It's rare to find a sophisticated bar outside of the CBD these days, and it's even rarer to find…read moreone that won't break your weekly drinking budget in one night. Hawker Beer and Wine Bar is located in the suburb of Highett just 30mins from Melbourne CBD. The bar is named after Harry Hawker, a local of the area. Harry George Hawker, was an Australian aviation pioneer. He was the chief test pilot for Sopwith and was also involved in the design of many of their aircraft. After World War One he co-founded Hawker Aircraft, the firm that would later be responsible for a long series of successful military aircraft. The bar itself is small and is directly across the road from the Highett train station, which seems to have some type of train passing through every 15mins. The fit-out is minimalistic, with large windows that give you a great view of the comings and goings in the area. What is great about this bar is the large cocktail list. With mostly original cocktails with a few traditional with a modern twist. The service is friendly and attentive, and I get the feeling if I lived in the area this would be my local. Apart from the great cocktails it has a good selection of beers and wines. It also had a pretty awesome snack menu, being provided by Typhoon, the Vietnamese restaurant next door. If you live in the area chances are you have either visited Hawker or know of it. If you haven't been do yourself a favour and pay them a visit, it won't disappoint.

Visiting pubs is cool, but visiting themed bars is even better. I ended up here one day when I was…read morenot working and had just been to the cinema in Brighton, so I was making my way home and decided to visit some places that I hadn't normally visited - and this was one of those places. The name really does suit the place, or more so the place really does fit the name. There are a few rooms about with some lovely, and quite comfortable, chairs. In fact, it is the rooms that really give this place it's charm, including the outdoor area out the back. Okay, it was pretty quiet when I visited, but that also adds to the charm.

I don't know why I allow this quaint little bar slip out of my mind so often when I think of places…read moreto go out for a nice quiet drink with a couple of people or hold a small function. Antique Bar has a beautiful sophistication in the air and fine cocktails, wine and beer in the glasses. The décor will take you back to an age where everyone wore a suite just to go to the corner store. I think I have just talked myself into where I will be going tonight for a couple of quiet drinks.

- super friendly staff - free wifi…read more- delicious drinks - lively scene - came generously recommended by the city's top bartenders

Absolutely disappointing experience and appalling customer service. The vibe looked good and we…read moredecided to take a chance. We entered at 11pm and decided to get a bottle of sparkling. No one informed us about any policy. We paid for the bottle with 5% service charge which I do not think they deserved. We had a sudden work call at 11.30pm and grabbed the bottle to go, only for the staff to chase us to the front of the bar to inform us that they do not have a takeaway license. For christ sake, we already had bought the bottle!! Though it's alright, we respect policy. They highlighted that they needed to keep the bottle in the establishment. We asked if we could come back and finish it. They said they would keep our bottle. We rushed back to our hotel (Marriott- 200m away for the call). When we returned at 11.58pm, they had already thrown our bottle away. Unbelievable! They were quick to receive our money but equally quick to throw our experience out the window. No doubt, we returned almost at closing times but throwing our wine before closing time - if you wanna go by the book, that is still not your closing time. When we raised our grievances to the staff, she said she told us about closing time at 12 midnight. However, we emphasised that she should have let us know about the takeaway policy and license. Had we known, we would not have ordered a bottle. She looked at us blankly and simply replied "feedback received, but we do not allow anyone in after 12, so you have to leave". Quite honestly, ChatGPT / Claude / Grok could have conveyed more empathy. I am not a VIP customer nor am I a high spender. That being said, I value places with a human connection and empathy, and would regularly visit such places with joy and happiness multiple times. This place is not one of them. For this reason, I will never visit again. If you think likewise, and value authenticity and a true Aussie welcome, you would not visit this place. I hate to give negative reviews but please spend your money elsewhere.

had smiley faces on and were polite with service. nowadays became a sunny Saturday afternoon, we…read morehad been instructed we may want to sit down anywhere so we chose a table outside. Sipping a mocktail with the solar's warmth for your returned and hen's eye views, virtually outstanding. super add to the Glenny scene. meals was fun. We began with half a dozen oysters. Theses had been pretty small in length but tasted sparkling. The flavours to the barramundi were more mild and calm however once more, fish became very fresh. My companion appreciated the chorizo sausage and rice balls the maximum from the tasting platter, even as I enjoyed the sweet chilli chicken pieces most. the atmosphere inside may be described as stylish and sophisticated, can see it would be super for those past due night drinks. would recommended and come returned some time.

From the owner: SkyBar, Restaurant, Cocktail Lounge and Functions Venue busting out Creative Cocktails and a Modern…read moreAustralian Menu

This restaurant is something that Bendigo has been lacking and needed. A fresh, modern Australian…read moretake on Asian dishes done really well. Beautiful decor, great food and cocktails. The stand out dishes on our table would have easily been the bao buns (served DIY style with the buns, crispy pork, bean shoots and coriander deconstructed for you to mix as you please, along with hoisin sauce), the vegetable spring rolls (quite large, served with greens to add on top to your liking) and sand mullet (served whole to your table to carve - be careful of the bones). We finished out the evening sitting outside, drinking espresso martinis and enjoying the warm summers night. A great experience.

State of Grace was one of the highlights of our Melbourne trip -- an incredible dining experience…read morefrom start to finish. The atmosphere is vibrant, stylish, and full of character. From the moment you walk in, there's a buzz that makes the place feel alive without being overwhelming. It strikes a great balance between upscale and relaxed, making it perfect for a date night or a fun evening out. The warm lighting and eclectic design add to the charm and make you want to linger. Service was friendly, attentive, and well-paced throughout the night. The staff were knowledgeable about the menu, checked in on us at the right moments, and made the whole experience feel effortless and welcoming. Every dish we ordered was excellent -- not a single miss. We started with the Cauliflower & Mozzarella Croquettes, which were crispy on the outside and perfectly creamy inside. The Grilled King Prawns were flavorful and cooked just right, while the Kingfish Ceviche was fresh, bright, and beautifully balanced. The Stracciatella & Heirloom Tomatoes was simple yet outstanding, letting the quality of the ingredients shine. For mains, the Duck Breast was cooked perfectly and full of rich flavor, and the Lamb Backstrap was tender and well-seasoned. The Pecorino & Ricotta Ravioli was comforting and delicate, while the Seafood Linguine stood out with generous portions of seafood and a beautifully balanced sauce. The Honey Glaze Carrots were the perfect side -- sweet, savory, and executed flawlessly. Overall, State of Grace delivers on every level -- ambience, service, and food. An exceptional spot that lives up to the hype, and one we'd absolutely return to on our next visit to Melbourne.

State of Grace has a positive vibe. Even before your first drink you will think oh what a cool…read moreplace. It's the decor from extravagant chandeliers to deer heads with pearl necklaces; it's beautifully eclectic. I had an old fashion and it had the right mix of orange and bitters. I also ordered the burger which was decent and the fries were hot and crispy. The night I visited there was a live singer playing tunes. Service was quick and friendly. Even the ordering is eclectic as you order electronically (QR) pasted to a library book. This place is worth a visit.

Oh Loretta, you saucy minx, you truly are irresistible. On the face of it, Loretta's occupies the…read morecorner 'front' bar in the new home of Bluebonnet barbecue. It's a pretty little pub on a leafy street and has some outdoor seating, which is good, cos the seating options in the bar are pretty limited. A few low tables and bench seating and you are pretty much done. The bar itself is small but perfectly formed, and it's all good stuff here. No room to waste on sub-standard tipples. Rotating craft beer taps, bottled cocktails, lots of interesting things to try and the bar staff are happy to offer suggestions. The big plus with Loretta's is that you get full access to the Bluebonnet menu, even when the main dining room is between sittings. There are also several bar-only sandwich options to flesh out what is already a pretty tempting range of bbq and sides, although I lament that currently there is no broccoli salad on offer. Anyway, if you love good bbq, good booze and a laid back atmosphere, I recommend you check it out..or maybe don't - me and Loretta have a thing going on and I might not want to share.

Loving the emergence/resurgence of the whiskey bars around Melbs at the moment…read more The Kilburn offers flights that group whiskeys together based on their locale, which is a great way to get introduced to a few new favourites, and also a list of whiskey cocktails from the standards to the more peculiar. There's also some decent beers on the menu for those who want to cobble together their own boiler-makers. The set up is great and the inventory on display behind the bar simply mouth-wateringly impressive. One thing was that there didn't seem to be any whiskey 'bible' listing exactly what they had. Understand the logistics of keeping something like that up to date with prices and new inclusions etc can be annoying, but it would have been fun for us to read over, whiskey in hand, looking for the next one to try. I'm sure the staff - all very friendly and welcoming, with table service - would be able to help steer you toward something to suit your tastes and price range, but I do enjoy the tactile experience of flicking through a full drinks menu.

Er mer gerd. There's a very swank whisky bar outside of the city. On my side-ish of town. My new…read morefave. This place breathes a breath of fresh air into a previously dullish area. It's about time! Offering over 600 whisk(e)ys, delicious wines and craft beers. Offering delicious bar food. Very professional and attentive staff, they even offer table service. Beautifully furnished and lots of attention to detail in the lighting and things like bag hooks on the bar. Looking forward to sampling their cocktails and the whisky flights. x

Very unfriendly staff and not welcoming at all. We decided to leave based on our initial reception.read more

This place is nothing short of awesome. In fact, it is so good that I want to travel all the way…read moreback to Eltham just to visit it again, and Eltham is a pretty fair hike for me to travel to just to visit a bar. The thing was that when I came here we didn't have all that much time so I just grabbed a take-away tea and ran to catch the train, but looking around I really wanted to spend some more time here. Oh, and the staff were awesome, which is probably why I want to come back.

- 10 stars - unforgettable cocktails…read more- all star bartenders - greta recommendations - had to be at least 100 different whiskeys

I don't want to say too much, lest my favourite table or spot at the bar be occupied next time I…read morevisit. I'm going to keep it short, in the hope that you'll brush over this and move along to the next listing. The ladies and gents at The Everleigh know how to mix a great cocktail (ignore the menu and have them guide you), the décor is stunning, and the location discreet. It's the perfect spot for a mid-week rendezvous or nightcap. A word of warning about the bar snacks: I've seen grown men and women have to beg for restraint once they start in on these things. I don't know what they're coating those little soy snacks with, but they're addictive. Best you not even start. In fact, you should avoid this place altogether.