First Look: Ambrosia Lounge promises a heavenly cocktail experience in an unexpected location.

Posted on 28 August, 2024

It’s a sign that the Dairy Road precinct in Fyshwick has come of age that it finally has its very own cocktail bar.

And she is as moody, sophisticated and luxurious as you would find in an inner-city laneway in Sydney or Melbourne.

Ambrosia Lounge promises to be a luxe new chapter in Canberra’s cocktail evolution – created by the men behind the Ambrosia Distillery, Andrew Galbraith and his co-distiller Tim Stephens – and located across from Canberra’s coolest warehouse venue, The Vault.

Tim Stephens and Andrew Galbraith, bringing Ambrosia Lounge to Dairy Road

When the distillery opened up at Dairy Road more than two years ago, the pair started forging a reputation for flavour-infused vodkas which include coffee, lychee, toffee, lemon myrtle, passionfruit, apple and cinnamon. They also produce a classic gin and a rose-infused gin.

Andrew gave up a career in medicine to focus on distilling and Tim is a teacher who cannot keep himself away from the distillery (or the new kitchen) once the school bell rings in the afternoon.

When an opportunity came up to operate a loft-style cocktail bar across the carpark from the Distillery, the pair jumped at the chance to get serious about cocktail creation and let their creative bar-tending impulses take over.

“The alcohol we make at Ambrosia is fun…Whether we’re selling at a market or in our distillery, we always make sure the customer has a great time and this is the kind of experience we want to elevate with Ambrosia Lounge,” says Andrew.

Across two levels, the lounge has been designed for a multitude of uses, from date nights and group escapades, small- and large-scale events, bridal showers, workshops, and everything in between.

The fit-out, created in collaboration with Molonglo Group, has transformed a large concrete shell into a glorious and inviting new place to meet and imbibe cocktails over a cheese platter or charcuterie board.

At this stage we cannot stress enough how pretty this place is.

With dark textured walls, marble tables, green velvet chairs, sculptural curves, a striking brass bar and brass mood lighting, there is a nod to the Greek God inspiration behind the Ambrosia brand in the form of several marble statues strategically placed around the room.

“We were so worried that the space could feel cold, so to see it come out so beautiful and warm and inviting is great,” said Andrew.

He has spent months devising the cocktail menu which takes the Greek mythology theme to a new level with the Zeus – a mix of toffee vodka, coffee vodka, kahlua and Violet Crumble, the Aphrodite of lemon myrtle vodka, Limoncello and St Germain, or the Ares, of Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz gin, St Germain and mixed berries.

A former barman for Bellucci’s and eightysix before he created his own business, Andrew also knows that good drinks require moreish food to accompany them.

Come for a cocktail and stay for a platter. Ambrosia Lounge is a place to settle in for the evening.

While the bar is not a restaurant, rest assured patrons will not go hungry with a range of dishes including charcuterie plates with freshly sliced cold meats, assorted cheese plates, soft burrata with olive oil, sea salt, and toasted sourdough, oven-baked brie drizzled with honey and served with crackers. Tim doesn’t want anyone to go hungry!

To finish, a small menu of desserts is available, including cannoli made by Canberra’s famed Cannoli Brothers.

“We love supporting local,” says Andrew, and with an upstairs event space just waiting to be filled, Ambrosia Lounge has already scheduled in several events to showcase local tastes and talents.

Cocktails and Cannoli Brothers Cannoli. A match made in heaven.

The September calendar includes chocolate making with Studio Cocoa, clay textured art classes and cocktails with Wild Blooms & Co, cocktail masterclasses with Ambrosia and cannoli classes with Cannoli Brothers. You can book a spot online to be part of these events.

Meanwhile, get ready for Ambrosia Lounge to open on Wednesday 4 September.

Photos by Tayla Cunningham