Part tasting room, part bar, and part love letter to Victoria’s food and drink community. For nine nights during the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Marionette will transform Patricia at the top end of town into an intimate festival bar, bringing together the city’s best makers, drinkers, and storytellers.

At the heart of it all will be a rotating collection of amari, from approachable introductions for newcomers to vertical tastings and museum pours for seasoned enthusiasts. Expect limited-release Marionette Amaro, rare imports, and special selections from some of the most respected names in the category. Guest producers and pourers will rotate through the tasting room, sharing the stories behind each bottle. 

Nick Tesar of Marionette will be serving up a thoughtful cocktail list, with Natoora bringing the best of late-summer produce from local farms and orchards to the bar. The drink menu will explore the breadth of amaro, with six core cocktails moving from bright and bitter to rich and textural. Non-alcoholic options will pair fresh produce with cascara and tea, with bittersweet flavours threaded throughout the list.

Each night will be different. Meet chef Michael Ryan of Beechworth Bitters and learn how to bring vegetables and savoury notes into a category known to be bitter and sweet, or connect with Dave Verheul, who incorporates green coffee in his Rhurbabo—paired with one of Patricia’s roasters—for a conversation about green coffee. One night, Natoora and one of their farmers will pull up at the tasting table with produce in hand. Want to try Victoria’s best tomatoes? This is your calling card. Full lineup and nightly schedule to be found at Marionette.com/events.

Designed as a stop before or after a Festival event, small, seasonal bites will include cheese and chutney, plus citrus sweets with an amaro twist. 

After Hours will be a celebration of Victoria’s producers, the people who make and serve their drinks, and the drinkers who care about what’s in the glass. It’s a place to taste something unusual, and meet the people behind the bottle, and a true showcase of what this city does best.

Great drinks, and great company. See you at the bar.

Walk ins only. Limited Spots.
Due to the nature of this event dietaries cannot be catered for.