It’s about theatre. And Der Raum does it well. Gin – there’s a selection of all the good stuff – is chilled with liquid nitrogen. It boils in a glass jug with clouds spilling down its sides and along the bar counter.
When the ice clears from the surface, it is safe to sip. And it is a good martini. A very clean martini. It’s not one that will bitch slap you in the face – although I like those. It gives a delicate caress.
Perceptions are confounded by other drinks. The medicine bottle in the paper bag is a Jamaican black strap, a twist on a 1920s original and made with Myer’s Jamaican rum, tart pomegranate, sultanas, smooth ginger beer.
Pharmacy is a tribute to Damien Hirst. In the pill bottle is pear and roasted capsicum gin. A citrus pill (lemon sherbert?) is dropped in and sweet Italian bitters injected.
With most of the cocktails are around $20 each, it’s an expensive night. But fun.
Saturday and Friday evenings are busiest and you’ll have a long wait even if you have booked a booth.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
i love the look of this place. can’t remember if i managed to check it out last time i was in melbourne but will definitely keep in mind for next time.
Hmm. That explains the hangover then. I’m coming with you next time. I’ve decided I don’t drink enough for a writer.
I’ve been once on a Monday night where it was only me, the bf and a friend plus the two guys running the bar speaking German. Felt bad for asking if they had any beers on tap – how uncouth are we? Tsk. Hehe. Nice place but we should have gone when it was busy. Heh.
This place is awesome, while it isn’t cheep it is great value for money, for $20 you get fresh ingredients and premium spirits and all their drinks take time to make. I paid $16 the other night for a mojito that was slapped out in under 20 seconds, thats what i consider expensive.
Love this place too. Awesome review Ed. Can’t wait to try their degustation sometime. Really glad I came across this blog post, as our Caroline Serviced Apartments staff night out are looking for a great bar. Definitely recommending this one in our newsletter.
Simon, you must. It’s worth the side trip to Richmond.
Nola, no that was a different hangover.
Esz, they have some great beers at Der Raum. No need to feel bad about it.
Marek, good point. Lots of places charging $$$$$$$ for colourful fruity alcohol made with little care. They are good value.
Thanks for the review, much appreciated !
Might not be cheap but after those two cocktails I was well and truly inebriated.
Loved the brown paper bag cocktail when I was there last – ironic how you pay $20 to appear like a bum.. Very impressed by the super energetic cocktail shaking too.
Brown paperback tasted yummy. Need to go back there to try the Martini. It was a good night and we should do it again!