Bar Americano is a quintessentially Melbourne laneway bar, and another impeccable offering from Matt Bax, the maverick behind Bar Economico, Bar Exuberante and the now-closed Der Raum.

Tucked at the end of Presgrave Place, the pint-sized World Class venue is standing-room only. The focus is on perfectly balanced cocktails taken from Robert Vermeire's iconic 1922 tome Cocktails and How to Mix Them, with the menu changing seasonally.

Taking its cues from Italian aperitivo culture, Bar Americano brings with it a serious approach to cocktail drinking. Office workers lean against the bar, loosening their ties, while cocktail aficionados quiz the staff about the finer details of their concoctions.

For our money, we’ll take an Americano to start and progress to a Chicago Fizz.