The Mill House

The Verdict

It’s a funny thing, but all good nights in the CBD tend to end at The Mill House. Like Heartbreaker and The Carlton Club, this place has its own gravity—it calls to you at about 10:30pm, when your dinner’s worn off and you’re looking to kick on for a big one.

The first rule for any late-night boozer is atmosphere, and The Mill House has got this in spades. It’s a moody underground bunker, dotted with chunky concrete columns, white-washed brick, subway tiles and sleek timber. The sort of place where you can grab a booth and tuck into some PFC (Peruvian Fried Chicken), served with pisco syrup and green onion, or sit up at the bar and sip on a Hippocampus G&T (while quietly sussing the room).

The food tends towards the carb-loaded, alco-soaking end of the food pyramid. Crusty pizzas topped with prosciutto, rocket and cheese, or cheeseburgers with double-fried chips and sliced jalapenos. We can confirm that the slow-cooked lamb shoulder roll is an excellent choice after 10pm (the mint and tzatziki push it over the top).

If you’re up at the bar, try the snapper ceviche with chilli and Peruvian corn, or maybe the truffled mac n’ cheese if you’re feeling naughty. 

Drinks wise? Pick your poison. Tequila-spiked cocktails, espresso martinis, a nice selection of Barossa reds or maybe a crisp rose from the Loire Valley. The Mill House has even launched a bi-monthly Gin Club on Thursday nights, where you can come and sample rare bottlings, snack on limited-edition canapés and learn a bit about botanicals (in a relaxed, non-wanky sort of way).

The word ‘institution’ gets thrown around a bit, but this place definitely qualifies. Now, if you need us, we’ll be up at the bar eating PFC. 

Image credit: Griffin Simm