Featuring: Bar Margaux, Alphington Social, Tetto di Carolina…

IT was the depths of winter when Bar Margaux opened in the Melbourne’s CBD. The newest venue from the hospitality group Made in the Shade, which also owns awarding-winning bar The Everleigh, late night dive bar Heartbreaker as well as Connie’s Pizza, saw a gap in the late-night drinking market looking for somewhere “grownup” to go and Margaux was born.
Made in the Shade founders, Michael and Zara Madrusan have collaborated with interior designer (and sister of Michael), Deanie Madrusan of BAR Studio, on the broody, sophisticated 100-seat bar and restaurant that walks a stylish line inspired by the brasseries of New York and Paris. This means you walk in to a room with classic chequered black and white tiled flooring, a zinc bar top, rich red leather banquettes and custom pendants.
Group executive chef Daniel Southern (ex Vue Group and L’Oustal) has designed a menu featuring bistro classics. Steak tartare sits alongside just-shucked oysters, escargot in garlicky butter and a French onion soup that’s so thick it’s almost jammy.
Mains keep the Gallic thread going with Duck Frites, Filet de Boeuf and Poulet Roti – a roasted Bannockburn chicken for two – but what’s got everyone talking is the MGX Burger. A tower of two patties layered with gooey cheese that sit between a soft bun, there’s bacon and the “coup de glaze” – a bordelaise sauce with pieces of bone marrow through it. Luscious, fatty, salty, no wonder it’s turning heads and pulling regular customers.
The cocktail menu is split into three categories – light aperitif, serious styles and digestif. This covers French and Italian spritz, the Black Velvet (Guinness and champagne), plus half-size Martinis and Manhattans, perfect when you don’t want to “push the boat out” but still want a serious drink.
The wine list is designed by Made in the Shade group manager Marty McCaig, with its aim to be approachable and affordable with local producers, including Lyons Will, Tellurian and The Wine Farm featured. The champagne list runs from small, boutique champagne growers, including Chartogne-Taillet and Agrapart, through to the classic producers Billecart-Salmon and Krug. Basement of 111 Lonsdale St, Melbourne; phone (03) 9650 0088.
After opening Bar Carolina in South Yarra just two years ago, celebrated restaurateur Joe Mammone and his business partners Joey Dee and James Sutherland unveiled Tetto di Carolina, an upstairs bar and dining room that is taking the inner-south-east by storm.

A European-style cocktail bar with an Italian bent, Tetto offers slick service and world-class hospitality synonymous with Mammone’s stable of much-loved Melbourne venues, including Il Bacaro and Bar Carolina.
The goal – to open a sophisticated bar environment – has been achieved with an elegant interior designed by lauded designer Chris Connell. A 6m-long bar of walnut, caramel porcelain tiling and sculptured steel metalwork, forms the centrepiece around which the action happens.
A cocktail-forward drinks list, curated by award-winning cocktail bartender Alex Dzyrart, of London’s acclaimed Bar III, is augmented by a selection of premium champagne and sparkling wines, as well as a tighter selection of European and Australian wines. Cocktails such as American Beauty, a mix of Maidenii Sweet Vermouth, strawberry and jasmine syrup, finished with prosecco or Florence Revival – Melbourne Single Shot Gin, fennel flower and lemon feature on the menu.
Executive chef Matteo Tine’s menu offers refined Italian small plates that work with the drinks. Duck liver parfait cannoli with pistachio and spritz relish makes for a perfect bar snack with its crunch and creamy parfait filling. The Jurassic quail spiedini, Jerusalem artichoke and roasted grapes takes things up a notch. More than a snack, it gives guests the freedom to use Tetto as a place for dinner, too. Level 1/48 Toorak Rd, South Yarra; phone (03) 9867 7954.
An old bank building in the north-east suburb of Alphington has been given a make over by brother and sister duo Dylan and Maddy Breen and turned into a cosy bar and restaurant called Alphington Social.
The Breens, both from trade backgrounds, have kept the original timber floors and open fireplace, adding a taxidermied stag’s head, leather banquettes and dedicated one wall to cheese and charcuterie fridges.
The menu has strong Italian leanings and Dylan is the main pizzaiolo. Everything is mixed by hand and the pizzas, as well as many other dishes, are wood-fired. Try the Burrata, tomato sugo and fried basil pizza or wood-fired carrots and broccolini with honey.
Mains include osso bucco, and duck with cider-braised fennel and there’s a selection of pastas – spaghetti vongole with garlic, tomato and chilli or linguine with nduja, tomato sugo, chilli, olives and burrata. 7 Rowe St, Alphington; phone (03) 9499 5671.