Magic Mountain Saloon

Magic Mountain Saloon sits at 62 Little Collins Street, near the CBD theatre district and Parliament, spread across three neon-lit levels with long marble sharing tables, cosy booths, a balcony and a mezzanine where a DJ spins most nights of the week. The kitchen turns out bold, creative Thai - chilli-and-lime popcorn chicken, garlic-and-chive dumplings, curry-filled arancini, DIY barbeque pork baos and sticky beef ribs - the sort of salty-spicy-sweet cooking that reads as a party as much as a dinner.

The non-alcoholic side is a real menu rather than a token gesture. Time Out Melbourne flagged the venue in its guide to drinking in Melbourne when you're not drinking, calling out four named mocktails - the Passion Punch, the Sober Spritz, the Day Off and a virgin Lychee Martini - all at A$9. Broadsheet notes the bar also carries non-alcoholic beers and Fentimans soft drinks next to its beer, wine and spritz lists, which means a designated driver or a sober guest can order across the night without defaulting to soda water.

The room is built for groups: bottomless Saturday Thai lunches, weekday happy hours and DJ-driven mezzanine nights make it a going-out venue where the zero-proof drinks keep pace with the cocktails rather than sitting quietly at the bottom of the list.