Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.madamebrussels.com
; Level 3, 59-63 Bourke St; noon-1am; 86, 96)
Head here if you've had it
with Melbourne-moody and all that dark wood. Although named for a famous 19th-cen-
tury brothel owner, it feels like a camp '60s rabbit hole you've fallen into, with much
Astroturfery and staff dressed à la the country club. It's just the tonic to escape the city for
a jug of its Madame Brussels-style Pimms on its wonderful rooftop terrace.
Sweatshop
(
www.sweatshopbar.com.au
;
113 Lonsdale St; Fri & Sat; Parliament)
There's great Cantonese
www.seamstress.com.au
;
mains $24-35; lunch & dinner Mon-Fri, dinner Sat)
that's open all week, but on
weekends it's the New York-like basement dive bar that's worth squashing in for. Quaff
American whiskies and craft beers to wash down inventive Asian bar food.
BAR
Brother Baba Budan
(
www.sevenseeds.com.au
;
359 Little Bourke St; 7am-5pm Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm Sun; ; 19, 57, 59)
This
small city cafe by Seven Seeds, with just a few seats (most hangin' from the ceiling), does
a roaring takeaway coffee trade for the inner-city workers and is a great spot for a mid-
shopping caffeine buzz. Don't be put off by queues; service is fast and friendly.
CAFE
Double Happiness
BAR
( 03-9650 4488;
www.double-happiness.org
; 21 Liverpool St; 4pm-1am Mon-Wed, to 3am Thu & Fri,
6pm-3am Sat, to 1am Sun; 86, 96, Parliament)
This stylish hole-in-the-wall is decked out in
Chinese propaganda posters and Mao statues and has a range of Asian-influenced chilli-
6pm-late Tue-Thu, to 5am Fri & Sat)
, run by
03-9650 8859;
www.newgoldmountain.org
;
the same owners, with table service.
Croft Institute
BAR
(
03-9671 4399;
www.thecroftinstitute.com
; 21-25 Croft Alley;
5pm-1am Mon-Thu, to 3am Fri & Sat;
86,
96)
Hidden in a laneway off a laneway with great grafitti, the slightly creepy Croft is a
