NOW EXPERIENCING:Bomba Bar
Thursday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Phone
03 9650 5778
Website
bombabar.com.au
Instagram
@bombabar

Read time 4 Mins

Posted 17 Nov 2022

By
Larissa Dubecki


The rooftop at Bomba in Melbourne

A worthy favourite with the post-work drinks crowd, this rooftop bar has dazzling views and a sunny Spanish vibe, with great snacks to go with them.

Inside Bomba Bar in the CBD of Melbourne
Why you goThere’s a choice to be made at Bomba: will you stay low or go high? At ground level in the heart of the CBD, Bomba is chef Jesse Gerner’s well-dressed Spanish cantina, a dark and moody space where you can pretend you’re in Barcelona over jugs of sangria and a punchy menu of tapas and paella. Five floors up on the old red-brick building’s rooftop, Bomba Bar’s smart drinks program keeps the Spanish theme going whatever your tipple. It’s a winning package, with equally smart staff keeping the show humming, and it often feels like you’ve stumbled into a party. File under “fun”.
Why you stayBomba Bar always makes it feel worthwhile making the trip to the rooftop. Partly it’s the excellent real estate. Decked out in dark timber and colourful light pendants, the tight space means there’s a good atmosphere even when there’s just a handful of people there. There’s an all-weather terrace, too, with a retractable roof worthy of Rod Laver Arena, that makes it a great proposition whether it’s summer or winter. And the views alone justify a visit. It’s hemmed in by glass-walled office towers that feel so close you could put nose up to their glowing windows, and the colonial splendour of Her Majesty’s Theatre and the spire of St Paul’s cathedral inject their own postcard good looks. Just add drinks and enjoy. 
The outlook from the rooftop at Bomba Bar
The setting inside Bomba Bar
What drink to orderUnfamiliar Spanish grapes and smaller producers give the wine list a dose of indie cred and offer a chance to expand your horizons. The bubbles are cava (Spain’s answer to Champangne), and a choice of five sherries by the glass means you can make your own tasting flight. Going by the bottle? The straightforward headings – “light and fresh”, “savoury and textural”, “earthy, rich and full bodied” – give a good steer on figuring out your syrah tempranillo from your tempranillo grenache. Cocktails are also organised by personality, from Spanish-themed spritzes – red wine gin and nutty black vermouth with blood orange and cava, for instance – to fruity and fun creations like the corona-era Mezcacillin, made with mezcal and sherry, honey and ginger. Sangria is sold by the carafe and swings white or red, while the beer taps honour Spain’s Estrella and a rollcall of Victorian producers including Bodriggy and Bridge Road Brewers.  
What to pair it withThe menu at Bomba Rooftop might not substitute for a proper dinner but will keep you going with its salty snacks. Expect plates of patatas bravas, goat’s cheese and garlic croquettas, bite-sized chorizo with aioli and anchovy crisps. If you feel like a bigger feed, head back downstairs to get the full Bomba menu, from charry octopus dusted in paprika to excellent duck or seafood paella rocking the requisite crusty base.
Why we love itThe elevated views are matched by the elevated service led by Rooftop bar manager Cara Devine. Spend a minute in her company and it’s easy to tell why she was named one of Australia's Top 25 Bartenders (pro tip: also check out her hugely popular web series Behind the Bar…, which demonstrates how to make different cocktails at home and explores topics like Japanese whisky and vermouth). If you’re stuck for a drink suggestion, leave it with Cara and the team to whip up something from their exhaustive list of spirits from near and far. 
Regular’s tipBomba celebrates the weekend with DJs hitting the decks every Friday and Saturday evening from 6pm. Check their Instagram for the weekly line-up.