Cookie

Partystar Review

Imagine a lightly wooden, classy sort of look, not far away from the Young and Jackson's front room. Add an obscenely long bar, a vast amount of tables and chairs, lots of beer taps and wallpaper that looks like it was pinched from the Pancake Parlour. The folk here is classy, although in a friendly, buzzy way. And it's open fairly late, so that's always pleasing.

You'll find Cookie in the middle of the city - pretty much opposite the Lounge. It's on the first floor - it'd take up half the block if it were at street level.

Outdoor Area / Beer Garden

Gorgeous little balcony overlooks Swanston Street

Simon Woodhouse

Second Opinion

Originally named Kookoo until Crown Casino's Japanese restaurant Koko kicked up a fuss about the similarity of the names, Cookie sits proudly in Swanston Street's ornate Curtain House, where high ceilings and period features are the order of the day.

Speaking of ordering, the only problem you might have with the drinks menu is that there are too many - wines in the hundreds and specialist beers a'plenty are on offer. The Thai restaurant menu (with a splash of Italian influence) is good too.

Cookie's spacious interior is complemented by quaint Juliet balconies, from which you can sit back and watch Swanston Street go by.

Julie Whiting