Signature cocktails in the city

Melbourne is renowned for its secret little watering holes dotted across the city; its bars are hidden away down laneways, on rooftops and in basements. The city’s bar-culture is booming, and some of the hottest spots are fabulously extravagant cocktail bars. Here are some of the best places to enjoy an elegant, opulent cocktail in signature Melbourne style.

Lui Bar Lui Bar is the cocktail bar attached to world renowned restaurant Vue de monde. Perched atop Rialto building, the lounge is opulent and boasts glorious views over Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay. Cocktail master, Sebastian Raeburn is the man behind the drinks menu which is divided into ‘yesterday’, ‘today’ and ‘tomorrow’, charting the evolution of Melbourne’s drinking culture. Try the popular Velvet Rotor Macadamia Martini; heated macadamia nuts, washed with Belvedere Vodka, served chilled with vaporised butter and smashed macadamia praline on the side. Level 55, Rialto, 525 Collins Street, +61 3 9691 3888

The EverleighThis stylish bar was recently ranked number 30 on the coveted World’s 50 Best Bars list, sitting comfortably alongside establishments in London and New York. Located in Fitzroy, just a short tram ride from the city centre, visitors enter through an American diner and walk down a dimly lit hall to reach a bar reminiscent of another era. The drinks menu is updated seasonally, however the house favourite is the Red Grasshopper – a sweet and spicy set up of fresh lime, honey, tequila and smoked paprika. 150-156 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, +61 3 9416 2229

The Black PearlAlso in Fitzroy, one of the city’s coolest cocktail spaces and the only other Melbourne bar to make the World’s 50 Best Bars list, The Black Pearl comes in at number 37. This is a low-key lounge mid week before transforming to a heaving bar when the weekend arrives. To escape the crowds, head upstairs and ring the bell for entry into The Attic. Sit back in a leather armchair overlooking Brunswick Street and try a Zombie, their signature cocktail combining a variety of rums, citrus and Christmas spice, served tiki style. 304 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, +61 3 9417 0455

Eau De VieThis bar evokes the mood of a jazz infused speakeasy, stylishly furnished, with excellent service and an extensive drinks menu. Margarita lovers must try the signature Eau de Vie Margarita for a sensory experience. Herradura Plata is shaken with fresh lime juice, orange curaçao and a touch of agave. It’s served in a long stemmed wine glass, with a black pepper and sea salt rim and the scent of citrus and sea salt trapped within the glass. 1 Malthouse Lane, Melbourne, +61 3 412 825 44

Thomas Olive Located in Collingwood, a short tram ride from the city centre, Thomas Olive sits upstairs from the popular eatery Saint Crispin and is a great destination in its own right for cocktails. Those feeling particularly experimental are encouraged to try Running with Alice, a $45 concoction that is essentially a beer, a shot and a martini all in one. Upstairs, 300 Smith Street, Collingwood, +61 3 9419 2202

Crown Melbourne And if budget is of no concern, Club 23, located at Crown Melbourne, is home to the World’s Most Expensive Cocktail, with the Guinness World Record title to prove it. The Winston sells for $12,500 AUD, and is made with extremely rare Cognac Croizet’s 1858 Cuvee Leonie Cognac, which was shared by Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower in 1944 on the eve of D-Day. This cognac alone is valued at $157,000 USD. But this is not a drink to be enjoyed on a whim. Each cocktail requires 16 hours of preparation and must be ordered two days in advance. Crown Entertainment Complex, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank, +61 3 9292 8888