Molly Bar Canberra

Molly is a prohibition-era speakeasy tucked behind an unmarked wooden door in Odgers Lane, in the heart of the Melbourne Building on the edge of Civic. A grand timber staircase leads down into coffered ceilings, crystal chandeliers, burgundy banquettes and a century-old piano that regularly hosts live jazz — the sort of room that does a lot of the atmosphere work for you.

For events, the bar offers its own private space seating around 50 guests, and can be taken exclusively for larger celebrations. It suits birthdays, engagements, hens and bucks nights, end-of-year corporate functions and wedding after-parties, with a whisky list running to several hundred bottles alongside handcrafted cocktails and wine. Late trading to 2am Thursday through Saturday makes it a natural second stop after a dinner or ceremony elsewhere in the city.