I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to write about my favourite bar, Cabinet Bar & Balcony. Apart from the great staff, the deck overlooking Swanston Street and the amazing cocktails named after regular customers [try the Ceri Colada and let me know what you think ;)], they have a daily Happy Hour from 5:30-6:30pm [$3 tap beer and $5 house wines] and all day on Tuesdays, as well as a $10 Flatbread frenzy Wednesdays from 6:00-8:00pm. I love this bar so much that I have taken all my friends there, we’ve all had birthdays there, after work drinks happen frequently, we’ve had Tuesday lunches, Sunday afternoon ciders, post-Yum Cha drinks, taken dates there, met new people, had Tweet-ups there and now I’ve managed to book my office Christmas lunch there. Winnah!
But I finally had my resolve not to write about Cabinet broken when they announced that they’re going to be having a special New Years Eve event. Oh drat. Instead of having a special event where you pay $100 or more to get in and have limited drinks included (some venues are halting included drinks at midnight!) and are locked in all night, the switched-on staff at Cabinet have decided to have two shifts instead: the pre-fireworks crowd and the party crowd and I would definitely recommend that you book if you’re planning on having dinner before the show. If you’re on your way out somewhere and want to warm up or haven’t quite decided and want to start somewhere central than Cabinet is going to be perfect! I have friends coming down from Sydney and they want to check out the city before heading out to a house party so guess where we’ll be…
I first started crushing on Cabinet when one of my friends started working there and I came in to visit. The staff are all so friendly, talented and really good at remembering people, drinks and how to party themselves. When I realised I had a usual order which I hadn’t verbalised in weeks, I knew I was in love. Not to mention they look after their customers really well with excellent table service, regular water top-ups and knowing just the right time to ask if you need a top-up or a bowl of fries (and they are goooood fries).
My usual order is just the house red, as they don’t just have a crappy bulk buy for their house wines. I’ve switched over to the house rose for Summer but they also have my favourite beers, Kirin & Little Creatures Bright Ale as well as their Pipsqueak cider. The cocktail named after me is called the Ceri Colada and it has Havana rum, pineapple, coconut syrup & chocolate liqueur with a rim of dessicated coconut. It is heaven. Flatbreads are divine; tomato, boconccini, vasil & pesto is my favourite, my friends love the Cajuan chicken, mango & aoili or smoked salmon, cream cheese & capers ones as well. The bruschetta tasting plate is awesome, so are the spiced cashews (sooo moreish) and there are still plenty of menu items that I haven’t gotten around to eating but make my mouth water, like the European picnic or the chocolate fondue…
Stuff people say about Cabinet:
Host Alan Bell [is] one of the city’s friendliest and most talented bartenders – CitySearch Melbourne
Your home away from home – That’s Melbourne and several other places!
Food ‘you always wished your mum would make’ – CitySearch Melbourne
http://www.cabinetbar.com.au – 11 Rainbow Alley, Melbourne. Near the corner of Swanston & Lt Collins.
Cabinet is sadly, not open on Mondays when I feel I most need it, but they’re open from noon every other day during the week, from 4pm on Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays. I feel like that’s not nearly enough for me.
Here, here. Cabinet is great. Nice write-up.