Bouvier

Bouvier Bar occupies a single-fronted building in Brunswick, and from the outside it looks tiny. But once inside, it feels like the room doesn’t end, with a bar that runs more than 20-metres and doesn’t touch either wall.

The space is lamp-lit with a black-and-white-tiled floor and a work-in-progress fresco on the wall. There’s an event space upstairs and a full kitchen, although food is finished and served from behind the bar.

The bar’s owner is Adrian Richardson, chef-owner of Carlton North’s La Luna and star of television series Good Chef Bad Chef.

The menu is a nod to Richardson’s upbringing. He’s Italian-Australian but grew up in Malaysia, so there’s a garlic-prawn toastie as well as a roast-beef panini and house-made gnocchi. They can be eaten as bar snacks, but order a few dishes and the options can be turned into a meal.

Wines are largely, although not entirely, Australian, and much of it can be ordered by the glass, carafe or bottle. There’s also wine and beer on tap, a list of classic cocktails and a selection of whisky.