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By: Liza Fitzpatrick
Date: 7th May 08
Venue: Bar
Meal: Where everybody knows your name
Where:
176 Bellair St, Kensington
When:
(Winter opening hours)
Tues-Wed 11am-8pm, Thurs–Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-6pm
Contact:
9376 5441
Alighting from Kensington station, you may be forgiven for thinking you had been transported to the other side of the looking glass with Alice. Bellair Street abounds with creatures of small stature talking gibberish (kids) and happy hairy animals (dogs mostly) and, well, people eating mushrooms (brunch). Tripping over the leashes and manoeuvring through the obstacle course of prams toward the end of this small strip of cafés, the unmistakable sound of vinyl through speakers will lure you to the second-hand record shop, bar, café and music venue.
Settle-in to watch the passing parade of Connex and V-Line trains out the front, or select a quiet corner in the back courtyard. The split-level interior of white rabbit houses a tiny kitchen serving bagels, pancakes and snacks with a bar full of imported beers to accompany the DJ sets and bands on a weekend night. Be warned that this Kensington haunt is no drug-fuelled wonderland where tea-drinking weirdos get high off mercury-laced headwear. But it is comfortable with all the cosy fittings: a fireplace, couches and dimly lit lamps of the retro-persuasion.