Cool hunting for winter hot spots
There won’t be a dull moment this winter in Melbourne with so many new shops, bars, restaurants, galleries, nooks and crannies to explore, including the following hot winter spots:
Chi Lounge
Level 1 – 3, 195 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
Ph: 03 9662 2688
www.chilounge.com.au
Relax in Chi’s cosy and classy old world charm cocktail/wine bar, which has a extensive selection of whiskeys, wines and asian tapas. Head upstairs to belt out your favourite tune in one of Chi’s private Karaoke rooms, also offering cocktails and tasty tapas.
The Narrows
2/141 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Ph: 03 9654 1534
E: info@thenarrows.org
www.thenarrows.org
New art space The Narrows on Flinders Lane promises to shake up the art world with its commitment to interspersing artist-initiated exhibits with graphic design shows. The result challenges the way we view traditional art and suggests the beginning of something great.
Laksa Me
Shop 1, 16 Liverpool Street, Melbourne
Ph: 03 9639 9885
Laksa Me is a unique blend of modern Asian cuisines served up by renowned chef Alan Woo of Ah Mu fame. It has a friendly, understated vibe with dark red and eggplant feature walls, fresh flowers, tranquil jazz music and glazed concrete floors painted with Asian characters.
Commercial Bakery
Rear 360 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Ph: 03 9670 7214
The man who bought up Degraves Espresso, Syracuse and The Melbourne Supper Club - Con Christopoulos - has worked his magic again with his latest foray into the Ccty’s ultra-competitive café scene, Commercial Bakery. Step into this wondrous little café nestled in between city scrapers and be met with a delicious assortment of chocolate Danishes, pastries and mouth-watering paninis which can be taken away or enjoyed on the premises.
High Society
22 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Ph: 03 9639 2544
E: society@internode.on.net
www.societyrestaurant.com.au
Located above the newly revived Society, High Society is a luxurious new cocktail bar where patrons can sip a congac as they settle into a Chesterfield lounge behind the seductive curtains of the Versace Room. If you’re lucky, nab one of Melbourne’s most sought after seats in the intimate Fornasetti Room, which changes colours every minute.
Sister Bella
Upstairs, end of Sniders Lane, Melbourne (off Drewery Lane)
The younger sister of cult favourite Saint Jerome’s is tucked away in a lane within a lane, yet close to the heart of the city action. Bella’s owners have opted for luxe velvet curtains, soft lighting and wrought iron finishes, giving this sexy little bar a more refined yet unpretentious feel. A bevy of wine, beer and spirit choices sit alongside an Italian-style menu offering pides and generous bowls of pasta.
Beer De Luxe
Federation Square, Melbourne
Ph: 03 9663 0166
E: info@beerdeluxe.com.au
www.beerdeluxe.com.au
Featuring over 80 beers specially selected for their quality, unique taste and rarity, beer connoisseurs can whet their whistle on a Red Duck Porter from Victoria’s Western District or an exclusive import such as Birra Moretti Le Rosa from Italy at this exciting new beer hall, located at Fed Square. Beer De Luxe’s beer garden is a stand out, as is the bar’s own Hamburger Grill serving ‘real’ burgers with the lot and bangers matched with beer from the country of origin.
kikki.K Melbourne Central
Shop g12 | ground level
Melbourne Central
211 Latrobe Street
Melbourne
Ph 03 9662 1600
www.kikki-k.com.au
Complement your look with a stylish piece from Kikki K’s latest collection of journals, pens, bags, folios and other gorgeous accessories – now available at Melbourne Central. Since establishing Kikki K just over five years ago, Kristina Karlsson has delivered fashionabley collections season after season, with her lovely gifts and gorgeous stationary available via her 15 boutiques in Australia and New Zealand – the Melbourne Central store the most recent to open in Melbourne.