Hands Down: Fitzroy’s New Feel-Good Bar From The Teams Behind Above Board And Bar Liberty

A fresh face has entered Fitzroy’s bar scene—and it’s set to make your pre-dinner drinks (or post-dinner daze) a touch livelier. From the award-winning minds behind Above Board and Bar Liberty comes Hands Down, a promising contender taking over the former Bad Frankie haunt on Greeves Street.

Where Above Board is all about crisp precision and Bar Liberty exudes elegant ease, Hands Down is their unruly younger cousin—playful, energetic and gloriously unbuttoned. It’s the place where the night actually starts, no matter your best intentions of stopping in for just one.

“We’ve always wanted to create a social bar,” says operational partner Dominic Xavier, a Liberty alum who’s teaming up with industry heavyweights Hayden Lambert (Above Board) and Manu Potoi (Liberty, Capitano, Falco).

Image Credit: Hands Down | Supplied

The drinks list reads like a love letter to southern France and northern Spain, where Pastis Swizzles flirt with Kalimotxos and 50/50 Martinis. All enjoyed alongside salty snacks designed for sharing (or devouring by the handful). You’ll find Gildas, Espelette crisps and guindillas drawn from those magical pockets of Europe where menus are mere suggestions and everyone instinctively knows what time it is.

Inside, Hands Down keeps things warm and welcoming with just the perfect dash of retro charm. Studio Edwards has given the space a fresh, modern pulse while nodding to the 1970s vibe that once ruled the site. Take note of the vintage Tannoy sound system, a signature touch from Dominic’s brother, Carlo Xavier (aka El Gran Mono Soundsystem from Hot Gold Hi-Fi). That’s right—even the speakers are steeped in heritage.

Open since late August 2025, you’ll find Hands Down alive from 4pm till late on weeknights, and partying past midnight on weekends. So if you’re after a fresh spot for aperitifs, or just a quick arvo catch-up, Hands Down is waiting to welcome you in.

Main Image Credit: Hands Down | Supplied

Food & Drink

Celebrate 500 Years Of Disaronno: Melbourne’s Exclusive Cocktail Experiences For The Iconic Amaretto

The world’s most beloved amaretto is celebrating half a millennium of its delicious legacy, and Melburnians get special access to the festivities. 

Food & Drink

Blackbird Melbourne Has Officially Landed: Inside Flinders Lane’s Newest Steak Spot

Swoop in for the $29 burger and beer deal, $45 express lunch or $98 share-style feasting menu. 

Bars & Pubs

Melbourne’s Slick Take On NYC Icon Death & Co Is Set To Rule Our Summer Nights

An institution of New York’s cocktail scene is hitting Flinders Lane. Established in Manhattan’s East Village in 2006, Death & Co changed the game for contemporary cocktails, becoming a global icon and drawing hordes of discerning drinkers to its venues across the US.