Caretaker's Cottage

Melbourne

The Aussie pub serving up super cool martinis and super chill vibes

Hospitality gets talked about a lot in the world of bars but, for the bartender-owners at Caretaker’s Cottage in Melbourne, it goes further than just talk. Hospitality is deeply embedded in their systems, and in how they approach each guest, every day.

Caretaker’s Cottage opened in the heart of Melbourne in early 2022 with owners Rob Libecans, Matt Stirling and Ryan Noreiks at the helm and a three-pronged ethos of Guinness, classic martinis and great music at its heart.

Set in a 100-year-old brick cottage next to the Wesley Church, the bar embodies more characteristics of a traditional British pub than a modern cocktail bar, as evidenced by the wood-clad, cosy interior, local community clientele and slightly chaotic room structure.

The team here doesn’t shout their fancy pedigree to the world either, though they’ve all worked at some of the world’s best bars. The space inside is similarly self-deprecating – it can only hold around 50 people – so you’re up close and personal with the bartenders making your drinks behind the bar, which also functions as a DJ booth.

Music is one of the defining pillars of the bar, so it’s unsurprising that the setup is lavish with an expensive-looking record player embedded along one side of the bar, with stacks of vinyl set on the back bar beneath two large, warm-sounding, golden speakers.

As for drinks, expect technique-driven cocktails, drawn from a menu that changes every month and that’s worked on by a dedicated team of four Caretaker’s Cottage employees for each edition.

The team’s approach to the menu epitomises their approach to hospitality in general – it’s designed to keep customers coming back to try something new and rediscover their favourite classics; hence why their signature, super cold martini is always available, and the Guinness will always be on tap.

This convivial and disarmingly unpretentious desire to build a community and keep striving to keep them coming back for more can best be summed up by a phrase that’s bandied about the bar at every opportunity: see you tomorrow.

Because when the drinks and the hospitality are that good, you know guests are already planning their next visit. What better way to reward the bar that manages to stand out as the friendliest in a country renowned for its genial nature than with the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award as part of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024.

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