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The Spot

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Depending n which bartender you ask, Thursday nights are the pick of the bunch. That's Latin night, you'll be told, with a not particularly subtle ??nudge-nudge, wink-wink'. Thursdays may be the most action packed, but The Spot has plenty going for it throughout the week. Arrive before 9pm on any given night and the front room hosts Lentil as Anything - a ??pay what you think is fair' vegetarian restaurant. The mixed tapas selection is excellent and a steal at $10. Or $5. Or whatever your middle-class guilt makes you feel like paying.

Once the hippies and local students have been kicked out, the tables disappear and the band room at the back of the building is opened. Able to house around 400 patrons, it hosts everything from Cat Empire-style funk bands to retro evenings. Whether you opt for the lounge at the front or the band room, the decor has a low-key, relaxed vibe. It's all plush couches, murals on walls, faux wooden columns and warm orange lighting. The crowd, meanwhile, is as friendly as it is diverse - everything from local hipsters and students, to groups of girls in heels out for a dance.

This ?come as you are' attitude of the regulars is manifested in the drinks menu. Or, more accurately, the lack of one. Beers, house wine and basic spirits account for the bulk of alcohol consumed here. It's not exactly extensive, but suites the venue and the young crowd just fine. After all, a good atmosphere is more important than the world's best martini, right.
Mikolai, August 2008