Often open until the break of dawn, this award-winning rooftop bar shakes up classic and new-fangled cocktails and invites you to take in the shimmery views of the city below.
Venture up the winding stairs through an entrance shrouded in burgundy-velvet drapes to the softly-lit loft setting within. This is the stellar rooftop bar within the Transport complex at Federation Square. Designed by Maddison Architects, it exudes an air of opulence and mystery.
Black leather settees and polished wooden balustrades contrast with the exposed industrial roof and its gleaming metallic network of pipes and support beams. With an elevation of almost 10 metres, Transit serves up views that stretch out beyond Federation Square to encompass the MCG and Melbourne's Southbank.
The outdoor area also features pod-like niches, where groups of up to 12 drinkers can gather together to sip alfresco when the weather is warm. During colder months, the ceiling amplifies the rain and hail for a soothing accompaniment to a cosy winter supper; live jazz features regularly. The wine list features more than 400 drops sourced from Australia, Europe and the US.
Meanwhile bartenders also shake up classic cocktails along with modern-day variations. Sip on a timeless Negroni, made with Campari, vermouth, gin and an orange twist; then try the contemporary adaptation called the Enzoni, which mixes Campari and gin with muddled red grapes. Transit won the 2005 national title of 'New Bar of the Year' in the Australian Bartender Magazine Awards.
Maya Linden & Andrea Tomaz
