Dexter Bar and Cafe

LOCATION
A short walk from Clifton Hill Station or the north end of Collingwood’s Smith Street.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
With comfy couches, a bar-book on serial killers and slices of retro wallpaper direct from my grandmother’s house, Dexter Bar and Cafe brings a relaxed yet refreshingly different vibe to the Clifton Hill area. Open early until late from Wednesday to Sunday, stop by Dexter for a breakfast of hearty, homemade beans on toast, a scrumptious rare beef salad with mango, carrot and red pepper for lunch, or a spicy Spanish chorizo and tomato bake for dinner. Finish or start a night at Dexter with a strong cocktail, as the mojitos, negronis and martinis are shaken and stirred to eye-poppin’ perfection and definitely not for the faint-hearted. Local and European beers and wines by the glass are also available.

Street-side tables are nicely buffered from Queens Parade traffic, while the courtyard sports modest furniture and an impressive mural. Delightful sunshine graces the front bar in the mid-morning and afternoon but for those not into the sun, wind or elements, grab a book or board game and sink into one of Dexter’s backroom armchairs to relax. The coffee is strong, the vibe is upbeat and the food is delicious!

Frank Trimboli