Gimlet at Cavendish House

When it comes to creating smash-hit venues, legendary chef Andrew McConnell knows what's what. He's the mind behind favourites like Cumulus Inc, Cutler & Co, Supernormal and Marion, to name a few. In July 2020, Melbourne scored another McConnell original when he opened Gimlet — a cocktail bar and restaurant in the CBD's 1920s heritage building Cavendish House.

Sydney-based architecture and design studio Acme (The Grounds Of Alexandria, Charlie Parker's and Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel) is behind the fit-out, which sees this historic building filled with black and gold marble bars, leather booths, geometric tiles and honeycomb chandeliers inspired by famed Italian architect Carlo Scarpa.

Gimlet's signature Gimlet, by Jo Mcgann

Split into four spaces — a cocktail bar, an elegant clothed-table restaurant on the upper level, a 12-person private dining area and a more casual space on the lower level — the restaurant feels like a very elegant French bistro. And the food echoes this.

The menu makes its way from oysters and caviar to winter vegetable tarts and jumbo quail with chicken liver parfait and black fig. But it's certainly not all French. The Gimlet Gilda is a mix of smoked tuna and pickled mussels and you'll even spy gelati on the dessert list. The food is "learning on Europe and America, a bit of old world mixed with new world sensibility"- and, like the space, it's also a little bit indulgent. Expect caviar, champagne and truffles aplenty.

Gimlet has even scored itself international acclaim, having taken out number 84 spot in the World's 50 Best Restaurants awards longlist for 2022 — the only Aussie to place in the lineup.

Jo McGann

Top images: Earl Carter and Sharyn Cairns 

Appears in:

The Best Restaurants in Melbourne for 2023

The Best French Restaurants in Melbourne for 2023