My Lover Cindi

When Kate Toone and Rachel Hosking talk inclusivity, you can be sure it’s not lip service. Their bar and nightclub My Lover Cindi was set up from the beginning to welcome every member of the LGBTQI+ community (and allies) safely into the venue.

The ’70s-era site, formerly the German Club on Flinders Street, is also fully accessible. Bathroom doors have been removed to accommodate those with mobility aids. A quiet side room is available for people with sensory issues or those wanting to take a break from the noise. There are no smoke machines and strobe lights either, to accommodate people with breathing problems and epilepsy. And the entrance to the venue is located on the side of the building off a sloping laneway.

The site’s original wooden panelling remains, and there are plush green velvet booths around the space. But the dance floor is the centrepiece, where resident DJs play a mix of Afrobeat, jazz fusion, contemporary R’n’B and classic pride anthems.

Accessibility also guides the drinks list, which includes a raft of alcohol-free options. But if you’re after booze, cocktails include classics such as Pina Coladas, Mojitos and Negronis, and everything is made vegan. There are also monthly cocktail specials named after influential queer people through history.

To eat, there’s a concise menu of toasties – with fillings such as pizza sauce, mozzarella and basil; or a heartier combo of burger, hash brown and mozzarella topped with a pickle – available from open until close.