First Look: Fitzroy Bar Hands Down Has Serious Cocktail Cred Behind It

Lately, Melbourne’s new bars have been taking cues from the relaxed, easy nature of pubs. Pendant Public Bar , with its laid-back feel, opened in Fitzroy in May. And St Kilda wine bar The Walrus launched a Hot Listed “ St Kilda-themed pub ” last month. And now Hands Down, a bar built for easy and social drinking, has opened on Greeves Street. “We’re trying to be that space you can use like you would the pub, where you can rock up [whether] there are two or 10 of you,” says co-owner Dominic Xavier.

Xavier, who managed Bar Liberty for six years, had been quietly toying with the idea of opening a relaxed local for years. He pictured something that felt right for quick pre-dinner drinks and unplanned birthday celebrations, with refined cocktails. It started to take shape when Above Board owners Hayden Lambert and Manu Potoi (who also owns Bar Liberty) asked him to collaborate. The three brought in Pearl Diver co-owner Alex Boon to run the bar, and Hands Down was born.

The food and drink offering is a nod to “the style of European drinking that’s very social and convivial” says Xavier. Snacks are kept to a minimum with just two options: Gildas and chips tossed in a mix of Guindilla peppers and paprika – leaving almost all deliberation to what to drink.

There are 12 vermouth- and sherry-focused cocktails with a continental European influence, particularly from the coastal regions of France and Spain, plus two non-alcoholic options.

The cocktail menu is intentionally divided into light spritzes, moreish fruity drinks, saltier options and slushies. “We’re trying to go back to drinks being really delicious and tasty first, rather than being too contrived and difficult to read,” Xavier says. “I find these days, you can read six different ingredients in the drink, but you don’t really know what it’s gonna taste like.”

Drinks include a banana and pineapple cobbler made with Madeira, and a Swizzle starring the anise-flavoured pastis and two locally produced spirits: a blackberry liqueur from Marionette and artichoke amaro from Embla chef Dave Verheul’s brand Saison.

Finding the right ambient sound was a top priority for the team. Xavier wanted to veer away from the “sleepy or romantic” tone of a wine bar and enlisted the help of his brother Carlo Xavier, who owns Coburg audio store Hot Gold Hi Fi , to finetune a soundscape that feels cosy yet energetic.

This drove major reno decisions at the former Bad Frankie site: the original brass bar with timber panelling was left untouched because of timber’s sound-resonating properties, and a high ceiling was dropped for soundproofing purposes.

Outside the bar, there’s a 40-seater parklet that runs down Greeves Street. During summer, it’s the perfect spot to sip on a boozy slushie. You can choose between a herbal chartreuse-spiked lemon granita, and a rich coconut-coffee number made with green walnut liqueur.

Hands Down
139-141 Greeves Street, Fitzroy
03 9419 3827

Hours:
Tue to Thu 4pm–11pm
Fri to Sat 4pm–midnight

handsdownmelbourne.com
@handsdownmelbourne