15 Best Bars in Melbourne | Condé Nast Traveler
"When you arrive at Arlechin, having stumbled past the fairy lights and Makatron mural in its Chinatown laneway, you feel as though you’ve found a local secret. That it has just 40 seats adds to the allure. With its barrel-vaulted cork ceiling, marble-top bar, and walls of wine, it has a sleek cellar vibe. Sure, the barkeep can fix you a classic, and any of those bottles of wine you see can be uncorked. But be sure to look over the cocktail list. Light up the evening with a Firebird—rye, apricot brandy, bitters, and Champagne with an orange twist—or invoke an air of mystery with the Rear Window, which blends bourbon, Aperol, lemon, sweetened ginger, and bitters. The food here is first-rate. The short Italian menu ranges from oysters to "midnight spaghetti," a snack-size serving of pasta topped with a tasty sauce of chopped canned tomatoes, capers, chili, oregano, and a splash of colatura di alici (an anchovy sauce from Campania). Best of all, the menu is served until 3 a.m." - Carrie Hutchinson
