ROYAL SAXON

545 Church St, Richmond VIC 3121

Ph (03) 9429 5277

So we all know the Royal Saxon is the place for the cool kids (ie AFL players) to be seen right now. I’ve driven past that place at 6:30 on a Saturday night and seen a line of ‘beautiful’ people going down the street. WTF? Call me old fashioned, but one of the reasons I like pubs so much is because you can sit down, relax, and have a few quiet (or rowdy, it’s up to you) bevvies. And not have to get dressed up in your best frock and stand around in heels getting sore feet.



Anyhoo, I digress. When a girlfriend organised a dinner there on a freezing cold Tuesday night I thought it would be the best time to suss the place out, as it wouldn’t be overly crowded and full of pretentious tourists, and therefore piss me off. One thing I will never do is line up to get into a pub – what a completely absurd concept!


So yes it is a very nice space, lots of outdoor areas. Good service and good food. Lots of plates designed for sharing which I always like. We had a few different pizzas (mushroom and a spinachy-ricotta looking one), tuna carpaccio, olives, bread and some salads. They were all great. And reasonably priced. I’d definitely recommend eating there during the week. I’ll have to post an update if I ever go there for a summer Sunday sesh or similar when I can see this establishment at its peak.

THE CORNER HOTEL

57 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121

Ph (03) 9427 9198

The Corner Hotel is a Melbourne institution. So many great bands have graced its band room, I love this place. The downstairs bar is a little on the dingy side, however the rooftop as huge, and is a great place to hang for a sneaky beer before a footy game or a show. Wintertime is still game on for the rooftop as they have a pretty good amount of cover and lots of heaters.

Food-wise, the Corner offers standard pub grub (but with some good vego options), they have a $14 pot and parma deal on Wednesday nights and other specials during the week. The menu is a little heavy on the deep fried food. It’s more a place you come to drink and see bands rather than sit down and have a nice meal.

The Corner always draws a really eclectic crowd as you get punters, locals and a few footy heads (who aren’t feral enough for the Precinct or The Swan) which I like. The staff are usually friendly, the rooftop does get pretty busy on Friday and Saturday nights, and they always have a great line up of bands playing. Get on the mailing list if you’re not already!!

DER RAUM

438 Church St, Richmond

Der Raum is a truly amazing bar. Located near the intersection of Church & Swan Sts in Richmond, the unassuming entrance bears little indication to the treasures that lie within. Der Raum is well known in foodie and industry circles (has featured in Gourmet Traveller magazine and also wins numerous bar awards) yet still manages to attract an eclectic and unpretentious crowd. And the cocktails, oh the cocktails. These guys really have a passion for making original cocktails and using only the best ingredients. It’s enough to make this little boozehag’s heart melt.

So while cocktails are priced between around $15 and $25 (unless you go for some of the more expensive liquors) - yes $20 is a lot to pay for a drink – however most bars charge around the $15-$20 mark for cocktails, Der Raum sets the bar quite high and other Melbourne bars pale in comparison. I mean what would you rather have: a badly-made, unoriginal cocktail with cheap spirits or a creative, innovative drink? The bartenders make cocktail-making into an art form - and I’m not talking Bryan Brown Cocktail-style with lame bottle spinning moves. I’m talking dry ice machines, weird sugar bong things and cool themes, like the pharmacy cocktail which consists of a ‘medicine’ jar, syringe and pill. It does take a while to get served, but this is to be expected in a place like this and a certain camaraderie exists at the bar as customers chat to each other and check out (and sometimes sample) their fellow patron’s drinks.

As well as some old favourites like the martini, caipirinha and mojito, Der Raum also serves new and original creations, along with old style drinks like the 1864 Manhattan. Der Raum also runs cocktail making workshops and information evenings on weeknights which I always mean to go to but haven’t quite made it yet. One day I will though. The original menu and the information nights reflect the owners’ passion for their work. They must be very happy indeed, because they seem to be doing what they love.

Der Raum is not a place to go for a quiet afternoon beer, nor a place to spend an entire evening (unless you’re well cashed up). I usually go for a special occasion or a nightcap after seeing a gig at the Corner. Definitely worth checking out.