The Zero Gipps building in Collingwood may be boutique-scale, but it lends little clue to the grandeur above. Arriving on the fourth floor—walking across the bridge leading to Slowpoke’s entrance, marked by a kitschy service station sign—is just a morsel of the sweeping, nearly 360-degree rooftop views that await.
At the helm of Slowpoke Lounge and Lookout are the founders behind DayBreak: Gabe Neri, Brad Wynne and Dustin Hefford. If you’re familiar with this festival, just know that the same electric energy carries over. The three spent the last two years crafting this space from the ground up, and it's evident.
Inside, Slowpoke is where ‘70s Italian glamour—think plush burgundy seating and marble benchtops—meets the grittiness of an old-school dive bar, warmed by low-lit orange hues. While its interior is refined, at its core, Slowpoke is a nostalgic bar and an amalgamation of the trio’s childhood, with the name itself a nod to the Looney Tunes character, Slowpoke Rodriguez.
Behind the bar, cocktail curator and self-proclaimed alchemist Harry Costello—armed with a decade of experience—mixes up some wacky yet genius concoctions, it’s a true mad scientist's lab. Take the Slowpoke Picante mixed reposado tequila, chilli, coriander and house-infused honey. But Harry’s impromptu invention—a marmalade martini—was by far the real standout.
With its expansive rooftop wrapping around the building and large windows that invite the city inside, the space feels as if it’s floating in the skyline. But the best seat in the house? A slim, tucked-away stretch along the side—an intimate retreat with idyllic views.
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