Tucked away in the massive edifice of The Melbourne Hotel, this bar draws in subdued sippers and boozy long-lunchers alike with its old-fashioned comfort and buffet spread of tap beers.
This 19th-century edifice has evolved a long way since its inception, no longer buzzing with the over-excited shouts of nouveau riche miners and other Gold Rush-related newcomers. However, while the bar might feature fewer miners flashing their nuggets these days, there are still plenty of oil and mining industry executives flashing their credit cards.
The bar is tucked away in a corner of the wide-bellied but graceful Melbourne Hotel, a Federation institution straddling Hay and Mulligan streets. It starts slowly humming at lunchtime, when local corporates drop by for a wee drink en route to a schmoozy lunch in The Melbourne's restaurant.
After 5pm, the bar becomes flooded with thirsty workers from the QV1 and Woodside towers opposite, its old-fashioned boutique-style comfort appealing to both subdued sippers and pre-partiers alike.
The highlight for many is the smorgasbord of beer behind the bar, which includes 16 frothy offerings on tap. James Squire beers are well represented, Guinness and Kilkenny satisfy any nostalgia for the green fields of Eire, while WA patriots can bury their noses in the foam of a freshly poured Little Creatures or Gage Road ale.
Shelley Tustin
