For those who fancy a drink out in Melbourne, there’s a new place to be. Fancy Free is the hotly anticipated cocktail bar opening on Little Collins street next week. The passion project is brought to you by four industry heavyweights who met while working at cocktail bar favourite, Black Pearl. Matt Stirling (Black Pearl) and Chris Hystead (The Attic) have reunited with ex-colleagues Ryan Noreiks (Romeo Lane) and Rob Libecans. The quartet have an impressive history in some of Australia’s most lauded cocktail bars and are looking to make their mark in Melbourne’s drinking scene.

Taking semi-permanent residency at the former site of 8bit Burgers, the bar is here for a good time but sadly not a long one. The six-month stint will start from next week with Sydney-based burger heroes Mary’s taking kitchen residency for the first two months.  Melburnians can indulge in the famed burger menu, from the classic cheeseburger, signature mushroom burger and mash ‘n’ gravy. The Mary’s team is excited to say the least with co-founder Jake Smyth looking forward to “two months of getting fat and Fancy Free.”

Fellow Sydney-based beverage connoisseurs P&V Wine and Liquor Merchants will head up the wine selection, with Melbourne brewery Stomping Ground taking care of the crafts. There’s talk of plenty more exciting collaborations in the works, but they’re keeping tight-lipped for now.

The boys have been dreaming of this moment since they first met with Fancy Free the result of years of hard work. “It’s always been our dream to open a bar and now the time is right for all of us to do it together. Kind of like the Avengers, but with drinks,” says Chris.  

The Black Pearl has no shortage of accolades, consistently ranking in the world’s top 50 bars and taking out the title for best bar in Australasia two years running. Given this, you can bet the team will be working their magic on the cocktail list. Hoping to be seen as an approachable neighbourhood bar with world-class cocktails, everyone is welcome here.