Arlechin

Arlechin, the Grossi family's newest venture, is a place where cuisine, wine, and mayhem collide. It's tucked away on Mornane Place and has a laidback, underground feel. Fine Italian, French, and Australian wines are available in the wine bar. Cocktails such as the Champagne Julep and the Jungle Bird are also offered (rum, Campari, pineapple and lime). Prawn cutlets with wasabi mayo, duck and porcini mushroom pies, and creamed fish and crisp leek rolls are among the bar treats. Try a liqueur-soaked custard doughnut for a delicious treat. During the day, the bar is open for group rentals.

Even if you want to be in bed by 10 p.m., the midnight spaghetti will accommodate your schedule. It's a tiny twirl of painstakingly al dente spaghetti capturing a flavor burst of sugo, salty big capers, and fragrant basil leaves, not a booze-soaked gut-buster. It's like an aerodynamic puttanesca, with colatura standing in for the little fish. It’s Italian sophistication on a plate.

One of the best things about Arlechin is that it’s open until three. Yep, that’s three in the AM. With another suave newcomer, Mayfair, serving oh là là snackage over at Sofitel until 1 am, it looks like Melbourne might be getting over its food equivalent of the six o’clock swill.

Location: Mornane Place, CBD, Melbourne

Website: www.arlechin.com.au