Mr B’s: 396 Pitt St, Sydney NSW (02) 8080 7777 or www.mrbshotel.com.au The old Mandarin Club was a Sydney CBD institution. Founded in 1965, it was situated at the corner of Pitt and Goulburn Streets until a relocation in 2009. The place to be for the who’s who of the entertainment industry in the ’60s
Photo: Earl Carter Never having worn a dress doesn’t preclude me, a male, from knowing who Collette Dinnigan is. One of the few international stars to come out of Australia, Dinnigan’s frocks have draped from the shoulders of Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry and Naomi Watts, as well as won her acclaim and a 15-year run
Norman Hotel: 120 Ipswich Rd, Woollongabba QLD (07) 3391 5022 or www.normanhotel.com.au ‘The worst vegetarian restaurant in Brisbane’, trumpets the proud calling card of the Norman Hotel. Those looking for rabbit food, can well, just sod off — the Norman is all about meat! When the Hotel caught fire recently — right in the middle of
Laruche: 680 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley QLD (07) 3666 0880 or www.laruche.com.au It’s not often we get to use the word ‘phantasmagorical’ in venue but it could almost have been invented to describe this new venue in Fortitude Valley. Laruche is owned by Elie Moubarak (he of Lychee Bar fame) and he’s once again joined
Victorians can be sneaky — recently a bunch of them were found crossing state lines into the heart of the NSW big smoke, finding an abandoned warehouse no one would ordinarily look twice at, then smuggling in and plying innocent Sydneysiders with their bootleg alcohol. All because of that old ‘pro’ word… ‘pro’motion. Tourism Victoria
Adelaide Casino North Terrace, Adelaide SA (08) 8212 2811 or www.adelaidecasino.com.au The Adelaide Casino was wasting good gaming space on an entrance corridor when it could have been packed full of punters trying their luck at roulette and blackjack. This epiphany set off a $5m revamp of said entrance, Marble Hall, and the addition of
Martin Place Bar: (02) 9231 5575 or www.martinplacebar.com.au The Martin Place Bar has revealed a hidden gem: its ‘Luxe Spirits’ Private Back Bar. Designed by SJB Interiors, the Private Back Bar provides a separate area for pre-dinner drinks, bar dining, event location, private dining room and lounging. Martin Place Bar owner Peter Wynne commented: “While it’s
The Edge: 1/6 – 8 Eastern Beach Road, Geelong, VIC (03) 5222 2666 or www.edgegeelong.com.au Geelong football star, Cameron Ling, is getting in on the footballer-turned-bistro-owner act while he can. But instead of a pokie-laden footy club featuring the same tribute band every Wednesday night, Ling and partners got onside with Geyer to put together
Portal Hotel: 52 Astor Terrace, Spring Hill QLD (07) 3009 3400 or www.portalhotel.com.au Portal Hotel is a boutique hotel close enough to and far enough away from Fortitude Valley to be both a springboard to and a refuge from the wealth of nightlife. And if the Valley sounds a bit too much like youthful excitement
Must Margaret River: 107 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River WA (08) 9758 8877 or mustmr@must.com.au Having reached the upper limits of what could be achieved with Must Wine Bar in Perth, owners Garry Gosatti and Russell Blaikie went down river in search of a second venue. Their search landed them in Margaret River. Being a wine