Collins Quarter

Behind an anonymous Collins Street doorway, it's party central for Melbourne office workers. Vernon Chalker, who applied his Midas touch to the city's bar scene (think Gin Palace, Bar Ampere, Madame Brussels), extends his realm to Collins Quarter, a combination of low-key bistro, courtyard bar and swanky champagne and cigar lounge. On a warm night, with the glass doors flung wide and crowd noise swelling in the courtyard beneath the magnolia tree, it's hard not to feel a smidgeon smug about having found the place. The menu, organised under headings Finger, Fork, Knife and Spoon, offers good-time food, no analysis required. You could order cocktails and snack happily on croquettes with gooey gruyere and jamon centres, or prawns in potato string vests with pungent anchovy mayo. Or settle into a booth and chow on steak with bearnaise sauce or chicken schnitzel lifted by rosemary and parmesan crumbs. Staff won't bat an eyelid if you adjourn upstairs to the decadent Ra Bar for faithful desserts like creme brulee and chocolate fondant.