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[title]As the stream of white-collar workers pours out of the city you’ll see many of them trail off into a well known venue on Bourke Street: the Carlton Club. For years the club has been serving dinner, drinks and fun times to the good citizens of Melbourne.
This isn’t one of the dinky, underground bars Melbourne prides itself on. The Carlton Club is a vertical party palace with three levels of action. Climb up to level one for a drink with Gerald the (stuffed) giraffe at the opulent Carlton Bar. Next door to the bar is the Dining Room where hungry bellies go to feast. On the menu are some adventurous dishes but overall the food sticks to the unpretentious pub grub is loved for – parmas, steak and burgers. Vegans and vegetarians are also looked after.
Keep climbing and you’ll arrive at the velvety wonderland that is Hasti Bala, adjoining which is the lush jungle of Palmz Deck, complete with a thatched-roof tiki bar plenty of flora. If you can manage one more set of stairs after all that you’ll emerge victorious on level three, the home to the Carlton Club’s Palmz Rooftop. Grab a cocktail and relax on Bourke Street’s little slice of tropical paradise, or boogie down with DJs five nights a week.
Dinner is available seven nights a week at the Carlton Club and there a plenty of specials. Head in on Tuesdays for a $15 pot and parma (chicken or eggplant) or Wednesdays for $25 steak and chips. Don’t mind the taxidermied animals; they’re just there for the party.
