GO BIG OR GO HOME

Laid-back summer parties might be best enjoyed at home, but these maximalist, non-conforming bars call for sun-soaked afternoons with a flair of New Year celebration – fringing, ruffles and gimmicks included.

DANDY’S ROOFTOP BAR, BRISBANE

If this is the summer of kitsch, Dandy’s is where you need to be. Hyper-hued and ultra-saturated, this rooftop Brisbane bar knows how to do colour. The artificial turf might be kind of corny, but it will keep your spilled drink a secret once the sun goes down.

THE IMPERIAL HOTEL, SYDNEY

If walls could talk, they’d have a lot to say at local institution and newly reopened Imperial in Erskineville. With interiors that are a design antidote to anything pared back, and just like a Calvin Klein fringe dress, this is a space to be seen and heard.

BOUZY BAR À VIN, MELBOURNE

If the oh-so grey velvet bar stools with added tassels don’t do it for you, then what hope does subtle maximalism have in Melbourne? Serving classic French fare in a refined yet OTT setting, this is one bougie bar that ticks all the boxes.