MELBOURNE | Ghost Donkey is a New York City based chain of bars that’s known for it’s range of agave spirits, and agave-based cocktails, has just opened at Crown Melbourne. Joining locations in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, and Auckland, the bar promises to deliver the same experience to Melburnians, with a local twist. I recently went in to take some photos for What’s On Melbourne.
Located on the ground floor near the main food court, with an entrance just off Southbank Boulevard, Ghost Donkey is a venue that fits in with its Crown locale. While this sort of space isn’t for everyone, it’s well suited to the location and target audience. There’s lot of comfy couches and areas well suited to groups, with fun, Mexican-inspired décor and fittings.
Agave spirits are the main reason to come to Ghost Donkey. There’s over 35 mezcals and tequilas on the menu, which are served in handmade copitas (tiny cups). There’s options at multiple price levels, ranging from familiar drops to lesser seen, rare tipples.
Cocktails lean heavily on agave spirits, and include things like a mezcal negroni and ‘mezspresso’ martini. Be sure to try the signature cocktail, El Burro. It’s a kind of Mexican twist on a Tiki cocktail, combining Ilegal mezcal joven, 1800 coconut tequila, Campari, Plantation OFTD rum, Plantation pineapple rum, passionfruit, agave syrup, pineapple juice, orange juice, and lime. It’s served in a hand-made ceramic cup, and garnished with flowers.
To eat, it’s California-Mex influenced crowd pleasers. Think hard and soft shell tacos, elotes (Mexican street corn), and an selection of nachos. It’s all acceptable stuff if you’re looking for a bit of a pre-dinner snack while enjoying a cocktail or two.
Ghost Donkey
Riverside at Crown
8 Whiteman Street
Southbank
Victoria 3006
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9292 8888
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Wed – Thu: 4:00pm to 11:00pm
Fri – Sat: 4:00pm to 1:00am
Sun: 4:00pm to 12:00am