Rockpool Bar & Grill

One of the first things you notice at Rockpool, right after passing the diligent oyster shucker, is the meat locker. Large sides of beef hang on display and there's the glint of a mean looking slicer.

This is why we love the place. You can come for the view (over the Yarra and the nightly flame show), you can come for the ambiance (soft lights and savvy staff), or you can come for the award-winning brand. But you can’t fail to be impressed by the beef.

There’s no escaping that this is a steakhouse. The walls are decorated with handsome photographs of cattle and the smell of the open grill is enchanting. But while the beef (all of it dry-aged in house) is impressive, we’d suggest you don’t overlook the rest of the menu, from past highlights of twelve-hour pork belly with mustard fruits and aged balsamic to a lobster omelette with prawn sauce.

Large numbers of diners bring bubbly murmurs and groups range from casino goers, to bright young things gearing up for a big night out. From the floor-to-ceiling cabinets of wine, to the silver service delivered by white-waistcoated waitstaff, this is a large experience in the best possible way. Most of all, it’s a great place to have an extravagant evening in Melbourne.