Hightail Bar

Hightail is a sprawling casual diner with two bars and three separate kitchens – a Belle’s Hot Chicken, a Mr Burger and a Super Taco. The 950-person capacity food hall-cum-bar in the Docklands is based on Welcome to Thornbury.

Hightail occupies the ground level of a four-tower office complex at the western end of Collins Street. It’s intended as an escape: a place where people can get away from the office.

The enormous venue has been designed to channel an island oasis, with hanging plants and murals of jungle flora and fauna behind each bar. The floor and ceiling designs are inspired by topographical maps, with mountain-like light fixtures and a blue grid frame that obscures the ceiling’s exposed pipes and vents – a pattern mirrored on the floor. Mimicking a stream, blue lines on the carpet wind through the venue’s almost-separate rooms, which are divided by low walls and booths.

The bar serves easy-drinking beers poured from 64 taps, local wines by the glass, and cocktails.

The venue also uses the 100 Orders app. Download it, then order a burrito bowl or burger or beer on your phone, to be delivered straight to your table. It’s handy considering the venue is licensed for close to 1000 people. Workers can hightail it out of the office early for “Appy Hour” between 3.30pm and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.