This review was originally published in December 2016 and since has been updated to reflect any changes in operation.
In an ode to the Emerald Isle and the "stately, plump Buck Mulligan" of James Joyce's Ulysses, Northcote's boutique bookshop and bar represent the glorious union of Irish whiskey and literature.
By day, Buck Mulligan's is a bookshop and café. Shelves are lined with 500 books, featuring modern and classic reads from Irish authors: Joyce, Wilde, Paul Muldoon, Edna O'Brien and Flann O'Brien, to name only a few. The library currently showcases the best of Irish fiction, plays and poetry, but will soon feature works from local writers and publishers.
At its helm, the bar stocks an extensive range of Irish whiskeys, accompanied by a selection from Scotland, America, Australia and Japan. The team hope to be able to claim the largest selection of Irish whiskies in Melbourne. Buck Mulligan's has another trick up its sleeve — Irish coffee, with iced versions available on warmer days.
The short menu draws its inspiration from traditional Irish fare and all produce is locally and ethically sourced. Pair your whiskey with quality Irish staples, including black pudding, smoked salmon, pork pies and ploughman's platters for a taste of Celtic nostalgia.