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CLICK HERE: Impeccable dining venues for small and medium groups: Part one
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Songbird Bar (Perth – pictured, above)
Perched atop The Ritz-Carlton, Perth, Songbird Bar is a captivating venue that harmonises contemporary design with the breathtaking beauty of Western Australia’s landscape.
Offering a stunning rooftop experience, this space transitions between elegant indoor comfort and vibrant outdoor charm, complete with a crackling firepit to warm cooler evenings.
Tailored for intimate gatherings and cocktail soirees, Songbird Bar invites you to indulge in its grazing menu.
Seasonal ingredients from the sea and land take centre stage, with barbecued meats, fresh seafood and vibrant local produce paired with craft beer, Western Australian wines and cocktails inspired by native botanicals.
Set against the backdrop of Perth’s famous sunsets and sweeping views of Swan River, Songbird Bar promises a dining experience as unforgettable as its location.
Mr Tompkins (Melbourne)
Located at basement level in Flinders Street’s Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne, Mr Tompkins is a welcome addition to the city’s underground dining scene, with a menu that pays homage to the building’s historic roots and contemporary design.
Named after architect Harry Tompkins, who designed the building back in 1913, the intimate 60-seat restaurant offers old-world classics with a modern twist thanks to head chef Eric Kwek.
Joining Mr Tomkins is the hotel’s lobby bar, Ms Ava, named after actress Ava Gardner, who stayed and played at the hotel while filming On the Beach in 1959.
Embodying her grace, beauty and charm, Ms Ava is a versatile venue serving an elevated bistro-style menu and signature cocktails.
Guests can spill out into the hotel’s grand vestibule or sit around the bar while networking with colleagues.
rendezvousmelbourne.com.au/mr-tompkins
Lobby Bar (Brisbane)
Whether it’s an espresso in the morning, or a spritz in the afternoon, The Calile Hotel’s Lobby Bar is an I’ll-meet-you-there destination.
Situated next to The Calile’s foyer and front desk, Lobby Bar is a modern light-filled space seating up to 78 diners, with an elegant pink-marble bar and menu of seasonal, fresh dishes using ingredients from regional growers and The Calile’s rooftop garden.
Concurrent with The Calile’s luxe aesthetic, Lobby Bar is the perfect space in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley to conduct casual business, meet clients or recoup after the day’s activities with a beautiful cocktail or wine.
Grain of the Silos (Launceston)
Inspired by local, seasonal epicurean treasures from the region, Grain of the Silos, at Peppers Silo Launceston hotel, in Tasmania, has refined the art of paddock-to-plate fare.
At the restaurant, beef and lamb from a farm “up the road” is served alongside the best and freshest seafood sourced from Tassie’s coastal waters.
For food director Massimo Mele and executive chef Thomas Pirker, their focus is on allowing exceptional produce to shine, resulting in a menu of simple, wholesome dishes ignited by the flavours of Tasmanian ingredients.
Lagoon House (Port Douglas)
Located poolside at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas, Lagoon House is a culinary destination that epitomises relaxed luxury dining.
Since opening in March 2023, the restaurant has earned its place among Australia’s finest – recently being awarded bronze for Best Hotel/Resort Restaurant at the 2024 National Hostplus Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence.
Under the guidance of culinary consultant Spencer Patrick and executive chef Belinda Tuckwell, Lagoon House showcases a bold pan-Asian-inspired menu infused with the vibrant flavours of Tropical North Queensland.
With a focus on sustainability, the restaurant incorporates local ingredients, including Daintree barramundi and fresh produce from the resort’s gardens.
From the open kitchen to its signature long-table experience, Lagoon House invites guests to connect, share and savour every moment.
Just steps from Four Mile Beach, this award-winning dining spot is a must-visit for people seeking inventive cuisine and exceptional ambiance in paradise.
OUZO (Sydney)
David Cooper and Brett Ayton, the duo behind Tommy’s Mexican, introduced their fresh dining concept, OUZO, to Darlinghurst, in inner Sydney, in October 2024.
Inspired by their Mediterranean food tour, OUZO blends the rich culinary traditions of Greece, France, Spain, Turkey and Italy into a vibrant dining experience.
At the helm is chef Ignacio Morales, who crafts a menu of modern, rustic dishes with an emphasis on charcoal-grilled, smoky flavours. Seasonal ingredients and bold techniques capture the relaxed spirit of coastal dining.
The two-level venue offers distinct experiences: a casual downstairs bar with Mediterranean-inspired drinks, small bites and reimagined classic cocktails, and an upstairs 100-seat restaurant featuring an open kitchen with a charcoal grill as its centrepiece.
Suitable for quick bites, pre-dinner drinks, or a leisurely meal for small and large groups, OUZO delivers the essence of the Mediterranean coastline.
Li’l Darlin (Sydney)
Li’l Darlin has opened a second venue in Crows Nest, which is a casual cocktail and dining venue bringing all the fun of bottomless brunches, $6 Taco Tuesdays and Instagrammable cocktails to Sydney’s north.
Li’l Darlin Crows Nest follows its original venue, Li’l Darlin in Surry Hills, which has served the community for more than a decade.
With a larger venue and modern fit-out, but the same cosy, intimate and fun atmosphere that defines the restaurant’s popularity in Surry Hills, Li’l Darlin Crows Nest is the new neighbourhood knock-off drinks venue, just a five-minute walk from the new Crows Nest Metro station.
To eat, Li’l Darlin offers tapas that is perfect for sharing; light snacks; pizzas such as truffle, four-cheese and sizzling prawn; salads; and larger share plates, including nachos and charcuterie boards.
To drink, the fun cocktail list includes Fairy Floss Martini, Gin There Done That, Better the Devil You Know and It Takes 2 to Mango.
Group cocktail classes are also offered for birthday celebrations, business events or any gathering seeking good times.
CLICK HERE: Impeccable dining venues for small and medium groups: Part one
