What To Order at Flinders Street’s Newest – and Tallest – Rooftop Bar, According to Its Bartender

Melbourne is known for its rooftop bars with dreamy aerial views of the CBD and beyond. Even by those lofty standards, Fleet is an impressive new addition.

Open since April, Fleet sits atop Vibe Hotel Melbourne and stands 22 levels (and 68 metres) high, making it the tallest rooftop bar on bustling Flinders Street. That makes for downright panoramic sightlines across the city skyline and the Yarra River, which has proven popular any time of day – or year.

“It has an amazing view, daytime and nighttime,” says Fleet bartender Daichi Takeda. “And we can open and close the rooftop, so it’s good for all seasons.”

The 1870s-era building was previously a humble two-storey affair that housed maritime trade offices. This is reflected in Fleet’s nautical theme – especially the extensive rum and gin lists, evoking the bygone days when those spirits travelled the world by sea.

“We have over 120 rums behind the bar, from all around the world,” Takeda says, pointing to the menu’s dedicated sections of Caribbean, South American and Central American rums, among others. “And we have a selection of vintage spirits that were bought at auction, so it’s like history in a glass. Our oldest one is from the 1930s.”

That would be a bottle of Finest Old Jamaican Rum, circa 1936, which graces Fleet’s Vintage Spirits collection alongside gin from the ’30s, ’50s and ’70s, rye whiskey from 1980, and other historical standouts that can either be savoured by the glass or added to a very special cocktail. With more than 120 rums and more than 50 gins from as far afield as China, Italy and Germany, there are plenty of options.

An old-school Martini trolley has been popular since Fleet opened, allowing bartenders to build the classic cocktail on the spot and also riff on it with a house Raspberry Martini and basil-infused Thai Martini. The trolley also features three different takes on the Negroni, including one with rose-and-ginger gin and one with cocoa-and-coffee gin.

“Customers love it,” says Takeda. “A Martini may not be for everyone, but a Raspberry Martini is. We recommend it to anyone.”

Quite a different kind of Martini can be found on the bar’s signature drinks list. The Fleet Espresso is an Espresso Martini that swaps in warming spiced rum for the usual neutral vodka, plus a generous dose of salted caramel syrup. Takeda confirms it’s surprisingly smooth and sits nicely alongside the Mojito as a bridge between the warmer and cooler months. Other signature cocktails include the Alta Mar-garita, balancing jalapeno heat with mango sorbet sweetness; the Paddington, featuring Fleet Brim gin, marmalade and honeycomb; and the Azure, made with vodka, lychee and passionfruit.

That strong slate of drinks is complemented by chef Asish Kumar’s produce-forward menu of bar snacks, canapés and sharing plates. There are cheese plates and charcuterie boards, as well as fresh oysters by the half-dozen. Other highlights include seared scallops with Yarra Valley caviar and braised-pork-cheek croquettes.

“It’s perfect for date night, and the portions aren’t too big if you’ve finished dinner somewhere else and want a snack with your drinks,” Takeda says.

Of course you can easily have dinner there too, especially if you’re after a shareable rib eye. More than just a showstopping view, Fleet offers a savvy balance of vibe, dining and drinks that makes it well worth riding that lift all 22 storeys up.

This article was produced by Broadsheet in partnership with TFE Hotels.