Held at The Mill House on Flinders Lane, the Time Out Melbourne Bar Awards 2016 marks the fourth time the magazine has honoured the best bars and bartenders in the city.
Covering eleven categories, the awards saw winners from all facets of the bar industry, though the big winner on the night was the Speakeasy Group. The bar group took home Bar of the Year for the iconic establishment Eau De Vie (EDV), as well as Best Bar Team (pictured) for the same venue, while new family member Boilermaker House was named Best New Bar.
Michael Madrusan also scored some recognition with two of his Melbourne venues taking home awards. The classic Fitzroy bar The Everleigh was named Best Cocktail Bar, while his newer, late-night dive bar, Heartbreaker, was crowned the Best Party Bar.
Another Melbourne stalwart was also recognised, with Black Pearl bartenders Nathan Beasley and Luke Sanderson claiming the Best Bartender and Hot Talent awards respectively.
Polly on Brunswick Street – one of Melbourne’s oldest cocktail bars – was voted the winner of the coveted People’s Choice Award.
Following the trend set in Sydney, Melbourne bar Hihou was awarded Best Bar Food for serving up some of the best sashimi in the city.
And to acknowledge years of service to the bar industry, the Legend Award was bestowed upon Melbourne institution Gin Palace, in recognition of nearly 20 years of gin-fuelled nights out.
“Melbourne’s bar scene continues to evolve to meet the demands of an increasingly savvy audience,” says Time Out Australia CEO Michael Rodrigues. “Bottled cocktails, biodynamic wines and restaurant-quality food are among other improvements Melbourne’s bar owners have introduced to keep customers coming back.”
All the winners are:
BEST NEW BAR
Boilermaker House
(Highly Commended: Bar Exuberante)
BEST WINE BAR
Bar Clarine
(Highly Commended: Smalls)
BEST BAR FOOD
Hihou
(Highly Commended: Le Bon Ton)
BEST BARTENDER
Nathan Beasley – Black Pearl
(Highly Commended: Jack Sotti – Boilermaker House)
BEST BAR TEAM
EDV
(Highly Commended: Black Pearl)
BEST COCKTAIL BAR
The Everleigh
(Highly Commended: Bar Americano)
BEST PARTY BAR
Heartbreaker
(Highly Commended: Mr Wow’s Emporium)
HOT TALENT AWARD
Luke Sanderson – Black Pearl
(Highly Commended: Wiremu Andrews – Smalls)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Polly
BAR OF THE YEAR
EDV
LEGEND AWARD
Gin Palace
