When you enter Mill Place Merchants, you enter another world. For a start, it’s one of those delicious hidden bars we can’t get enough of in Melbourne. Entering through a red door at the end of a laneway you find yourself in a sewing room complete with machine, mannequin and rolls of fabric and once through the full-length mirror at the end of the room, you are in the golden age of the thirties and forties speakeasy. Mill Place Merchants see themselves as ‘custodians of a tradition,’ curating cocktails that date back to the originals. The eclectic furniture and décor is cast in the glow of soft lamps and candlelight and this feels at once like home as well as the coolest bar ever. The man behind all this is Paawan Engineer. After a long career in hotels around the world, Paawan wanted to dive deeper into hospitality and get closer to those he worked with, to create a sense of community. He has successfully run Cuff café in the CBD for years but always dreamed of running a bar. When he saw the space in the 1840s heritage listed building off Flinders Lane, he saw past the bright white walls and strip lighting and knew he could make his vision come to life. I can’t get enough of Mill Place Merchants. Between stepping though the looking glass into the cosy golden glow, the devilled eggs and the exceptional cocktails, it is absolutely my kind of place.