SSSHH! QT ROOFTOP’S SECRET GARDEN BAR

QT Melbourne has a secret; perched high above the city and nestled behind the iconic Rooftop at QT, lays a garden oasis with sky-line views. Up until now, the garden has acted as a self-sufficient produce source for QT’s food and beverage team, however, in partnership with Four Pillars and just in time for summer, the private garden has been impressively re-designed and unveiled as the Secret Garden Bar, now open to the public.

Via a secluded back of house doorway, guests are transported to the lush, leafy haven set against a startling city view. Fitting just 40 people amongst bushes of Native River Mint, large leaves of Fruit Salad Sage and Blue Lily Pilly’s, the Secret Garden Bar feels like your own private terrace, in the middle of Melbourne.

QT Melbourne and Victorian distillery Four Pillars, have collaborated to create a bespoke drinks menu almost as impressive as the view. Featuring a collection of Four Pillars gin’s, including a small-batch gin distilled exclusively for the space by Four Pillars Distiller & Co-Founder Cameron Mackenzie and QT Melbourne bar staff, guests can order off the alluring cocktail list, or choose their own adventure, selecting herbs from the garden to mix with their gin of choice.

What the bar staff are mixing up is equally as alluring; ‘Passion Killa’ showcases Four Pillars’ Bloody Shiraz Gin infused with sour passionfruit, and is the perfect balance of sweet, sour, bitter and bubbly. The ‘Wild Strawberries’ utilizes the garden’s wild strawberries and coriander, mixed with Four Pillar’s Rare Dry Gin and ‘Wild Rosé’.

Guests are encouraged to come hungry and make a meal out of the dedicated Secret Garden Bar menu, prepared by Executive Chef Andy Harmer and Four Pillars Creative Director of Made from Gin, Matt Wilkinson. The menu will see Four Pillar’s crowd favourite Gin Pig featured with a QT twist, where guests can choose from dishes like the ‘Gin Pig Skewers’ with marmalade glaze, or the barbequed ‘Gin Pig Chipolatas’.

QT Rooftop bar and Secret Garden bar, 133 Russell Street, Melbourne