You can’t help but think Mr Francis Drummond Greville would rather like The Gresham. The Queensland architect, who designed the bar’s heritage-listed digs in 1881, invested four years into his elaborate project, with marble sourced from the United Kingdom and New Zealand sandstone mixing with local cedar. Most of the original details been preserved, with the additional of plush Chesterfield couches and pressed metal ceilings. The supremely knowledgeable, friendly folk behind the bar have an old-world charm about them, too, shaking up classic cocktail alongside house favourites such as the Big Time, spiced rum with blackberry shrub, lime and vanilla, or Heart-attack and Vine, rum, apricot brandy, brown sugar egg and other good stuff.

The grand design, however, may call for something straight up. If the bartenders can’t sway you towards something from the American and Scottish-dominated whiskey list, have them design you a custom flight, and retreat to the library-esque lounge bar with your tipples.

In the summer, take a Midnight Sun, gin stirred with Campari, herbal amaretto, vermouth and a whole egg, on the al fresco porch. Come morning, the shutters remain up, with Toby’s Estate espresso on pour and breakfast Turkish breads packed with magical hangover cures like poached eggs, parmesan and prosciutto, or pear, ricotta and walnuts.

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