Stenciled in a curly scrawl on the walls and menus is the motto of 64th and Social, “dedicated to eating, drinking and less serious matters”. What more could you possibly ask from a bar?

The Venue
If 64th and Social was a jewel it would be a black pearl, if it was a drink, it would be a martini. This bar is sleek and sexy and oozes effortless style. The bar brings all that is good about the West End to the south of the river, leaving behind the attitude and high drink prices. With a 2am license, this late night gem is perfect for cocktails after dark, when long lunches spill into the evening. Heavy wooden benches out the front provide a prime position for people watching, while the leather booths inside create intimate candlelit niches. The floor-to-ceiling glass doors at the entrance are thrown open in summer to let in the balmy breeze, and are closed when it’s cold so you can watch the rain over your glass of red in ambient comfort.

The Atmosphere
Step off the main street and you feel as if you’ve stepped into a New York establishment. Couples nuzzle in the dim privacy of the high-backed booths to your right, and groups of friends propped on bar stools laugh over exotic cocktails at the towering bar to your left. 64th and Social is sumptuous and comfortable, and you’d be forgiven for not noticing the black motif wallpaper and low-slung lights swinging gently from the ceiling, because it’s easy to forget that you’re not in the privacy of your own home. The staff are extremely warm and welcoming without being overly attentive. During the week, the music is a mish-mash of styles, you’ll hear Jack Johnson one night and jazz the next. On Fridays and Saturdays the DJ turns up the energy with sets of soulful house music, to get you on the dance floor.

The Food
When you come to 64th and Social make sure you bring your appetite. All dishes are seasonal and prepared in-house using only the finest ingredients, sourced locally. The menu is a mouth-watering combination of French and Asian fusion cooking that steers well clear of the cliched food of so many other bars and pubs in the area. Dishes such as the cured duck salad with pomegranate and blackberry are deliciously light and flavoursome, while the roasted pork belly with Asian pear slaw and soy maple glaze is so innovative that it’s earned the chef an entry into the Hardy’s Wine Chef of the Year competition. Dessert is an almost religious experience in itself. There is only one choice on the menu, but with your first mouthful, you’ll understand why it needs no support! The food prices are extremely reasonable, considering the top-notch quality of the food.

The Drink
The bar menu is executed with the same attention and devotion to flavour as the lunch and dinner menu. If you’re too thirsty to read the extensive cocktail menu why not start with the bar’s signature mojito, whose perfect combination of rum, mint and sugar would put any Cuban to shame. There is something to satisfy every taste, and drinks such as the Bahama Mama spice up the menu alongside old-time crowd pleasers such as the bellini and brambull. The wine list is short and sweet. The bespoke red, white and rose blends are provided by Melbourne Lounge, and are well priced.

The Last Word
64th and Social delivers exactly what it promises, without trying to hard – an enjoyable eating and drinking experience in an explosion of flavours. The bar is slick with a good-time buzz, and is the perfect backdrop for a sneaky mid-week cocktail or a laid-back weekend session of eating, drinking and socialising.

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