Belinda Linton and partner Luke Kelly spent a decade refining their approach to hospitality at some of Melbourne’s best drinking destinations. Linton at Congress and Black Pearl, Kelly at Mr West and Hot-Listed Apollo Inn. Both worked at The Everleigh for three years – Linton as venue manager and Kelly as bar manager.

They first started talking about opening a bar early in their careers. They initially thought they’d open a large venue with a thousand-bottle backbar. Experience distilled the dream into a small, local bar where every bottle has a purpose and is produced by makers who really care about the craft. That’s Pendant. A place where a a cognac-spiked Old Fashioned and an ice-cold Martini – pulled straight from the freezer – lead the six-drink cocktail list. The Martini is made with Never Never gin and dry vermouth at a very dry seven-to-one ratio, and is seasoned with the lightest touches of salt, sugar and acid to sharpen and lift the flavours.

That’s rounded out by a roster of four changing cocktails. There’s always a tall spritz, a citrus-forward number, a dark-spirited serve, and a stirred, boozy drink. There’s also a sharp selection of beers on tap – Guinness, Coopers, Stomping Ground pilsner and Fixation IPA – and a wine list that mixes familiar grapes with playful detours. Spanish alvarinho sits alongside pinot grigio, a rare kerner made by monks in the north of Italy gently nudges riesling drinkers out of their comfort zone. It’s all designed to pique curiosity without being alienating.