Fifteen Melbourne

The Look: Creating a kind of drinking antechamber, Fifteen’s inkblot shaped bar is the first thing you spot after descending the graffiti flanked stairs. A stack of brightly coloured oblongs keeps the bottles in order while, in the nearby dining area, wheatgrass grows in glass orbs suspended from the ceiling.
To Drink: Choose from a pretty extensive wine list that spans Austria to Tassie, Albariño to Zinfandel and includes Fifteen’s house vintages ($9.50 per glass).  There’s also a menu of custom cocktails numbered from One to, you guessed it, Fifteen which is a blend of grappa, espresso and vanilla liqueur ($15).
To Eat: Check the blackboard for a concise list of casual snacks including taleggio and rocket piadina ($8.50), prosciutto-wrapped grissini ($7.50) and the charcuterie plate ($19).
The Crowd: Those keen to convert reality TV viewing into real life dining. Best for: Catching a sneak preview before booking the full Fifteen experience; no bar reservations required.

By Marinella Padula

Address: Basement, 115 – 117 Collins Street, Melbourne, (Enter via Georges Parade)
Phone: 1300 799 415
Open: Monday - Saturday