Where did we go in 2013 - the 'new' bars visited

We started with good intentions...it was a best endeavours promise to write a blog review of the new bars we visited this year. But the promise proved a challenge and delivered mixed results. Who really wants to write a review when all you want to do is try a new cocktail? So I thought I would attempt a short piece listing the 'new' bars the Barhoppers crew managed to visit over the course of this year as a sum up of the year that has been. The bars we visited for the first time (our definition of new) were as follows: The Lui Bar at Vue de Monde (high brow anniversary celebration, La La Land, the Toff in Town, Self Preservation, New Guernica, The Galley Room, and Horse Bazaar. We also went back to several old favourites including Ferdydurke, 1806, Gin Palace, Cherry Bar, Golden Monkey, Fad Gallery, Seamstress, LilyBlacks, and Troika. We managed to get to the Berlin Bar one last time before it closed it doors. We were less fortunate when it came to Der Raum in Richmond - the owners of the best bar in town decided to take their concept to Amsterdam. Suggestions so far for the list for 2014 include: Robot, 1000 £ Bend, Words Warehouse, Fair Trader, and Bar Dansk though I am lobbying for a Barhoppers European tour because why not travel the world in search of the perfect cocktail...

Cherry Bar - AC/DC Lane

Firstly an apology for being so long between blogs. We haven't been to a new bar for a while as lot of us have been away escaping the winter and under end of financial year stress. But we're back and here's our latest review.

For most of us, our memory of the Cherry Bar was that it was home to Melbourne's most stickiest floor - in the words of one of our fellow barhopper "anything that touches said floor should be collected wearing gloves and soaked in antiseptic overnight before reuse".

As we sat back in the couches and got over the stickiness of the floor we soon began to reminisce about our youth and the dingy bars frequented to hear loud alternative rock bands. Appropriately located in AC/DC Lane it's clearly a venue catering to bands or a late night drink on the way home.

The alcohol was good value and the tunes were also pumping, but the temperature was clearly set low to allow optimal mosh-pit action (as in freezing).

Verdict: All in all, not a bad venue, but I think the only time I would ever come back to the Cherry bar would be with a few drinks under my belt or to see a really cool rockband!

La La Land - Cnr Hardware and Little Lonsdale Streets

La La Land is one of those places that we all seem to have visited before at various times in our youth, usually in the wee witching hours during the latter part of a big night out and almost always with no memory of that past visit. The place is that familiar.

Set up on the first floor and some 20 yards into Hardware Street just off Lt Lonsdale Street, the space is exposed beams warehouse chic. Open space, smoking area tucked away at the back, long bar along the stretch after you walk up a flight of stairs. The two barmen look so young, the first impression that they probably own skateboards is actually matched by the reality that their skateboards are tucked away in the corner for the quick getaway when their shift ends.

White and red couches adorn the outer walls - plenty of space to sit and chill out. The large poster of a hand drawn fallen starlet next to the bar highlights that Happy Hour in fact runs for FOUR hours from 4pm and single shot spirits are $5 during this time. Another hook to attract the income strapped university crowd.

The drinks on offer are respectable though there isn't anything in the way of finger food beyond crisps and nuts which effectively means our usual substitute dinner to line stomachs against the ravages of hardcore cocktails is not an option.  Still, everyone seems happy enough with the drinks on offer, the ambience, and the early evening Autumn air wafting in through the open windows.

VERDICT: All in all, recommended, especially for a casual after work drink or a casual late night interlude.

FerdyDurke - Levels 1 and 2, 239 Lonsdale Street

Finding this place is as easy as saying: it's the bar in the building that looks over Section 8 (one of the best known open space bars in the city - old shipping containers recycled). The entrance is a few strides down Tattersalls Lane off Lonsdale Street and you have to climb a few flights of stairs to get to the bar itself but it is well worth that stride.

The ambience of the place, which has a few discrete cubby holes both inside and out of the main bar for larger groups or chain smokers, is urban chic. Perfect for a private party. Rendered exposed brick walls, sliding glass windows that allow drinkers to let in the city night air, a wall of propaganda posters of a bygone era, and lamps built from second hand industrial waste (including an old car headlight and a theatre light), it is not surprising the place appeals to tattoo-adorned buff hipsters. So fit.

This bar was considered good enough to be rated as a favourite for a return visit by the crew. We were delighted to find the old beer barrels and uncomfortable high stools from the previous visit had been replaced by a few long tables and slightly less comfortable unmatched seats. Even better was the well-priced jugs of beer, perfect for the beginning of a night that was kicking on at a live music gig for some of us.  Only three of us were brave enough to sample the Sausage King's frankfurter snacks, the only food available on the nibble menu - tasty stuff and a bit rude.

Friendly bar staff, also well-pierced and etched with fine ink artistry (and buns of steel), were attentive without being overly intrusive. Excellent jazz influenced music kept us swaying through our conversation though we moved onto our next venue before the DJ began his set to spin different tunes.

Verdict: Highly recommended.

Lui Bar at Vue de Monde - Level 55 / 525 Collins Street

What a way to celebrate our Barhoppers 4th Birthday! From the moment you walk into the Rialto and get escorted and whizzed up a private lift to the 55th floor you know it's going to be special. On arrival staff offer to take your jackets or bags to a cloak room (free of charge) then take to your seat.

The decor was simple but elegant, and there was even a pop up cocktail menu. Table service was a bit on the slow side, but once ordered they came quickly. We were also surprised by how reasonably the drinks were priced especially taking into consideration the spectacular views and the 'vue' name. 

It'll be a winner if you have any international guests staying with you as they have Australian themed drinks such as a Koala Stinger and did I mention the view.

In the words of one our barhoppers: "I liked the toilets too. They were tres fancy and worthy of my pee". And yes I agree, a visit to the toilets is a must. Environmentally friendly and fitted out with lovely hand creams and soaps etc.

 
Verdict: Definitely a Hit, Would be worth a visit on sunset and into the evening just for the added ambiance

Collins Quarter - 86A Collins St

At the Paris end of Collins Street, many of you have probably walked past this bar a zillion times without realizing there was a hidden bar out the back!! With a restaurant feel when you first walk in, a champagne lounge out the back, as well as a modern and refurbished courtyard, one would think this place has at all!!

But  $12 for an Asahi - WHAT THE ???? And that was fresh from the tap! If you like the corporate and suit kinda vibe, then this place is for you.... You may need to find one, so they can shout you an overpriced beer or cocktail. One would expect some nuts, chips or wasabi beans on the table with those prices.

The bar did have a beautiful decor and fixtures however, the lovely courtyard outside was full of smokers, in which you also had to fight through just to get the toilets.

Unfortunately I don't think we'll be back here in a hurry...

VERDICT: Miss!

Cocktail hour

Some photos of some of the smashing cocktails consumed in previous outings. Titus the bear is the crew's mascot though he is currently in rehab.

About Barhoppers

On a Thursday night back in February 2009,  Greg, Sarah & Peter decided to visit this new bar called Silk Rd that everyone was raving about. I'm not sure if it was after the first or third martini but we said "wouldn't it be an awesome idea, if we caught up every fortnight on pay day, and visited a new bar that we've never been to before"... And with that, our little barhoppers group was founded. 

In 2013, we have changed it up a little... As we still continue to discover new bars, we'll also be going back to re-visit some old favs!! It's hard to believe that 4 years on, we're still discovering some little treasures that defines what Melbourne's all about, and thought it was about we time we started blogging about them.

A list of bars we've visited so far is listed below and from now on we hope to bring your fortnightly reviews of our latest expedition.. 

Enjoy, and Cheers, 
El Presidente

Bars we've visited so far include:

1806 - 169 Exhibition Street
Ampere Bar - 16 Russell Place
Atrium bar - L35 - 25 Collins Street
Aylesbury Rooftop - L5 - 103 Little Lonsdale Street
Bar Americano - 20 Presgrave Place
Bar Lourinha - 37 Little Collins Street
Basque Vodka Bar - 285 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Beer Deluxe - Federation Square
Berlin Bar - 16 Corrs Lane
Biero Bar - 525 Little Lonsdale Street
Blue Diamond - L15 - 123 Queen street
Cabinet - 11 Rainbow Alley
Campari House - 23 Hardware Lane
Charlies bar - 71 Hardware Lane
Chez Regine - 270 Russell Street
Chi Lounge - L3 / 196 Little Bourke Street
City Wine Shop - 159 Spring Street
Cookie - 252 Swanston Street
Croft Institute - 21 Croft Alley
Deanery - 13 Bligh Place
Der Raum - 438 Church Street, Richmond
Dirty Secrets - 80 Smith St, Collingwood
Double Happiness - 21 Liverpool Street
Eau De Vie - 1 Malthouse Lane
Emerald Peacock - 233 Lonsdale Street
Ferdy Durke - L1&2 - 239 Lonsdale Street
Ginger Boy - 27-29 Crossley Street
Gin Palace - 190 Little Collins Street
Golden Monkey -  389 Lonsdale Street
Heirloom Bar - 131 Bourke Street
Josie Bones - 98 Smith Street, Collingwood
Kitten club - 267 Little Collins Street
La Vita Buona - City Square
Long Room - 162 Collins Street
Loose Goose - 91-93 Flinders Lane
Madame Brussels - L3 / 69-63 Bourke Street
Manchuria - 7 Waratah Place
Martini Bar - 205 Collins Street (Westin Hotel)
Misty - 3-5 Hoiser lane
MOO - 2 Driver Lane
Murmur - 17 Warburton Lane
N 4 Satan - 285 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
New Gold Mountain - 21 Liverpool St
Penny Blue - 2 Driver Lane
Ponyfish Island Bar - Yarra Pedestrian Bridge (Southbank)
Post Office Hotel - 90 Swan Street, Richmond
Punch Lane WIne Bar - 43 Little Bourke Street
Recorded Music Salon - 11 Collins Street
Red Hummingbird - 246 Russell Street
Rue Bebelons - 267 Lt Lonsdale Street
Silk Rd - 425 Collins Street
Sister Bella - 22 Drewery Place
Spice Market - Beaney Lane
Strange Wolf - 71 Strachane Lane
Sweat Shop - 113 Lonsdale Street
Terra Rossa - 87 Flinders Lane
The Deck (Waterside) - 508 Flinders Street
The Everleigh - 1/150 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
The Fad Gallary - 14 Corrs Lane
The Toff in Town - 252 Swanston Street
Troika Bar - 106 Little Lonsdale Street
Trunk - 275 Exhibition Street
Workshop - 413-417 Elizabeth Street