It was a fine Saturday afternoon in Melbourne when I popped on a fabulous frock and heels to meet the lovely ladies of fashion at Madame Brussels. Having heard so much about this establishment I was quite looking forward to an afternoon of cocktails, cupcakes and the quaint décor that MBs is renowned for.

We experienced a minor hiccup, not being able to find the venue from street level (although this does give it the allure of being special and rare!) but upon finding the elevator, the doors opened to a gorgeous garden setting complete with grass, pathways, lattice and ornate furniture. The setting was divine, the guests all dressed for the occasion and the staff finished off the picture perfectly. It was time to (tea) party.

We started with a table on the rooftop, sipping on Pimms and a cocktail going by the name of Undress Me Slowly. A jug of your favourite is $30 for singles and $50 for doubles (think tennis) which was more than enough to keep us going to quite some time. We posed under parasols, admired the staff’s attire and watched little dogs run around the ‘garden’ – it was bliss.

As the sun climbed higher we ventured inside for some relief and continued our cocktail journey with The Golden Girls. The old fashioned hand lawnmower, a Barbie pink bathroom and the floral patterns on the cushions adorning the chairs all made for a surreal experience but one brilliantly put together – you could easily imagine yourself in an English garden if the views of Melbourne from the rooftop weren’t so good.

While we spent only a few hours at Madame Brussels, I can’t wait to pick my outfit for next time. I’ve already earmarked a few more cocktails to try and I definitely want a Dixie Cup (remember the ice cream???). Apparently in winter, the staff bring you blankets when the temperature drops below 14 degrees and the thought of being wrapped up on a Melbourne rooftop is just too fun for words!

www.madamebrussels.com