Hoo Ha Bar

Depending on which way you look at it, Hoo Ha Bar might be on the wrong side of the tracks. Situated on a quiet corner behind the train tracks, it’s just far enough away from the main South Bank hub to have its own neighbourhood feel. And it’s this location, in a former workshop for railway workers, that gives the locale much of its charm.

When creating the venue, owners Mike Slatter, Anthony Lindenmayer and Declan Law dreamed of a casual place that felt like a neighborhood hangout for any time of day – so they rolled a cafe and bar into one venue. By day, the quiet cafe serves Supreme Roasters and simple cafe-style eats, as light streams in through large windows.

Come evening, things start to get rowdy as the bar gets into full swing. Food changes to tapas-style eats and punters inspect the evening’s line-up of taps, which change as soon as a keg runs out. The cocktails are seasonal, often using Australian spirits such as the Melbourne Gin Company or 666 Tasmanian vodka.

The eclectic interior is a mix of old and new furnishings to match the building’s original exposed brick and high ceilings, with plenty of nooks to settle into.