Dingo’s Bar

To describe Dingo’s Bar as ‘Australian’ is an understatement. Dingo’s is the bar equivalent of Alf Stewart, a place where you’ll be seen shouting, ‘Stone the flaming crows!’ at the top of your lungs after a few cheeky Passion Pop infused cocktails. Milk Bar Mag recently attended the opening of the local watering hole and was impressed by all the Australiana, past and present.

This new kid on the block proudly celebrates the kitschy iconic Australian pop culture we love: the walls are decked out in a currently in vogue ’80s colour scheme; Savoys, cheese and kabana feature on the menu; and empty Melbourne Bitter cans dress the table with our very own fauna and flora.

Beyond the superficial elements, Dingo’s gives a nod to Collingwood’s local history and acknowledges the patchwork of people and groups who have shaped the suburb into the eclectic and somewhat bohemian area we have today. From Indigenous and gay rights movements to the working class immigrant families who moved here – as Uncle Jack says, ‘I’m a survivor from the problem of the street’ and this perfectly captures how Dingo’s brings together the best of old and new Collingwood.

The menu is a testament to the fusion of past favourites and present tastes. Chef Louie Green and brother Joel – renowned for their great work at Tofu Shop International – have done an outstanding job on their vegetarian take on the classic Australian meat pie. The Lucky Palak – filled with a rich spinach and green pea saag curry with tender pieces of tofu – and the Macho Tofu Pie – containing shiitake and button mushrooms with braised cubed tofu in a rich spicy gravy – are equally tasty, only made better with that classic pie crust we have come to love.

The cocktail range is a bit tongue-in-cheek and pays homage to true-blue Aussie classics: the Old Gum Tree – a take on an Old-fashioned – is made with Old Forester bourbon and eucalyptus bitters while the Passiona – inspired by the Cottee’s classic – is made with passionfruit, Passion Pop and light rum.

Dingo’s is the perfect venue for after-work drinks or a night out where all you want to do is enjoy a snazzy chardy with friends and take advantage of the dance floor at the back of the bar. So grab a drink, eat a non-meat pie and dance like a flaming galah without a care in the world.

Dingo’s Bar
310 Smith Street, Collingwood
Open Wednesday-Thursday, 5pm-1am; Friday, 3pm-1am; Saturday-Sunday, 2pm-1am
dingosbar.com.au