Joining Melbourne's extensive list of alleyway gems is Matt Rees's and Matt Bax's latest brainchild,
Bar Americano. With the same duo that gifted the town with the multi-awarded and internationally acclaimed Richmond tavern
Der Raum, bar-dwellers should expect nothing less than a perfectly concocted beverage.
Perched in the obscure Presgrave Place, an alleyway located somewhere in the depths of Lt. Collins St., Bar Americano proves to be well worth the detour. It pays homage to European taverns that American tourists visited during the Prohibition period, hoping to conjure the same kind of enchantment that cocktails provided then. The short, but carefully selected cocktail list includes the classic Prohibition cocktail
Americano, and the rum-based
Chicago Fizz among other well-loved and familiar cocktails.
Apart from the alcoholic beverages, Bar Americano also blends their own espresso and serves small eats and dessert. The kitchen team will be a tough one to beat as it consists of dessert powerhouses Ian Burch and Darren Purchese of the
Burch and Purchese Sweet Studio fame, and Chef Ben Shewry of the highly regarded
Attica Restaurant.
Guests are warmly greeted by the staff upon entering, and are immersed in a classy, European-inspired, yet intimate setting. It may come as a surprise--and delightfully so--that the bar provides no seating and has the capacity of only around ten guests at a time. It is therefore advisable to expect a lengthy queue before getting the chance to order.
Coffee prices range from $3-3.50, while cocktail prices range from $15-20.
With the promise of carefully crafted, top-notch cocktails and exquisitely prepared coffee and food, one can hardly go wrong with a Bar Americano stopover.
