In my opinion, some places are simply better experienced than described. This post features many photos which hardly do
The Lui Bar (Level 55, Rialto Towers, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne) justice, because no matter how many pictures I show you or words I write about it, there is just nothing like viewing Melbourne from 55 floors up, handcrafted cocktail in hand, listening to jazz.
 |
| Albert Park Lake and beyond, from The Lui Bar |
The Lui Bar stems off
Shannon Bennett's revered restaurant
Vue De Monde, the degustation meal of which is absolutely on my bucket list. The restaurant was moved to the
Rialto site in 2011, and its adjoining bar has also been making waves ever since.
Iconic in location, the venue not only occupies the top level of what was, in 1986, the tallest building in Melbourne and the Southern Hemisphere at 251 metres, but offers spectacular city views of up to 60 kilometres on a clear day. Even the
Eureka Tower, currently Melbourne's tallest building at 297.3 metres, looks smaller from the Rialto's former observation deck.
 |
| Eureka from The Lui Bar |
Although the restaurant requires bookings, The Lui Bar is not as formal, with walk-ins welcome. 'Walk-ins' probably isn't the right term though, considering that a strict dress code applies, and that all incoming patrons must be approved and buzzed up by a discerning concierge on the ground level.
On the way up in the lift, your ears pop as you ascend to 236 metres above sea level. You are greeted by a uniformed staff member (who obviously knew you were coming, as the concierge had already checked on space availability for you).
You are steered past the commanding central bar with its dark features, stone finishes and clear perspex blobs hanging overhead, where waves of bottles stand at the ready, and ice is being hand-carved from a giant block.
Elegant floor lights of clustered glass baubles are propped around the room, between low bar tables, leather chaise longues and armchairs that are spotted with slightly-fraying but cheerfully bright cushions. You are led to a cluster of chairs and seated, but with natural light pouring in from the outside, all you can do is look at the view. Well, views. You can't look at all of it at once.
 |
| Docklands from The Lui Bar |
Once you've admired, and recollected your wits, you are proffered a delightful pop-up menu featuring Australiana-inspired cocktails. I had more fun opening the pop-ups than actually reading about the cocktails!
The bar snacks menu is deceivingly simple in comparison: a mere natural-coloured card listing some light food options available (including, yes, 30 grams of caviar for $190). However, on turning it over, you realise from a byline that the card itself contains bottle brush seeds, and instructions are given on how to germinate the menu into a tree!
According to the website, Shannon Bennett aims, through various measures, to make Vue De Monde Melbourne's most sustainable restaurant. I suppose this explains the encouragement to grow stuff!
So. Back to drinking. On a previous visit to Lui Bar, I ordered the Velvet Rotor Macadamia Martini and was absolutely blown away by its gorgeousness. Unfortunately, this time around, a special something-something machine used for something-something in the cocktail had broken down and so my favourite drink was sadly not available. However, it was a blessing in disguise, because I was forced to try something else, and the waiter recommended the Lola Montez Spider Dance Fizz. A reddish-pink liquid came out accompanied by a plastic spider, and I was about to be disappointed, until said waiter popped some bits of something in a scientific-looking flask and a swirling fog magically emerged, releasing fantastic aromas. The fog was offered to each of us for a whiff, then poured into my glass, ready for smell-drinking. Oh, the drama! I loved it.
 |
| Drink with spider |
 |
| Magic stuff begins |
 |
| Swirling aromatic fog! |
 |
| Smell THAT |
 |
| Pour over, then drink. |
Other drinks we enjoyed on this occasion were a Koala Stinger, complete with eucalyptus leaves and white chocolate disguised as tree bark, a Sherry Cobbler, and a Virgin Mai Tai. Yes, the drinks here are pricey, but everything is beautifully prepared and presented, with unusual local ingredients, hand-cut ice, and impeccable service. With an amazing view. Worth it, I think.
 |
| Koala Stinger - love the glass logo |
 |
| White chocolate 'bark' |
 |
| Sherry Cobbler in a ginormous glass |
 |
| Virgin Mai Tai |
Of course, the real reason we had bothered getting dressed up on a Sunday (let's face it, normally we'd have been playing pool at the pub) was to try The Lui Counter Meal, available between 12pm and 2pm, Tuesday to Sunday. For $39 each, you get the dish of the day plus a seasonal side and a glass of wine or beer, followed by coffee and a sweet treat. The meal we had was BBQ beef ribs with coleslaw, which sounds simple but was actually fantastic. The meat was beautifully soft; the 'coleslaw' was more like a green and red cabbage salad dressed with oil and the surprisingly delicious addition of cumin seeds; and there were also polenta cakes shaped like chips. Unfortunately, by the time we ordered and received our food, it was getting onto 2pm and I had skipped breakfast. I was so hungry, I completely forgot to take a photo! But here, I took one of my almost-empty plate. You're welcome.
One of our party has food requirements that unfortunately didn't fit the bill for the counter meal. So instead, she ordered the plate of sausage rolls and party pies:
Our 'sweet treats' with our (pretty mediocre) coffees were raspberry lamington dessert bites of smooth chocolate, berry centres and coconut.
One person opted for tea - peppermint, fennel and licorice, no less - and it came with its own sweet treats. I was amused to hear that The Lui Bar has a 'tea sommelier' (for want of a better term, as our waiter explained): a dedicated person who selects, orders and sometimes even creates specific tea blends.
As we sat and finished our meals, a jazz trio set up and began softly playing. It was so pleasant, I could have stayed all day, only I couldn't afford it!
 |
| Live jazz music on Sundays from 3pm |
Before leaving, we decided to check out the little observation deck. Naturally, it allowed for many photo ops, and is an essential part of any visit to The Lui Bar, tourists and locals alike!
Although it is somewhat 'uncouth', the bathrooms here are worth a mention. My boyfriend kindly took a photo of the three-way urinal in the men's room for me: interesting design, especially considering the blokes would be forced to face each other whilst doing their business! But hey, space-conserving, perhaps?!
I particularly liked the movement-sensing hand basin with its direct stream of water cascading over the circular base:
Much as on the way up, on the way out, a staff member has to buzz you down in the lift. My very mature friends and I decided to have a lift race.
The staff member, although amused by our silly antics, was clearly trying to be fair-minded though, and due to his button-pushing skills, we both arrived at the bottom at the same time - I think!
The Lui Bar is an absolute must for any local or visitor to Melbourne. It's certainly fancy and great for special occasions, but accessible enough that I may just have to return in the near future!
