Two top-flight hospo talents teamed up in 2024 to open Milquetoast, a wine bar and dining room with a creative edge. Operated by George Curtis of Before + After and sommelier James Horsfall (restaurant manager at Blume), Milquetoast has transformed a gritty laneway garage space off Elizabeth Street (right next door to Alice) into a spot to sip fine wines and innovative cocktails. James has curated a tight wine list of approximately 50 bottles, encompassing small-scale independent producers from across Australia and the globe. On the cocktail front, Aidan Perkins (formerly of Exhibition, Hôntô and Agnes) is dispensing a range of creative concoctions that champion seasonal ingredients and utilise contemporary techniques ranging from fermentations to house-made tinctures and sodas. Milquetoast’s British-inspired food menu is concise, but is elevated by the use of quality ingredients and top-class cooking from head chef Lauren Kinne.