Dive Bar

Dive Bar brings a neon glow to Melbourne CBD from its perch inside Crowne Plaza Melbourne (1–5 Spencer St), opposite Crown Casino and overlooking the Yarra. Equal parts sleek and unpretentious, it is the kind of cocktail bar where the city slips by like reflections on the river, and where comfort meets a little neon-lit theatre.

In the kitchen, small bites keep pace with conversation: prawn bites in panko with ranch, and cheese croquettes yielding to truffle mayonnaise. Bigger plates lean into beloved classics, from Ottie’s bistro burger — a 200g dry-aged Angus beef patty with Gruyère and peppercorn sauce, crowned with onion rings and served with shoestring fries — to a faithful chicken parma with tomato sugo, shaved ham, mozzarella, garden salad and shoestring fries.

To finish, there is nostalgia and indulgence in equal measure: a Tim Tam cheesecake laced with vanilla bean and honeycomb, or a molten chocolate fondant with salted caramel and vanilla bean ice cream. With the river as backdrop and the casino’s energy across the road, it is a natural pause for cocktails and comfort. Book in, settle back, and go on — take the plunge.