MELBOURNE: In a city known for its ubiquitous wine and cocktail bars, Fleet stands tall – not only as the tallest rooftop bar on Melbourne's Flinders' Street - but as one of a handful of venues leading the modern-day rum renaissance. 

Fleet, on level 22 of the Vibe Hotel Melbourne building, opens 12 April and is home to one of the city's most iconic and picturesque views, with Paul Kelly Design (Black Star, Crown Casino) transforming the hotel's former penthouse apartments into a chic, 90-pax rooftop bar reminiscent of an intimate private suite. 

Kelly's fun yet sophisticated fit out, with design touches from the 1980s, is complete with amber and dusty pink tones, custom made furniture and a long bar where rum reigns supreme. A wraparound outdoor terrace is decked out with green and white striped upholstery to add a garden party frisson, while the retractable roof and glass panelling not only caters to all weather conditions, but frames stunning city views to perfection. 

Fleet's stylish, travertine bar is generously stocked with more than 70 different rums from around the world. Award-winning mixologist, Grant Collins, has consulted and created a drinks list where local distillers JimmyRum, Boatrocker Distillery and Queensland's Beenleigh Distiller sit alongside international rum producers from Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Cuba. A vintage and rare bottle collection, dating back to the 1930s, completes the rum offering.  

When it comes to rum-based cocktails, they are served with reverence.  

The traditional Piña Colada, as an example, sees pandan mixed with gold and spiced rum, coconut, pineapple, and lime to add fragrant, earthy notes. Whilst Fleet's version of the Hurricane blends flavour, freshness, and seafaring tradition to create a perfectly balanced drink made up of gold rum, navy rum, pineapple, orange, lime, and passionfruit.  

Beyond rum, guests can also voyage through 50 different gins from international and local producers such as Four Pillars, Bass & Flinders, and Patient Wolf distilleries; fine whisky from around the world; local craft beers; and a selection of wines from the Yarra Valley, Geelong, Mornington Peninsula and surrounds.   

There's also a strong list of timeless cocktail classics, signature blends and experimental combinations, all with a distinct Melbourne-style and nautical flavour.  

Fleet's classic Gimlet uses London Dry Gin and sits alongside the classic Negroni plus two surprising Negroni riffs - one which infuses gin with ginger, fresh strawberry and rose buds before its mixed with rosso and Campari to give a light, sweet flavour and subtly-spicey ginger finish.  

And, in a nod to good old-fashioned hospitality, a martini trolley will be wheeled between tables offering the choice of Classic Dry, Olive Leaf or an Oyster Shell Martini which uses oyster shell infused gin or vodka to give off savoury notes.  

By design, Chef Asish Kumar's bar-snack menu pays homage to Victoria's best producers and is the perfect complement to Collins' drinks selection. Think half shell seared scallops drizzled in lemon chili and butter topped with Yarra Valley caviar; torched Skull Island prawns with orange gastrique and puffed wild rice; Yurrita Cantabrico anchovies served with tomato butter and rye bread crisp; grilled corn tostada; braised pork cheek croquettes; and grilled lamb tenderloin served with olive salsa, pickled fennel, and black garlic jus.  

Fleet rooftop bar is a breath of fresh air in the cultural capital and the perfect vantage point to watch day turn to night, with a drink in hand. Now open every Tuesday to Saturday from 3pm until late, Fleet also opens for lunch from 16 May from 12pm every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.   

Ends.   
   

EDITOR'S NOTES  

Now Open: 12 April 2024  

Level 22, 1 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC (Corner of Queen and Flinders)  

Open Tuesday to Saturday from 3pm until late | From 16 May open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 12pm until late.  

Instagram: @fleetrooftopmelbourne  

Website: fleetrooftopbar.com.au 

High-res images: available here 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:   

Jessica Wood – TFE Hotels (PR Executive) | +61 437 242 034 | jwood@tfehotels.com  

Jodi Clark - TFE Hotels (Director of Communications) | +61 499 900 658 | jclark@tfehotels.com   

ABOUT FLEET  
Whilst Melbourne's underground dining scene draws critical acclaim, its rooftop bar scene continues to go from strength to strength. Fleet, Melbourne's newest, most picturesque, and one of the highest rooftop bars on iconic Flinders Street, opened on 12 April 2024. Central to Fleet's ethos is a sense of community and camaraderie as people converge to admire the scenery or simply enjoy fleeting moments of pleasure in the heart of the CBD.  
 
As the team say: “Come for the cocktails and stay for the view!”