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Drink trends

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Bar Bellamy in Carlton is thriving, to the point where its owners are ready to expand.

Flying high or calling last drinks: What’s happening with your favourite Melbourne bars?

Some old favourites are closing for good while other spots are packed. What’s going on with Melbourne’s independent bar scene? And why are more venues opening in such a tough economy?

  • Fred Siggins

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We’ve done it all in my house - smoothies, vegetarian, high protein. But I drew the line at vegan.

My house is a testing ground for trends, and a graveyard for the failures

Have you tried the sliced cucumber fad? Or used apple cider vinegar as a hair rinse? In my family, there’s no TikTok trend too fleeting to give a burl.

  • Claire Heaney

What’s the deal with oyster-shell gins?

Want to feel like a merman or mermaid? Do a “Shelly” and slurp down a martini.

  • Terry Durack
HER Rooftop’s version of the Paloma, made with blood orange.

Raise a glass to the new feel-good cocktail of summer (starring the fastest-growing spirit in Australia)

Move over, margarita. Sayonara, limoncello spritz. This season, it’s all about the citrusy, tequila-based Paloma.

  • Katie Spain
Martinis are a specialty at stalwart Melbourne bar Gin Palace.

The classic cocktail Melburnians can’t get enough of right now – and where to find the best ones

You can order them frozen, dusty and with a deli cabinet’s worth of garnishes. But don’t mess with the fundamentals, say bartenders.

  • Emma Breheny
A circular tiger print sofa bed greets you at Pour Diane in North Melbourne.

Move over minimalism, these three new bars are colourful, fun and original

One spot is a nostalgic experience for children of the ’70s. Another turns American takeaway dishes into killer bar snacks. None follows the rules.

  • Emma Breheny
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Bar Olo owner Anthony Scutella inside his new venue, which complements his restaurant Scopri.

The high-end restaurants opening more casual, more affordable, just as delicious bars next door

You don’t need to plan weeks in advance, you can name your budget, and it’s OK if you haven’t dressed up. Is there a catch to this new breed of Melbourne bar?

  • Emma Breheny
Light but tough enough to stand upright, the bagnum holds the equivalent of two bottles of wine.

Raise a glass to the bagnum, the plastic wine pouch that’s made cask wine cool again

There’s a growing thirst for wine in alternative packaging, from pouches and cans to the new-school goon bag.

  • Katie Spain
Sparkling wine with friends

The best sparkling wines for your buck (featuring Aldi’s ‘fresh and fun’ French fizz for just $9)

The expert’s guide to buying the best value pet-nat, prosecco, Aussie sparkling and French champagne for less than you may think.

  • Katie Spain
Coffee on tap at Single O cafe in Surry Hills, Sydney.

Espresso-meets-cocktail bars, high-tech tools at home: 10 coffee trends to tap into, right now

From next-level gadgetry to improve your espresso to unbridled creativity in iced drinks, here’s what’s brewing in the caffeine scene.

  • Emma Breheny

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/topic/drink-trends-6fw3