This is the kind of place that a friend of a friend told you about. Classic Fitzroy charm, radiating lounge room ambience.
Fitzroy has always been a fertile ground for the classic bar/cafe combo, and Radio continues in this fine tradition. Located on Gertrude Street (near the intersection with Brunswick Street), Radio's decor nicely straddles the line between comfortable bar and sleek cafe, with couches for lounging and slick jet tables and chairs for munching on toasted panini. Behind the bar resides an impressive collection of vinyl records from which the bartenders select their favourites.
Kick back in the main bar with a cold glass of Kirin (available on tap) and contemplate the impressive wall mural, Melbourne 3000. This artistic interpretation of our future home takes a whole wall to express its cityscape vision.
Radio has an impressive collection of fine rums including French island rum, and an incredibly extravagant bottle of 28-year-old Demerara rum from British Guyana. Also try the Juniper Green organic gin for a superfine G&T, or partake in their small collection of boutique beers, which includes some excellent German wheat beer.
The small beer garden out the back plays host to a hip-hop barbecue every Sunday, and once a month the roof is raised during Radio's reggae night.
Ben Maas
