Entries into the Diplomático Artisans of Taste competition are open now, and close on December 10, with a bartending trip of a lifetime to Brazil up for grabs. For more information and to enter, visit diplomaticoartisansoftaste.com.
Drinking Melbourne is the weekly newsletter from drinks writer Fred Siggins, unpacking what’s happening in Melbourne’s bars (and what you can learn from them), sent every Tuesday to your inbox. Get on the list here.
Moondrop, the new cocktail venture from the Sleepy’s crew that now inhabits the old Everleigh space above Gertrude Street, Fitzroy vacated by the Madrusans (more on them below), opened its doors to the public for the first time last Wednesday. Inspired by Chinese mythology, Moondrop has managed to maintain the level of attentive service and warm, classy atmosphere of The Ev, but with a big dose of fun and a bit less formality.
Photos: Fred Siggins
The gorgeous summer sun streaming in through the West-facing windows through the early hours of the evening lights up the bar like a movie set, reflecting off the polished tabletops inlaid with mahjong tiles (there are plans for regular game nights, too!). Cocktails include the bright orange hue of the Sizchuan Slipper, the funk of home-made hot sauce combined with Midori and Ancho Reyes for an epic Eastern update on the spicy Marg, or the sweet creaminess of the Long Mac with Cognac, Cynar, Oolong Tea and Spiced honey foam that melts into the drink a la boba tea.
Photos: Fred Siggins
As the sun goes down, there are plenty of intimate corners for quiet moments, and drinks like the rich and smoky Chanhattan with Japanese whisky, lapsang souchong-infused vermouth and creme de cacao strikes a chord as the table lamps cast waxing gibbous moonscapes across the cocktail’s smooth surface. But as a lover of Mai Tais, the Saturn Devouring His Spritz with Cachaca, dark rum, Montenegro, Chinola and falernum, served with a flaming passion fruit husk, is 100% my jam, and one of the best-balanced drinks on the list I’ve tried so far.
Photos: Fred Siggins
Also, don’t skip the dumplings. The pork and chrysanthemum version of the three options are brilliantly balanced between umami and acid, with toothsome, silky wrappers and satisfyingly meaty filling. I will admit to lifting the bowl (which looks like it came from my Nana’s cupboard) to my face and slurping up the salty-sour broth too good to be left behind.
Photos: Fred Siggins
It’s wonderful to see this space full again, and the warmth and lightheartedness of the team here, combined with their obvious passion and professionalism, makes for a welcome new place to drink in Melbourne that also feels truly original.
Around the Bars
Madrusan x Merivale. Sydney-based hospitality behemoth Merivale has finally made it to Melbourne with the opening of LB’s, the new bar from Michael and Zara Madrusan (The Everleigh, Heartbreaker) in the space formerly occupied by Lily Blacks, with an agave-focused drinks list and walls lined with vinyl records.
Survey Sisters. Mix Haus, Australia’s primary organisation dedicated to supporting women in hospitality, has put together an open and anonymous national survey to help identify what people want more/less of to help them plan events and activations for next year. Do this survey no matter who you are or how you identify, and share it around far and wide - the more answers they collect, the better the data. Access the survey here.
Love, Death & Cocktails. And if you’re not busy tonight, Dave Kaplan, co-founder of Death & Co. New York, will be at Death & Co. Melbourne this evening for a meet and greet at 7pm — a great opportunity to meet a superstar of the New York cocktail scene. RSVP to vm@deathandcompanymelbourne.com.au.
The Best of 2025
All month on Boothby, we’re taking a look at the best bars of 2025, publishing interviews with the owners and leaders of the award-winning bars from this year’s Boothby Best Bars Awards program. Next up: Bar Bellamy’s Dani and Oska Whitehart talk about why it is that their bar resonates with the industry, how they’re approaching the challenges of unpredictable patronage, and how they’re thinking about 2026.
Sam Bygrave
