Big Esso

While native Australian ingredients are taking center stage in restaurants and bars, few chefs or bartenders understand the connection between these flavors and the land they grow on quite like owner Nornie Bero. A Torres Strait Islander and champion of native Australian ingredients, Bero named her bar after the Torres Strait slang for “the biggest thank you.” Drinks here include a Martini flecked with native green ants (they taste like lime) accompanied by dishes like saltbush- and Tasmanian pepperberry–fried crocodile. Modern, First Nations artwork adorns the brightly colored interior, while floor-to-ceiling windows look out over Melbourne’s Federation Square. It’s the perfect place to get acquainted with the world’s oldest living culture, drink in hand.

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