Lists »
Claire Ward »
Bars near the Stars
There's often been a tenuous relationship between the bar and the movie theatre. While one represents a quiet night out, the other is synonymous with creating your own adventures, rather than watching them. But opposites attract and like the tempestuous lovers you might see on the silver screen, they're actually quite well suited to each other after all.
Pre-movie drinks serve as an antidote to first date jitters and might just fuel you with enough confidence to pull off the ever useful yawn-and-stretch move.
Post-film drinks are just the place for that one challenged member of the group to have the entire plot re-explained to them, often resulting in the predictable response, 'Ahh...so that's who the bad guy was'.
Stick around long enough and eventually someone will go and bother the bartender for a pen as you frantically attempt to get down the genius script idea that will make you millions. In the morning though you'll realise all you did was re-write the plot to King Kong, only using a giant lizard, and it's been done already; it was called Godzilla... and no one needs that in their life again.
|
1
|
|
Ducks Nuts Bar & Grill
Darwin
|
Ducks Nuts is one of the dedicated establishments that trades during the monsoon, so in the wet season you can kayak down Mitchell Street after your movie and still find a beer.
|
|
2
|
|
Cru Bar & Cellar
Fortitude Valley
|
A minor meander down the road from the Palace Centro, Cru like their opulence with a capital 'O', perhaps to stand for 'onyx' - the primary material of the bar top. It could almost seem out of place if it weren't for the Parisian chandelier or the wine list longer than Tolstoy's War and Peace.
|
|
3
|
|
Sugar
Adelaide
|
This little saccharine suite is nestled amid the East End action that includes the local Palace Cinema, which is known for placating both the masses and film-nerd types with their mainstream and arthouse screenings.
|
|
4
|
|
King O'Malley's Irish Pub
City
|
Get yourself a pint of Guinness at this rowdy boozer and practice your best Irish accent. Though perhaps make this your destination after the movie; no one wants to hear your poor attempts while trying to watch The Wind that Shakes the Barley.
|
|
5
|
|
Queen's Head Cafe Bar
North Hobart
|
The Queen's Head is just down the street from Hobart's State Cinema - Tasmania's longest operating movie house. It's also a favourite performance spot for touring musicians, so drop in post-film and pack as much culture into your evening as possible.
|
|
6
|
|
James Squire Brewhouse
Melbourne
|
Russell Street might be home to Melbourne's Greater Union, but it also sports a big X-marks-the-spot for beer lovers. Hiding in the Portland Hotel, this malt-mecca pays homage to Australia's first ever brewer.
|
|
7
|
|
The Lobby Bar
St Kilda
|
This plush lounge bar is just about as close as you can get to the nearest cinema. Next door to the St Kilda Palace, and with an interconnecting door, you don't even have to step out on the footpath to find that post-movie martini.
|
|
8
|
|
Zanzibar
Newtown
|
To be honest, if you get a good spot on the rooftop of this triple-decker boozer, you might accidentally-on-purpose forget to head back out on to King Street and into the nearby Dendy.
|
|
9
|
|
SoBar
Cremorne
|
A minute's walk from Cremorne's legendary Orpheum, SoBar was once fondly referred to by locals as 'The Megahole'. An extravagant facelift though has turned that reputation around - how can you argue with leather padded walls? You can't.
|
 flagging ...
|
|
|
|
