There’s something brewing down Supernormal’s dramatic, burgundy spiral staircase.

Prolific Melbourne chef and restaurateur Andrew McConnell is opening a walk-ins-only basement bar – called Bar Paradox – at his glowing, always-exceptional Asian-inspired diner.

Beneath Flinders Lane for a good time, not a long time, it’ll open on Monday April 11 – for 13 nights only. And dissimilar to McConnell’s stable of venues – under the Trader House banner, which includes Cutler & Co, Marion, Gimlet and more – the headline act will be the cocktails. But that’s not to say the snacks, a spectacularly simple line-up of small plates, will be any less impressive.

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Expect a tight but terrific edit of cocktails – only five to choose from – curated by cocktail king and 2018 World Class Bartender of the Year, Orlando Marzo, who just launched experimental bottled-cocktail company Drinks by Loro.

The namesake cocktail, the Bar Paradox Bramble, is a souped-up spin on the classic springtime drink – a mix of Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale Gin, native strawberry gum and makrut lime. There’ll also be a crisp Olive Martini made with cold-vacuum-distilled extra-virgin olive oil in place of brine, and a fragrant Bergamot Negroni.

Upstairs will remain the spot for full-on feasting. The subterranean snacks will include a prawn roll with bonito mayo and Tassie wasabi (set to rival the cult New England lobster roll upstairs); ocean-fresh sashimi from the Sapphire Coast; silken-tofu-and-sesame crackers with avocado; and spiced peanuts with laver, an edible seaweed.

The fleeting two-week pop-up lines up perfectly with Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s 2022 run. “It’s at this time of year that Melbourne is truly at its best,” said McConnell in a statement, “and we want to celebrate that energy and give people the opportunity to relish in the revelry of our city again.”

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Bar Paradox runs from Monday April 11 to Sunday April 24 at Supernormal. It’ll open from 5pm till late every night except Monday April 18.

supernormal.net.au