Word of mouth
Coffee pit stop INDUSTRY BEANS
345 Little Collins Street industrybeans.com
This minimalist café looks like a Scandinavian science lab and boasts its own roasts alongside a rotating roster of single-origin beans. Take it espresso, batch or cold-brewed – or double down with a Bubble Cup containing coffee-soaked tapioca pearls and condensed soy milk.
Breakfast meeting LIMINAL
161 Collins Street liminalmelbourne.com
The follow-up act for the Higher Ground and Top Paddock crew, Liminal combines a café, food store and wine shop inside an iconic Art Deco office block in Melbourne’s business heartland. Excellent brews by Square One Coffee Roasters back a confident menu that swings from boudin blanc with fried egg for breakfast to a superb ma po tofu roll for lunch. With a private dining room that seats 14, it ticks all the boxes for the corporate traveller.
Dining alone SUPERNORMAL
180 Flinders Lane supernormal.net.au
Counter seats overlooking the kitchen’s frenetic activity are prime real estate at this always bustling pan-Asian restaurant. Bask in the attention of a crack team of bartenders as you tuck into slippery dumplings, fiery white-cut chicken or the famous lobster roll. Staff will steer solo diners to half-portions – all the better to sample widely across the award-winning menu.
Business dining DI STASIO CITTÀ
45 Spring Street distasio.com.au
Newly opened at the top end of town, this outpost of the St Kilda stalwart has already cemented its reputation as the hangout of the city’s movers and shakers. Produce-driven Italian classicism rules a lengthy menu featuring anchovies and sage leaves in a lacy batter, seafood pasta evoking the sunshine of the Amalfi Coast and perfect suckling pig. A battalion of white-jacketed waiters and an entrancing fit-out that includes
video installations make this the new home of la dolce vita. The white marble bar is the ideal spot to celebrate aperitivo hour.
Drinks with clients
LUI BAR
Level 55, Rialto, 525 Collins Street luibar.com.au
It’s not hard to feel like a master of the universe when raising a glass on the 55th floor of the Rialto building, with 360-degree views of the city laid out in all their twinkly glory. The sibling of fine-diner Vue de Monde, Lui Bar is a destination in itself, thanks to cocktails laced with Australian botanicals and food that raises the bar-snack ante.
AVERAGE PRICE OF A CUP OF COFFEE $4 for a flat white