Harvie

Legend has it, the man in charge of Armadale’s Coughlin’s Dairy built a rooftop on his property in the early ’40s so he could drink his daily glass of milk with a sweeping view.

While the milk has since stopped flowing – and Nick Foley and Andrew Savvas (also owners of Camberwell wine bar Gloria’s) have turned part of the former dairy into this double-storey bar and rooftop.

It’s a choose-your-own-adventure spot. Behind the heritage-listed frontage on street level (once a milk bar), nestle by the beautifully curved window and watch the world go by. You can also cosy up by the fire in the courtyard, which is the venue’s largest space. Or check the Harvie website for the next sunset time and head upstairs to the slimline rooftop for spectacular views of the neighbourhood as the sun fades.

Harvie’s pièce de résistance, though, is the means by which you get to the rooftop: a remarkable, terrazzo-covered spiral staircase. During the day, a circular skylight floods it with natural light.

Food-wise, the hero of the menu is an overflowing lobster-and-prawn roll. There are also build-your-own cheese and charcuterie boards, plates of spicy smoked-paprika hummus (made by Savvas’s mum), jamon croquettes and more.

Cremorne-based furniture store Arthur G fitted out the space with a timeless, sophisticated feel. It’s in line with the moderne-style architecture – rounded corners and smoothed white walls – with a custom couch by well-known designer Diane Bergeron.