Last night Melbourne got Sydney’s weather and also a version of Myffy Rigby’s TimeOut bar awards. The upstairs deck of the refurbished Emerson Hotel held host to more Ray Bans than have ever been seen outside of a Sunglass Hut, and lashings of Havana Club, Tempus Two wines and Sail & Anchor beer ensured the golden hue of new-age fun with a vintage feel descended in earnest.
Jason Crawley presided over the smokier crowd than attends most Roots concerts, resplendent in suspenders and dad jokes approaching the mastery of one James France.
Anyways, if history be written by the winners, let’s hope these folk are drafting prose anew.
BEST BARTENDER
Evan Stanley – Black Pearl
BEST BAR FOOD
Cumulus Up
BEST ENTERTAINMENT
Mr Wow’s Emporium
BEST FIT OUT
Sweetwater Inn
BEST PUB
The Alehouse Project
BEST COCKTAIL BAR
The Everleigh
BEST SMALL BAR
Hihou
BEST NEW BAR
Los Barbudos
BAR OF THE YEAR
Black Pearl
HOT TALENT
Sarah Fulford – Lily Blacks
BEST WINE BAR
Bellota
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
The Carlton Club
HALL OF FAME
The Standard Hotel
Michael Rodrigues, joint CEO for Time Out Australia, explains: “Melbourne’s bar scene contributes so much to the texture of this city, and its great for Time Out to be able to put on these awards in recognition of their contribution. Like great cities, great bars stand the test of time – they weather changes in trends, changes in staff, changes in circumstance. They navigate these challenges because they are able to keep one thing in mind throughout. And that’s us, their lucky customers.”
Gemima Cody, Time Out Melbourne’s food and drink editor, adds: “It’s a great thing to have such a strong mix of new and established venues amongst our winners this year. It really shows that our bar scene has roots and wings, and good drinking isn’t going anywhere.”
For more information on Time Out Melbourne Bar Awards, visit www.au.timeout.com/Melbourne
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