This Collingwood wine and cocktail bar is an enthusiastic dedication to fine spirits and the 3066 postcode.
The bar's name has naturally sparked some confusion in AFL-minded Melbourne, but Magpies fans should calm their excitement. Collingwood World is not a shrine to the boys in black and white - in fact, it's as far from a sports bar as a venue could get. Set in an easy-to-miss loft, hidden away above Smith Street, the classy curved bar leads into the main lounge area that is decorated with lush leafy plants, exposed brick walls and large communal wooden tables.
Around 10 wines and sparkling varieties are available by the bottle and the glass sourced from local Australian vineyards as well as France, Italy and Germany. Belvedere vodka, Hendricks gin and dark Caribbean rum meet on the cocktail menu that is regularly redesigned to take advantage of seasonal fresh fruits. The signature cocktail is decidedly the Sette Bello, a citrus spritz of gin, Aperol, Montenegro, grapefruit juice, soda water and ice. Another cocktail, Easy Street, named after the nearby Collingwood locality, emphasises the neighbourhood theme, as does an enlarged Melways map of the bar's Collingwood block, which forms the wallpaper alongside the entry staircase. A range of boutique bottled beers are sold from the fridge and vinyl decks nestled behind the bar see staff and their friends spin classic and vintage lounge sounds.
Maya Linden
