MELBOURNE | Named after the genus of flowering evergreen herbs and shrubs native to Mexico and Central America, Bouvardia sees owner Abjar Kasho (The Woods of Windsor) and venue manager Dom Garreffa (ex Attica) creating one of Melbourne’s most interesting cocktail bars.
Inspired by the forward thinking, modern cocktail bars of London, and the scientific approach to gastronomy taken by chefs like Heston Blumenthal and René Redzepi, the 10 cocktails on the menu showcase weird flavours and wonderful combinations in an approachable manner.
Cocktails like the Fuego Fatale, Major Tom, and Big Fig Energy all have their own page on the menu, with full ingredient and producer lists, alongside stats like ABV, pH, and °Bx. Ingredients might include things like lacto-fermented passionfruit, olive leaf, or wattleseed shoyu.
Sustainability is big part of things here. As much of each bit of every ingredient is used in making the cocktails, with by-products used in the canned drink options for sister bar Pomelo, upstairs. It’s all very interesting, experimental, and importantly, delicious.
If wine or beer is more your thing, there’s a sharp list of quality Aussie wines and craft beers. If you’re feeling peckish, there’s a few snacks that riff on the same sort of things as the cocktails.
To top things off, the bar also acts as an art gallery. The artwork on the walls rotates as part of different exhibitions, supporting local artists. If a piece catches your eye, you can buy it.
Bouvardia
L2, 169 Bourke Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: n/a
E-mail: [email protected]
Website
Open
Tue – Wed: 5:00pm to 12:00am
Thu – Sat: 5:00pm to 1:00am
Sun: 5:00pm to 11:00pm