Every suburb needs a little guy – a tiny bar wodged in on the main street between a Student Flights and a pasta joint, one that serves the drinks you wish you could have at home, in surrounds just as comfortable.
Feeling like some quiet time? Head upstairs and stretch out on one of the lounges like a territorial house cat with a generous pour of the easy-drinking pinot noir from Delatite that will soothe and revive you. Brought your tribe with you? Lay claim to the back room packed with foot stools and vintage chairs and then, like all good house parties, weave through the crowd to get back to the bar for another round of ten-buck pints of the Hangman pale ale from the Rocks Brewing Co.
There’s three taps, but for a compact operation they have an excellent collection of craft beers in the bottle that preferences Victorian brews. You can drop your dinner money on a bottle of the Imperial milk stout from Brewcult (500ml, $17), but a Dad and Dave pale ale is just as fun at half the price.
Prepare for some sideways shimmying in this long skinny terrace, especially if you get there later on: every stool lining the bar will be occupied and you’ll have to slip along behind them – but that’s the price you pay for turning up late to a hugely popular neighbourhood haunt. And if you want any chance at the seats along the street-front window prepare to clock off early, or possess a uni timetable that ensures you’re done and dusted before The Bold and the Beautiful starts.
Monday nights they host haphazard trivia, but we like to save our visits for a Wednesday when there’s a half-price whisky of the day. These guys know how to make friends. Super-friendly staff and free snacks don’t hurt, either, and the smell of melted butter from the popcorn machine has been known to lure punters in off the street. Need something more than spiced salt popcorn? They do snack boards assembled from your choice of cheeses, dips, and cured meats, plus on every day except Monday the pasta place next door delivers to the bar. Community ties for the win.
He’s not the biggest, or the fanciest bar in town, but you shouldn’t underestimate the Little Guy. He’s got the power of good drinks, salty snacks and great chat on his side – and that’s a force to be reckoned with.