of the city. Toast to good food, wine and friends. This is living!

PALMZ at The Carlton Hotel
If you like Piña Coladas, make the climb to the top of The Carlton Hotel for a touch of tropicana above Bourke Street. The split-level PALMZ is where you might expect Malibu Barbie to hang out should she visit Melbourne. Vividly coloured plastic furniture, bar staff in Hawaiian shirts, and bamboo, bougainvillea and palm trees make the colourful cocktails (and you’ll need one after the final flight of stairs) seem right at home.

Madame Brussels
The darling of Melbourne’s balconies is Madame Brussels. The décor – the astroturf, lawn furniture, staff in old fashioned country club outfits – makes a casual drink feel like a fancy dress party. Enjoy cucumber sandwiches, delightful frosted cupcakes and a Pimms on the terrace. Then garden party like it’s 1869.*

The Deck, Mercantile Place
Summer is perfect for wandering along the Yarra. Why not wander past the Aquarium to the corner of Flinders and King Street and up the stairs to Deck Mercantile Place, atop The Waterside Hotel. This open air deck is huge and boasts a barbecue, comfortable outdoor lounges and unique views of the city. On Tuesdays, nibble on a gourmet pizza and wash it down with a beer or glass of wine for a mere $10.

Match Bar + Grill
There’s nowhere quite like Match in Melbourne – although it does have sister bars in London and Ibiza. This swanky clubhouse comprises a restaurant, cocktail bar, lounge and ‘Wine Wall’ (just insert credit card). But Match’s pride and joy is its sprawling, partly-covered deck overlooking the State Library lawn, where you can loll blissfully upon lounges as though Swanston Street is your Mediterranean Sea.*

Transit Lounge
On the roof of Transport Hotel, Transit Lounge is cosy in a sumptuous, leather-upholstered, flatteringly-lit kind of way. The spacious outdoor deck offers river and city views, perfect for a sun downer. For a birds-eye view of the Yarra, Transit Lounge Garden is a pole-vault away on level three at Transport.*

Campari House
Campari and soda with a slice of orange is the definitive taste of summer, so the happily named Campari House is a good spot for a bit of wiling away a hot summer nights. The 1968 building has been lovingly restored, offering multiple floors from which to marvel at the décor and art-lined staircase. On the rooftop you can sup on tasty wood-fired pizzas while taking in amazing city panoramas.*

Stay tuned for Part 2 featuring Rooftop Bar, Cho Gao, Workshop, Cabinet, Blue Diamond, Order of Melbourne and Cookie.  Have we missed anything? Let us know!

*Words taken from our beloved Hot Spots publications.

Slow Sundays: Live Bait

Sunday 22 August 2010, 9:27 AM
By The Team | Posted in Places

Ahoy me hearties! Only two weeks until Slow Sundays is gone for another year! This is your penultimate chance to dine on a delicious meal and a glass of wine or beer for $15.

Perched right on the edge of the docks, Livebait has one of the best views of our sparkling city with its vast, glass windows looking to the river and beyond.

Seafood is what Livebait does best. You might be temped by the fried seafood and prawn gyoza with a tangy pickled cucumber salad and wasabi mayonnaise. Or perhaps the tasty duo of sashimi king fish and salmon with a beetroot Gravlax, garnished with micro herb salad and miso vinaigrette is more your thing.

As part of Slow Sundays you can enjoy either of these dishes, served with either a glass of 2008 Main Divide Sauvignon Blanc, from Marlborough NZ or a Bluebottle beer – for only $15.

Slow Sundays at Docklands,  Sunday s until 29 August, between 2pm and 6pm. Enjoy a small meal and a selected beer or wine for only $15. At participating restaurants. Conditions apply.

Slow Sundays: Woolshed Pub

Saturday 31 July 2010, 11:15 AM
By The Team | Posted in Places

The weekend has come around at long last and Slow Sundays is in full swing.  Come in from the cold this Sunday and perch yourself at the historic Woolshed Pub for some good old Aussie tucker.

It’s hard to believe  this sleek, contemporary space started its life (back in the 1800s) as a wool storage facility. The interior reflects the building’s humble beginnings – the original wooden walls line the restaurant space.

The Woolshed Pub’s Slow Sundays offer is a shearer’s board and a drink for only $15. The board features a selection of cured and smoked meats with pickles, aged cheddar and organic sour dough bread – the perfect fuel for a frosty Sunday afternoon.

Plus you can choose from one of four Slow Sunday drink options: Carlton Draught, Cascade Light or a house red or white wine.

Slow Sundays at Docklands,  every Sunday until 29 August, between 2pm and 6pm. Enjoy a small meal and a selected beer or wine for only $15. At participating restaurants. Conditions apply.

LINKS:
Slow Sundays
Woolshed Pub