Once upon a time The Danish Club in Denmark House was strictly reserved for members. Last year it opened it’s doors to the general public and more recently it sweetened the deal by giving us Bar DANSK, a Danish bar with views of Little Bourke Street to boot.

The contemporary Nordic bar looks more like a designer’s living room than a watering hole, with natural light flooding through the massive windows and casting shadows on the blonde oak floor. The small space also boasts high ceilings, exposed beams and Danish designer furniture. Red Borge Mogensen sofas add splashes of colour, while a copper ‘Artichoke’ feature light is suspended from the ceiling. There’s even a reindeer pelt that adds an extra component of Copenhagen cool.

Get a taste for Denmark and wrap your lips around imported Tuborg, Carlsberg, Sommersby Cider and seasonal house-infused schnapps. For something more authentic, try some Aquavit, a traditional flavoured spirit that has around for centuries.

To soak up that European booze, devour gourmet bar snacks such as ‘Pork Bubble’ and house-salted nuts. For something more substantial, there’s a crispy free-range pork belly burger or ‘ribbenste’, served on a soft Brasserie Bread bun with a secret homemade remoulade, cucumber salad and pickled red cabbage. There’s also a traditional hotdog and BBQ chicken. One thing is for sure; you won’t find another joint in Melbourne with ‘Danish pastries’ on the bar menu.

Alternatively, patrons can opt for a sit down dinner across the hallway at Restaurant DANSK. Executive chef Bente Grysbæk is reinventing the classic Danish smørrebrød. She was Princess Mary’s personal chef when her Majesty visited. Hell, if it’s good enough for her, it’s good enough for us.

Skål!

Location: Level 3, 428 Little Bourke St, CBD
Open: Mon-Tue 11am-4pm, Wed-Fri 11am-11pm (subject to change)| Closed weekends
Phone: (03) 9600 4477
Details: denmarkhouse.com.au