I started going to Tropicana Juice maybe a decade ago, when I got back from working in London for a few years. I was living in my parents’ house in St Kilda and working in Brunswick, so I would travel from St Kilda to the city on the tram and get off to change trams to go down Lygon Street. But I’d strategically get off the tram outside of Tropicana and get a juice before I transferred. I did this every single day, five days a week, for maybe three or four months before I moved to the north.
There are two locations. The Swanston Street one, which I used to always go to, is more takeaway. There’s not really any dining; just a couple of bar stools. But the Elizabeth Street location is fucking awesome. It’s one of the best places to sit down and have juice in the city and chill out. They’ve got beautiful tables out the front with pineapples and stuff on them; it kind of feels like you’re on holiday.
Tropicana Juice Bar, Elizabeth Street. Photography: Julia Sansone
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SIGN UPI worked my way down the menu trying to figure out which juice was my favourite. And even though I’ve been going for years, I’ve only had maybe a quarter – if that – of the menu.
Number one is the South American Delight. It’s incredible. I still don’t know what’s in it – I don’t ever want to really know. But part of the magic is the history.
What we learnt recently from our visit and meeting with the owners is it’s a top-secret recipe from Brazil, which they do advertise. "Top-secret – from Brazil. Best juice on Earth. Money back guarantee." And then, "Do not stir. Natural high for four-and-a-half hours." I think the rules are that you do not stir the juice, otherwise you don’t get the four-and-a-half-hour natural high.
The action is the juice. Photography: Julia Sansone
The owners told us the reason [you don’t stir the juice] is because they actually layer it with nine different layers of fruit juice. You put a straw in, and you should drink it from the bottom up. You can’t stir it and you can’t have it in a glass without a straw because then you’d drink it from the top [rather than] the bottom of the cup first.
They were saying that the original owner, who sold the store to them, travelled to Brazil, and the South American Delight is based on an alcoholic cocktail made with cachaça – the spirit they put in [cocktail] Caipirinha.
Number two is probably the Mango Colada, which again is a top-secret recipe, from the Philippines this time. I have no fucking clue why or how it’s a secret recipe – it’s a mango smoothie – but it’s good.
Number three is the banana smoothie. I’m talking about the Banana, Banana, Banana. That's the one, man. It’s number one on the smoothie list and this is what they’ve written: ““Banana, comma, banana, plus more banana.” Whenever I order it, I add cinnamon and honey. Or at least I try to remember to add cinnamon and honey, because it does make it better.
Sarafian keeping it fresh. Photography: Julia Sansone
They’re always pretty warm, welcoming and excited to make a juice for you. It’s just a quick little oasis amongst all the hustle and bustle of CBD.
The thing I love most about Tropicana Juice is whenever you go in there, you feel like you’re on a holiday. You know, with all those fruits hanging, the oranges at the front, the chalkboards, the lights – just the colourfulness of the place. Every time I go to the city, I make an effort to go there – it’s perfect.
For me the action is the juice. The Tropicana Juice.
As told to Audrey Payne