Seamstress

Seamstress claim to make Melbourne's greatest Martini. And while we can't say we’ve taken up the challenge to dispute the enormous call, we can tell you their version is pretty effing good. It's freezing cold, with that sump-oily tang you get with icy cold gin and with a really subtle fizz of a tiny amount of mineral water. You may, at this point, scream blasphemy, but try it first - it really works. Go for olives over a twist and they'll come sitting on a little bed of ice in a beautiful Chinese teacup. It's the small things at this colourful Melbourne stalwart that keep us interested. You will never see as many cheongsams and pairs of tiny silk pants hanging off the walls as you will at Seamstress - the dark upstairs bar with some of the most perilous steps in town. Every step has the potential for a broken ankle, so really, by the time you're at the top you'll want that dirty Martini. Bright, luscious silks hang off old coathangers, while the solid wooden bar has sturdy wooden bar stools, and some of the most attentive bartenders you'll come across. Seamstress remains cool eight years down the track and we’re damned if we’re not going back for another Martini.