Madame Brussels, Melbourne CBD
I love Melbourne city. No matter where I turn, there is always another nook and cranny to discover. It is so different compared to Sydney CBD which is usually dead on the weekend because it is more sparse with hot spots scattered all around the suburbs and not easy to get to without a car. On the other hand, Melbourne city is more centered and well connected with tram system, it is absolutely buzzing on the weekend with everyone out shopping, dining, hanging out at cafes, hit the Crown casino or even just hang out at Federation Square; the streets never seems to be empty of pedestrians and trams are frequently roaming through the city.
There are two things you must do while in Melbourne – 1. Check out the cafes hidden in laneways, Degraves Street for instance; 2. Check out the rooftop bars hidden in city buildings.
Have to admit this is also my first time to check out one of the more well known rooftop bars in Melbourne, the Madame Brussels on Bourke Street. Unless you know where you are going, you can easily walk straight pass the entrance and not even knowing there is actually a rooftop bar hidden in this unattractive city building. Led by Melbourne food blogger, Michele (Iron Chef Shellie), Helen (Grab Your Fork) and I follow her through the side entrance next to a restaurant into the building. I don’t trust old elevator and decided to take the stairs, which is just as eerie with tungsten lights flickering and vacant office spaces, no sound except our foot steps until we reach the top.
We step through the doorway into the bright sunny rooftop, the noise level instantly raised a few bars higher. We find ourselves surrounded by happy goers, soaking in the warmth of the sun with some holding colorful parasols, sipping on cocktails and having a great time. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day in Melbourne today to catch up with Michele and also Adrian (Food Rehab) who comes and joins us later on.
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I first heard about this little eccentric quirky rooftop bar when it was featured on Getaway TV Show a few years back. The only way I can describe Madame Brussels is like stepping into the the fantasy land crossed between Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz.
The indoor parlour is covered in lush AstroTurf with ornamented outdoor (or is that indoor?) furniture throughout. Care to take a stroll down the bricks-paved memory lane inside the parlour which leads you to a pink bar at the back where different cocktails are served, cupcakes inside a glass cake stand are shouting “EAT ME“. Would you succumb to temptation and instant grow larger in just one bite?
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Too good of a weather to sit inside and we manage to secure a table on the sundeck outside the rooftop. The menu comes with an extensive list of cocktails and a selection of small bites (think cupcakes, club sandwich and the sorts) for those who are feeling peckish. A reference to a tennis match (or ping pong if you like), the cocktails are available in jugs for two (singles), or four (doubles). It is never too early to chase after some green fairies, absinthe is also available and served with a marvel of art deco tap fountain.
We are of course playing doubles today, and opt for the refreshing Warsaw Mule, a minty cool cocktail of vodka and gingle ale. At $50 for a jug, it is not cheap but we sure having a good match between two Sydney food bloggers and Melbourne food bloggers with interesting conversation and much laughter to be had. I called it a draw. But it is the “ball boys” that get more attentions at Madame Brussels.
Baby pink polo shirt with knitted vest, and flamboyant waiter in terry towelling shorts that gets way too much attention than the Melbourne cityscape, the whole preppy outfits speak for themselves don’t you think?
As we are about to leave the bar, another patron comes with a pooch on leash, only then I noticed a dog bowl with water is inside the parlour on the astroturf, just like anyone’s garden really. A dog, inside a city building, in a bar, on the roof top?! I suddenly feel like I am in Paris where dogs are allowed in shopping malls and restaurants. That will never happen in Sydney.
Miss Pearls (the owner of Madame Brussels) introduces herself to us as “Madame”. You can tell everyone adores Ms Pearls and many have become friends. She loves to entertain and always ready to chat to everyone who walks through the door and make themselves at home. What not to love?
Madame Brussels Level 3, 59-63 Bourke St, Melbourne, Victoria Tel: +61 (03) 9662 2775 Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday 12pm-11pm Thursday to Saturday 12pm-1am
A Table For Two (ATFT) is Billy Law's food blog that features best eats in Sydney and around the world with drool-worthy food photography to salivate your appetite. I also throw in a smidgen of my food and travel photography for good measure. Billy Law also happened to be a contestant on MasterChef Australia 2011. 
Ahh I agree – Sydney needs more rooftop bars. And keep your eyes on your drink Billy. Your drink! lol
.-= Helen (grabyourfork)´s last blog ..Interview: Ten Questions with Curtis Stone =-.
sounds great. will be putting on my list to visit when i check out melbourne soon.
.-= Simon Food Favourites´s last blog ..Efendy: Breakfast & ‘Streets of Istanbul’ Food Bloggers Event, Balmain (6 Mar 2010) =-.
Eye candy everywhere. The pooch has a better life than me.
.-= The Little Teochew´s last blog ..Southbridge Jazz @ 7atenine =-.
Very quirky and cool. I love the astro turf.
.-= Mark @ Cafe Campana´s last blog ..BBQ Favourites – Kartoffelsalat =-.
Love this post! I have to catch up on all your other ones too when I get time!
FANTASTIC photos =) I can’t wait to go back with my camera. Had such a good time with you guys on such a lovely day!
Shellie
x
.-= Iron Chef Shellie´s last blog ..Week 18 – The Cookbook Challenge: Chicken Burgers with Lemongrass and Lime =-.
Glad that we have something that Sydney does not have too many! It is a rather quirky place and I love the fact that it is right in the middle of the city!
.-= penny aka jeroxie´s last blog ..Portello Rosso presents Iberian Nights =-.
Until 20 years ago melbourne’s center was as dead as sydneys is today, but they changed the shop hours and made an effort to make it better to be there on the weekends and it worked, I think no one in Sydney is interested in making the city center alive on the weekends.
.-= yewenyi´s last blog ..The third visit to the nunnery =-.
Looks like a fun place to hang out. Those pink shorts are pretty distracting though. How are you meant to have a conversation with that parading around?
.-= john@heneedsfood´s last blog ..Ichi-ban Boshi, Bondi Junction =-.
Such a nice place! I’m enjoying Melb so much right now. Don’t want to leave… there are just so much places to explore!!
hmmm… pink short flashbacks happening right now. I blame you! haha
Nice moment shot of the little doggie. Being the first time at MB, I would def come back. Totally dug the rooftop views. Real good catching up, see you guys soon. Have you hinted a ‘next year’s sponsorship’?
.-= Adrian @ Food Rehab´s last blog ..Matt Preston, Nobu Matsuhisa & more at the Stars of America 2010 Cocktail Launch =-.
Totally agree Sydney needs more of this stuff in the actual CBD. To get anywhere near these type of bars you have to goto Surry or Newtown and they are not easy to get to like you said!
.-= Howard´s last blog ..Hotpot and a farewell to Teresa =-.
Nice one Billy!
Yeah I agree, bars in Sydney are nice, but I find them to be more of ‘corporately nice’
.-= Yas @ hungry.digital.elf´s last blog ..Tofu madness in my own macrobiotic way. =-.
Parasols and short toiiight shorts, not sure you’d see them in Sydney. Actually maybe the shorts at Pool Bar at Ivy….but I love the relaxed Melbourne-y vibe to this place…especially the parasols!!
.-= JT´s last blog ..It’s time – Bourke Street Bakery Flourless Chocolate Cake =-.
Such a cool place, filled with cool people (including you and Helen!). And I love the font they used in their Mme Brussels sign
.-= Belle@OohLook´s last blog ..This sauce rocks my boat – caramelised balsamic =-.
Sounds fantastic! I love the shot of the parasols.
I love Melbourne for the same reasons you’ve mentioned there. The chillax scene is definately there; we need more places like this here in Sydney!
.-= Phuoc’n Delicious´s last blog ..Reminiscing: Nussschnecken in Heidelberg (Germany) =-.
Fantastic photos as always. Love the parasols, but not sure about the pink terry towel shorts
.-= foodwink´s last blog ..The Zumbo Jab =-.
I’m not sure how they got these photos? Theres a picture of me and my family and thats my dog ! haha