Where to Celebrate Formula1 in Melbourne

Originally appeared on travelinsider.qantas.com.au, sponsored by Pernod Ricard. 

Toast the Grand Prix with a Grand Cru.

This year marks 20 years of Formula1 at Melbourne’s Albert Park, and that calls for a little champagne. Get into the Grand Prix spirit with G.H. Mumm – official champagne of Formula1 – at these stylish Melbourne bars and restaurants.

Vue de Monde

The vibe: classic fine dining goes avant-garde

Perfect for: a truly indulgent dinner for two

Perched on the 55^th floor of the Rialto, Vue de Monde defies the notion that you can’t have breathtaking views and world-class cuisine. Ambitious, experimental, and a little bit theatrical, a meal at Vue de Monde offers the opportunity to expand your horizons – both literally and figuratively.

Rialto Building, Level 55/525 Collins Street, Melbourne

                                                                                

Le Bon Ton

The vibe: down-home Southern BBQ meets Collingwood cool

Perfect for: a devil-may-care night of revelry

If hip bearded bartenders and slow, smoky meats are your thing, you’ll find yourself at home in this New Orleans-inspired saloon. Don’t go past the Champagne Charlie, a cheeky concoction of Plymouth Sloe gin, apricot brandy, fresh grapefruit, plum bitters, and a generous splash of Mumm Cordon Rouge Champagne.

51 Gipps Street, Collingwood

France Soir

The vibe: authentic French brasserie – eternally busy but always elegant.

Perfect for: oysters, champagne, and sparkling conversation.

France Soir may well be one of Melbourne’s most reliable restaurants. It will always be bursting with happy diners, the food will always be brilliant, and you will always spend far too long poring over the wonderfully extensive wine list. During Formula1, save yourself the trouble and go straight for champagne.

11 Toorak Road, South Yarra

State of Grace

The vibe: spacious and sophisticated, with a few hidden delights…

Perfect for: date night or an intimate evening with the crew                    

The superb Euro-influenced cuisine and luxe atmosphere of State of Grace alone are worth the visit, but it’s the hush-hush basement bar that draws a crowd. Fall from Grace may be one of Melbourne’s worst-kept secrets, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. Pull the right book on the bookshelf to reveal a hidden staircase and an intimate, soft-lit bar full of cosy armchairs.

477 Collins St, Melbourne

Naked for Satan 

The vibe: a singular pairing of Russian vodka and Basque finger food, served with a healthy sense of mischief.

Perfect for: those who aren’t afraid to eat with their hands.

This Fitzroy bar’s curious name comes from Russian immigrant Leon ‘Satan’ Satanovich, who plied Melbournites with bootlegged vodka during the Great Depression. Legend has it that the heat from the boiling process was so harsh that Leon was often forced to do the work stripped down to his birthday suit. Luckily for us, today it’s much easier to enjoy a drink in Fitzroy – let the friendly bartenders at Naked for Satan (or its rooftop bar Naked in the Sky) do the hard work for you.

285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

San Telmo 

The vibe: Picante!

Perfect for: a big, hungry, carnivorous crowd

Relax into the hot, sweaty embrace of Argentinean hospitality. Note the gigantic parilla (chargrill) as you enter, and prepare for an evening of epically proportioned meats and South American snacks that pack a flavour punch. This is the place for revellers to go large, and be assured a smokin’ good time. 

14 Meyers Place, Melbourne

The Atrium at Crown 

The vibe: a little bit Great Gatsby – art deco opulence set to a thoroughly modern beat

Perfect for: starting any evening with a drop of luxury

Located in the Crown Casino complex, the Atrium brings vintage glamour to Melbourne’s South Bank. Think all-gold-everything with a strong focus on champagne, but be surprised by the chilled vibe. All the same, we recommend dressing to impress and nabbing a seat at the gloriously gilded bar.

8 Whiteman Street, Southbank

Terra Rossa

The vibe: classy and timeless, like Sophia Loren

Perfect for: the definitive Melbourne laneway dining experience

                                     

The Grand Prix may be French at heart, but there’s no denying that the Italians do it better. Toast to the spiritual home of motor racing at Terra Rossa, a sophisticated inner-city eatery, with a few flutes of Mumm and some of mamma’s finest antipasti. 

87 Flinders Lane, Melbourne