New Gold Mountain
Level 1 and 2, 21 Liverpool St, Melbourne
www.newgoldmountain.org
BarAmigo’s two pesos – up for a cocktail? You’ve hit the right spot.
When visited – Fri 15 Jul 2011 5.30pm to 8pm
The bar on level 1 of New Gold Mountain
Cocktails, cocktails, cocktails… that’s what New Gold Mountain is about. It’s a funky (at least level 2 is), small, dimly lit and very cosy bar which is great to take a seat and enjoy a cocktail with close friends or a date. The bartenders certainly know their cocktails and can concoct whatever drink you feel like.
Had a pint over lunch and was really looking forward to knocking off work. Double Happiness was on the cards… battled for a comfy lounge area in the corner all set for my friends to come along. Then I receive a text saying I’m on level 1… what’s the deal?
So for the benefit of my friend and to get stuck into her again 
… Double Happiness is on ground level… on the window’s you see the big two red Chinese characters of “xi” meaning like or happy. Obvious right? You enter New Gold Mountain through the wooden door with 21 above it. Discrete like any good Melbourne bar. Both Double Happiness and New Gold Mountain are run by the same mob…
My friend has grabbed a couple of chairs at a small table on the first level. Cosy and comfy. We toy with the idea of smuggling a sparkling white downstairs but wisely decide its poor form.
Anyway… time for a cocktail. Drinks list? You’re not going to find one here. I don’t mind cause I’m lazy to read through a menu and prefer explaining what I like. And it suits the barstaff cause they know their cocktails and like picking something which you would like. A whisky sour is my usual but I decide something different but still whisky based is in order.
A classic Manhattan cocktail is the result. $18. Standard price for a cocktail in the city. Two shots of whisky, one of vermouth, some bitters and a cherry is a great start to the night. New Gold Mountain certain do their cocktails well.
It’s pretty lively around 6 through 8. Maybe its the largish group of 10 near us. Pretty much all of the seating area on Level 1 is taken with couples or small groups of friends. Most people drinking wine. Maybe I’m the only alcoholic to get a 3 shot cocktail to begin a Friday night.
Crowd is generally early 30s through late 30s plus. Not a young crowd. Few suits but everyone is pretty well dressed. Girls in jeans and boots seem to be the norm. It seems like the type of professional crowd with casual clothes Fridays grabbing a drink or two before heading over to dinner or home.
I move onto the beers after my Manhattan. The bartender openly admits he doesn’t know anything about the beers… can’t even describe whether the ales are dark or light ales. But it’s no problem as if you’re searching for beers at New Gold Mountain… you’re at the wrong place. $17.50 for a Sav Blanc and a Monteith’s Winter Ale. $9 for a Canadian Club and dry.
Level 2 is rather funky with it’s brighter red decor. Nice contrast to level 1. It’s a little more quiet, private and intimate upstairs. Music isn’t as loud and with less people around, noise level from conversations isn’t that high. Table service is the order of the day upstairs.
The Manhattan and two beers are starting to catch up with me now… time to grab some dinner.
New Gold Mountain is a good cosy venue to grab a cocktail.
Salud
Eddie
BarAmigo – Your friend at the bar
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Went here on Friday night (8.30) after some tasty Vietnamese at Laksame across the road. Went upstairs to the red room and thought it was beautiful! I quickly described the type of cocktail I wanted to the waitress and shortly after it arrived. My friend was driving so they did her a single shot expresso martini. Great place for a quiet cocktail. $32 for the two drinks. Definitely be back! I love that upstairs and downstairs offer two completely different experiences.