Le Bar at Bistro Guillaume

PROFILED BY DEGROOTS MEDIA

Bistro Guillaume has been wowing Melbourne diners since its opening. Located on the river level at Crown, the restaurant is elegant, flooded with light and seemingly open at all hours. But downstairs there’s a different story. Le Bar, Bistro Guillaume’s sophisticated sibling with a penchant for booze, is tucked away on the basement level, where the mood is decadent and decidedly sexy. Dark hues and white accents with hints of soft colour and textured fabrics create a sleek and luxurious environment to allow a few hours to slip by over a glass of Le Bar’s finest cognac.

The menu at Le Bar is short and sweet, sticking to bar snacks or tapas as they are invariably called. Guillaume Brahimi's influence can be seen in the selection of tastes on offer; think terrine, steak tartare, smoked salmon on toasted brioche and oysters. The oysters are amazingly good, very fresh and very large though the delicate crab sandwiches with coriander mayonnaise served as a pleasant distraction. There are eight small dishes in total on the menu and you can order between four to all eight of them in a combination of your choice, making them perfect for sharing. While the bar menu is concise, the drinks list is vast, as befits such a stylish drinking destination.

Rita Erlich