The Toff in Town
Editorial
Then you'll have to resist the urge to drop into some very tempting shops including Metropolis Bookstore, and a number of designer retailers. And of course there are other bars on the way, like Cookie, and you'll hit the Rooftop Cinema if you've gone too far. But once you're inside The Toff, it's the carriage booths running through the centre of the venue that will give you that feeling that you've just discovered the secret party carriage from Some Like it Hot.
The comfy wooden booths are the real treat at Toff. Once you've nestled in - and by the way you have to book a booth in advance - they can be shuttered and even include a buzzer for floor staff to take orders, making it an ideal hideaway for an intimate date over a bottle of Beaujolais or VB, depending on your budget; though I would recommend the former. The cocktails come served with spicy flair in oversized glasses, only with the same amount of alcohol, and the extensive wine list includes a solid selection of French wines to tempt the even the most shy sommelier out of us. The friendly bar staff are serious cocktail connoisseurs and should be taken advantage of.
The Toff menu is a tongue-in-cheek blend of Australian classics (cabana and cheese) combined with tapas-style takes on old favourites like the chipolata sausage roll with tomato & onion chutney ($4.50), and while the rest of the hors d'oeuvres are a little expensive (find us a tapas bar in the city that isn't!), The Toff offers a mixed and mostly young crowd, (usually impressive) live music and DJ sets every week. There's also a new Thai-inspired menu in the Choo Choo's Carriage Room.
Din Heagney, March 2010
Event Listing
Tiny Ruins
The Toff in Town Curtin House, Lvl 2, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne 2011-07-2424 - July 2011
2011-07-24User Feedback
Sophie
January 18, 2008
We went here for lunch on a Friday and it was lovely. We ate the rare beef club sandwich which was very tasty. The bar man was friendly and welcoming and it was a pleasure to sit at the bar, have a chat and good quality food and drink. Less populated then after work for sure!
Phil
April 01, 2008
Great! Very classy. Much friendlier than Cookie downstairs. It also has beautiful private booths which can be reserved - presumably for dinner. I will definitely be exploring this bar / venue more.
Kat
April 25, 2008
I went here for pre-drinks for my friends' birthday. Such a beautiful little place. I will return no doubt. The only negative thing that I can say about this place, is people can sit at the bar which makes it hard to order.
tina
April 24, 2009
I stumbled upon this place, and wow! It's so Melbourne! I loved the great little private booths and the fact that you can get supper until 5am!
Megan
January 11, 2010
The DJ that plays on a Friday night after 1am is possibly the worst DJ in Melbourne, as well as rude and pretentious. The venue, in general, though, is great.
Sarah
March 12, 2010
Such a cool place... I found it by the review below - which summarises the place really well... Really love the atmosphere http://www.theswanstonhotel.com.au/melbourne-events/dining-drinking
Andre Di Cioccio
June 28, 2010
this bar rocks. the staff were fantastic and very well priced
Andre Di Cioccio
July 03, 2010
Stopped in for just a few minutes but definitely would be going back... fantastic staff here and a great venue
January 21, 2011
No more comments? Strange. Was back again and this place is still great
zimmer
May 25, 2011
its a cool venue, good vibe, good location....However when I went with a group of friends to cheer for a band, the manager just gave us shocking attitude and ill customer service. We rang to confirm if it was ok to bring a cake in, and they said it wasnt a problem. The staff obviously didnt notify him that a cake was going to be brought to this venue on the day, because otherwise we wouldnt be annoyed THREE TIMES by the staff about how they normally dont allow this and that they needed to be notified because there is a 'cake fee'. We were enjoying our time until then, and by after the third time, I just had to tell the manager to shut up because I wasnt even going to cut the cake anymore. I thought I should write down my experience, because I honestly think the service in Melbourne needs to Polish up. Its embarrassing to know that such a renowned venue has a crap manager like that.
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