Tucked off Footscray’s Moreland Street is the secluded garden oasis that is Lickety Split. Blink and you’ll miss it, this west side hidden gem is home to Melbourne’s first op-shop bar, a vintage inspired alfresco beer garden, a vegan food truck, Shuffle boards, a pop-up bike workshop and some esteemed neighbours.
As you duck through the wrought iron gates, you’re met with a courtyard that feels strikingly at odds with its humble surroundings. Abundant greenery springs to life dotted between the converted shipping containers, vintage metallic seating, vibrant bar stools and timber bench seats.
The eclectic industrial design of the space gifts it a laid back charm that’ll draw you in for a drink and leave you roaming through its nooks and crannies for hours to come. As the sunlight slips from the yard, fairy lights spring to life above your head, transforming the garden into a cosy evening hideout.
Encapsulating the west side rustic chic charm, Lickety Split is the perfect fit for any crowd. Be it a few sneaky wines with friends, a day out for old mate’s birthday, a pit stop on your arvo walk with the dog or a new local for date nights – there’s a perch with your name on it. The varied seating options, open spaces and secluded alcoves cater to both intimate and rowdy catch-ups.
For private functions and events their sister warehouse venue, The Line, sits just next door and can be booked out. The space offers the perfect blank canvas venue for a multitude of functions and events.
After downing a couple of hard earned Furphys, the onsite Vegan Van is locked and loaded and ready to satisfy even the most ravenous of hungers. Now, as someone who would hands down rather annihilate a meatlovers pizza than a tofu burger, hear me out on this one. If you’re going to try a vegan feed, this is the place to do it. The Mooving Mountains Burger left me questioning if my meal had been laced with actual meat and I’m still dreaming of those black bean and jackfruit salsa nachos. Tell you what, if someone was whipping up a spread like this for me every night, full-time veganism might just be on the cards.
Once you’ve entered a food coma and those last few beers have instilled a little confidence in you, why not try your hand at a game of shuffle board. If you’re unfamiliar with the game, think of it as ski ball meets bocce. And what better place to do it than the home of Australia’s first shuffle boards?
If Melbourne is playing funny buggers with the weather (for a change), there’s ample undercover seating, or take a hike just upstairs to the renowned Back Alley Sallys.
Not only is Lickety Split dishing up a whole heap of unreal bites and bevs, but they’ve got an unbelievable amount of love to give back to the community. The venue has handed the front portion of their yard over to the Inner West Bike Hub. The hub takes donated second-hand bikes, does them up and then gift them to refugee families or those that are doing it tough. On top of that, there are mentors on-site to assist with bike servicing and maintenance to any who drop by.
Lickety Split have also paired up with the gang at East 9th Brewing to introduce Doss Closet onsite. A unique concept, the in-bar op-shop donates all proceeds from clothes purchased to Polished Man – a charity focused on ending child violence across the world.
If you’re going to grab a beer anywhere, why not sip it among some sick surroundings while supporting a community-minded business that’s passing on a whole lot of love on to those less fortunate.
