Melbourne’s running hot with openings right now, and Crane Terrace at 1 Hotel Melbourne has stepped straight into the mix. The space leans into greenery, reclaimed materials and all the eco-conscious cues the hotel’s known for, but the real pull here is the cocktail list – tight, seasonal, and built with a native-led, low-waste core.
They’ve stacked the menu with reworked classics and fresh signatures that earn their place. The Ruby Negroni lands in that sweet spot of vibrant, and complex, built with gindu dry gin, rhubarb, strawberry, campari, davidson plum, blanco vermouth, banana, and coconut.
The Maritime Margarita feels tropical with a smokey edge, featuring coconut-washed espolon tequila, mezcal, kumquat, lemon myrtle, lime, and salt. For something sparkling, the Second Life Spritz keeps things fruity and refreshing with three foxes rosella gin, second life wine, rosemary, native thyme, blanc de blanc and raspberry. While the Native G&T presents a floral forward flavour profile, with forty spotted citrus & pepperberry gin, Australian finger lime, tonic, bitters and native botanicals.
Food sits in the supporting role: small plates, local produce, simple pairings, nothing overbuilt. There’s also the house-made savoury gelato – starting with olive oil and served with caviar – a salty, creamy palate reset that fits neatly into their produce-first approach.
The terrace itself flows off Crane Bar onto the Yarra, set up as an easy cross-over zone between the city and the river. Come sunset, DJs and soft lighting shift the mood into a slower, quieter pace than the usual waterfront chaos.