This sunny Mediterranean-ish rooftop bar has $99 magnums of natty wine, plenty of natural sparkling by the glass, and tunes courtesy of PBS radio DJs and a vintage sound system.
Underpromise, overdeliver – done right, it’s a philosophy that should see whoever’s on the receiving end forever pleasantly surprised. This was the deciding factor when naming Collingwood’s Runner Up, a sunny rooftop bar that opened on Johnston Street in late 2021. Keen to manage expectations in an area already jammed full of excellent bars, Runner Up’s owners kept things low in the promise department – not the best, but close – then doubled-down on delivery.
The bar is loosely Mediterranean-themed, with drinks that lean Italian and Australian. Cocktails include an Aperol Sour (its frothy consistency comes from aquafaba, whipped chickpea cooking liquid that’s a vegan alternative to egg white) and a Limoncello Spritz. There are always five or six interesting bittersweet amaro liqueurs behind the bar, and jugs of Seltzer and $9 house beer and wine. An extremely tight snack selection might translate to Chappy’s handmade chips, olives and dolmades from Greek supermarket Psarakos, and not a lot else.
Runner Up sits within Collingwood Yards, a sprawling not-for-profit creative hub that’s also home to vibey wine bar Hope St Radio, PBS radio station, a coffee shop, record store, artist spaces and a micro-cinema. It’s on the site of a former TAFE, which can mean a little wandering around is needed before you work out where you’re going, but that’s all part of the joy. Look for the Runner Up signs, then take the stairs or the lift to level two and step into a space that was once the caretaker’s residence.
The owners fitted out the bar themselves, keeping original elements where they could (such as the distressed brick walls), but putting plenty of person-hours into transforming the rest of the space. Inside harks back to the ’70s in some ways, with angular booths made from recycled timber, funky laser-cut Laminex-topped tables and plush velvet curtains. The sunny rooftop courtyard is dotted with hanging plants, creepers, rosemary bushes and cumquat trees, with views over the yards below. Between the two is a cosy nook with whimsical cloud-covered wallpaper, a nod to the al fresco outlook to come.
It’s no surprise music and design are a huge part of the Runner Up DNA. Between them, owners Liam Alexander, Carlo Colosimo, Kevin McDowell, Benny Rausa, Tom Shanahan and Justin Tolliday are involved in a number of creative projects. These include psychedelic-jazz outfit Mildlife, design firm Confetti Studio, creative co-working space Stay Soft Studio, and previous nightclubs Lounge and Colour Club (both no more).
This experience is reflected in the fun and contemporary lighting design, with colourful LED bars outside and gentler glows emitted indoors, and in the killer music program. On weekends, DJs from downstairs radio station PBS make regular appearances behind the decks, playing a wide-ranging mix from funk and soul fusion to world music and party tunes, all on a vintage JBL sound system imported from Japan. Occasionally a dance floor might kick off, but Runner Up rarely feels clubby. It’s more about listening and chatting than raving. Earlier in the week, tunes are turned over to the bar staff, many of whom are DJs themselves.
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