A Bar Called Americano

Down an alley off a laneway lies Melbourne’s newest spot for a tipple - Bar Americano. Opened last week by Matt Bax and Matt Rees from Richmond’s Der Raum, this new bar offers coffee and cocktails with some food in-between.

Wedged into the corner space that used to be Pushka (I’m happy to see they’ve still got Melbourne’s smallest art gallery in the front window), Bar Americano is a cosy, classy kind of joint with chequerboard floors and snappily dressed staff. There are no chairs, which makes it perfect for downing a shot of espresso and having a nibble before going about your business.

But it is Bar Americano, not Cafe Americano, and the focus here is on the stronger stuff. With a liquor license good from 7am, Bloody Mary fans are catered for, but when the free aperitivos are dished out from 4pm - 6pm is when I’ll be swooping.

You can whet your whistle from the list of ten classic cocktails, from the namesake Americano (a cocktail originally known as the Milano-Torino before it was adopted by American tourists flocking to Europe during Prohibition) to the vivdly named Mammy Taylor and Blood and Sand.

In fact, it’s probably a wise decision not to have seats…I might end up settling in and after one two of those suckers start slipping and sliding all over that lovely chequerboard floor.

Bar Americano
20 Presgrave Place
Melbourne 3000
Mon 7am - 4pm
Tues - Sat 7am - 11pm
www.baramericano.com