Owner Vernon Chalker, who has Melbourne institutions such as Madame Brussels and Gin Palace to his name, describes his latest venture, Bar Ampere, as "not your normal bar" – and one look at the restaurant's interior and he's right, it's not normal. The interior's futuristic furnishings, and a drinks menu with a strong line-up of European spirits and wines, create a very Parisian-style vibe. Plus, it has a "secret" exit through the rear door if you wish to escape to Gin Palace for a quick martini. Down an unassuming alley of the bustling Melbourne metropolis, standing above the hulking form of an aged electrical substation, a final vanguard of futurism remains. Named for visionary Frenchman André-Marie Ampère, Bar Ampere honours those who dreamt unshackled by the binds of their time. Rejecting normal dining convention, food and drink is provided from 4pm until 3am. The vulgarities of utensil wastage are eliminated by the solitary Splayd provided to diners while they sup on the newest of culinary innovations, matched with an unsurpassed range of aperitifs, absinthes, wines and cocktails.
