Market Lane Bar

The Verdict

Housed inside of Melbourne’s most luxurious, historical CBD hotel–InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, Market Lane Bar is one of our top picks for an indulgent high tea that doesn’t scrimp on the luxuries!

The decadent bar is set inside the prestigious Intercontinental building on Collins Lane, which was once one of the oldest wool and grain markets in Melbourne. Now, the incredible architectural structure is home to world-class hotel InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, Guy Grossi’s Merchant restaurant, the Botanica Day Spa and the Alluvial Restaurant, as well as this sophisticated bar and dining area–so you know you’re in good company.

When it comes to the finer things in life, the team behind Market Lane Bar has sourced the very best in drinks and pastries and brought them together in the form of one of the most decadent high tea spreads in the city. Named the Mrs D’Ebro’s High Tea (after the architect who designed a wing of the lavish building), you’ll be treated to three tiers of sweets and savouries plus scones, tea and Perrier-Jouët champagne. Not keen on the French fizz? Market Lane Bar’s high coffee, which replaces bubbles with espresso martinis, is the perfect solution for you caffeine addicts!

On top of a cracking high tea, Market Lane Bar has been finessing its time-tested cocktail menu with the help of some local heroes. The bar’s mixologists have worked together with Healesville’s Four Pillars Gin to create the Paddington Bear—a gin marmalade (yes, we’re serious!) concoction that’s a refreshing blend of citrus, gin and honey collected from the hotel’s rooftop hives. We’re also suckers for their sloe gin gimlet. Is it cocktail o’clock yet?!

Whether you’re booked in for a luxe weekend courtesy of InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, in search of your next birthday/engagement party/new job celebration high tea, or simply fancy a decadent drink at the end of your day at the office, Market Lane Bar has you covered.

For booking information, call 03 8627 1400 or book online.

To book a stay at InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, click here.

Image credit: Michelle Jarni for The Urban List