Society

Society opened in the 80 Collins tower from restaurateur Chris Lucas (Chin Chin, Kisume, Yakimono) alongside chef Martin Benn and Vicki Wild of Sydney's acclaimed Sepia. Reached via the lifts on Benson Walk, it spreads across a grand dining room set beneath crystal chandeliers, a smoky mirror-ceilinged lounge bar, and adjoining spaces designed by local architects Russell & George in a blend of art deco, mid-century and brutalist detail. Broadsheet describes the room as one where jackets are taken at the door and service is "immaculate" - fine dining pitched at the top of Melbourne's CBD.

The bar is where the non-alcoholic offering lives. Time Out Melbourne's guide to drinking in Melbourne when you're not drinking highlights Society for a "concise yet thoughtful mocktail list" that celebrates native Australian ingredients - strawberry gum, royal gala apples and leatherwood honey among them. These are made-to-order builds designed with the same rigour as the venue's cocktail and wine lists rather than a bought-in zero-proof range, so the emphasis is on seasonal, house-composed drinks.

That context matters at Society: this is an a la carte fine diner where cocktails run from around A$26 up past A$145 for vintage-spirit pours, and the alcohol-free list gives non-drinking guests a genuine seat at that table rather than a soft-drink afterthought. The mocktails change with what the kitchen and bar are working with, so the native-ingredient theme is the constant rather than a fixed set of named drinks.

Society trades from the level-two space at 80 Collins Street, with the dining room open evenings through the week and daytime service later in the week; the precinct also houses the associated Lillian Brasserie and the Lounge Bar under the same roof.