Why you goAny ‘best of’ list or respectable restaurant guide will tell you that Bentley is one of Australia’s most impressive restaurants, full stop. What they may not point out is that the bar is a reason to visit in its own right, with a distinct set of pleasures. Beyond the heavy brass doors, the bustle of city life melts away in this handsome, low-lit enclave of high and low tables, leather banquettes and stools flanking the bar, all of which offer views of the kitchen. Sure, you could just pop in for a quick pale ale or a glass of Dom Pérignon, but you’ll want to kick up your heels and empty your pockets because the synergy of inventive cooking and world-class drinks is electric.
Why you stayA chance to enjoy the fruits of a fine-diner in a way that’s both flexible and approachable without committing to booking fees, tasting menus and all the other bells and whistles is a rare thing – and it’s exactly what makes the bar at Bentley such a draw. A pit-stop here is never anything short of a grown-up experience, with a level of class and sophistication you don’t come across every day. The interiors, designed by Melbourne starchitect Pascale Gomes-McNabb, are a study in refined eclecticism, combining brass, glass and herringbone parquetry with sculptural scaffold-like beams and strokes of black paint across the ceiling. Throw in glassware and crockery almost too pretty to touch, and service that always seems to be a step ahead, and it becomes quite the package deal.
