OFF THE MENU: 

A NIGHT AT NICK & NORA'S

Off The Menu A Night at Nick and Noras
OFF THE MENU: A NIGHT AT NICK & NORA'S

Located within the 80 Collins precinct in Melbourne's CBD, Nick & Nora's is a prohibition-era-inspired cocktail bar known for its theatrical flair and meticulously crafted drinks. We sat down with the bar Venue Manager, Hamish, whose approach to hospitality has been shaped by years behind the bar and the people who have worked alongside him.

A Nightly Rhythm

 

Since the bar launched its Happy Hour program, the room has settled into a nightly rhythm of noise, energy, and full seats. "Every single night we are pumping in the venue," Hamish says. "Seats are full, guests are usually boisterous, and you hear a lot of laughs." The team keeps pace behind the bar, turning out 80 to 250 cocktails a night, but as Hamish puts it, “it pays off when you see the guest experience so high."

Nick and Nora's Bubbles
Nick and Nora's Spritz

Shaped by the People Around Him

 

Ask Hamish where his approach to service and hospitality comes from and he points to the people around him, both past and present. Former bar manager Kieran O'Brien "set the tone for what cocktail craftsmanship and creativity could be” and current manager Eden Hynes has had just as much of an impact, with Hamish stating that "I've never worked with anyone who works as hard as her." It is a philosophy built on people, and one that continues to shape the way he leads the team at Nick and Nora's today.

The Fundamental Rule

 

Years behind the bar have distilled down to one guiding principle for Hamish: that a "guest's experience will always be different and not everything works for everybody." At Nick & Nora's, that is treated as a strength rather than a challenge, with each experience tailored to that individual guest's taste and style.

Crafting Great Experiences

 

Ask what sets the venue apart and it comes down to a deliberate balance between spectacle and substance. "Its theatricality meets craftsmanship - we want it to be a melting pot of different ideas," Hamish explains, all set against a prohibition-era-decor. That care extends to the drinks themselves, built with enough thought that "we rarely change the menu because they are just that good." Ultimately, the philosophy serves one purpose: ensuring every guest feels at home the moment they walk in.

Nick and Nora's Bar
Nick and Nora's Cardinale Sin

Part of the 80 Collins Community

 

Nick & Nora's doesn't operate in isolation. Hamish credits the venue's location within 80 Collins as one of its biggest assets, drawing in a particular kind of clientele without excluding anyone. That sense of community carries through even on busy rushes, when the bar can't seat everyone - a good working relationship across the precinct means guests are still looked after. Within 80 Collins, Society stands out to Hamish above all.

A Permanent Fixture

 

For all the creativity across the menu, one drink is non-negotiable: the Cardinal Sin, made with lemon myrtle sorbet and sparkling wine, with the option to upgrade to tequila. Hamish puts it simply, "The flavour melody is amazing," with the combination of sparkling wine and tequila working better than most would expect. It's an easy-drinking cocktail that's proven popular, with guests coming in for it again and again.

 

Nick & Nora's is located within the 80 Collins precinct, where the golden era of cocktail culture is very much alive.