You'll find this marbled-and-mirrored drinking den filling the old Burlesque Bar site on Johnston Street. Venetian masks hang from silver chains, ornate mirrors reflect the glow of the chandeliers and mannequin legs dance over the doorway. The old cabaret stage has been ripped up: it's now a deep-seated booth that sees a lot of date action going down.
On tap, Stone and Wood’s breezy Pacific Ale and a malty Monster Mash red ale from Ballarat offer a pleasant alternative to the usual standbys. Vice backs it up with bottled gold too: an Acrobrau German wheat beer is one tall citrusy reason to sit in the courtyard out back all day.
They’re working with straightforward drinks and good ice and rely on the premise that Cognac is to be trusted. You can do a triple-nip flight of the French liquor for $20, and a house Mojito features mint, lime and a generous slug of Martell Cognac. It’s a surprisingly smooth update to the rum classic.
As part of Vice’s mission to promote good-times drinking, every refreshment comes with a free snack such as a warm bowl of fat, sweet scrolls of squid swimming in American-style hot sauce. The menu also offers substantial eats such as wedges of tortilla or confit lamb belly bedded in a cauliflower puree that is equal parts vegetable, butter and cumin salt.