one of my missions to melbourne was to locate a cigar bar,
called siglo.
however it took greater efforts than i had imagined ...
with a friend, we walked straight passed it the first time,
so directions had to be sought from a local,
and only then, did we realise it was hidden
behind a solid timber door, between two bars.
we looked hard, but there was no signs,
apart from the simple "melbourne supper club" on the rim of the door frame.
after much hesitation,
we pushed open the forbidden door,
only to find a long, narrow staircase
disappearing into darkness ...
we held our breaths and walked up the mysterious steps,
to find ourselves landing on a dark, cosy room with comfortable couches.
it was the supper club,
a surprisingly popular place, already packed at 8pm.
but where is siglo? the waiters pointed upstairs,
beyond a mezzanine. we proceded further,
our curiosity growing with each step.
the mezzanine had a vibe of an old gentleman's study,
filled with antique furniture,
a large display of cigars drew our attention
behind a locked cupboard. siglo must be close ...
finally, after the last set of stairs,
a roof top bar emerged in front of us, like a secret society.
immediately, an exquisit view caught our eyes:
the striking parliament building and an old church
softly lit in the background,
it was as if we entered a historic movie scene.
the space was lit by heat lamps,
and sheltered by a large canopy.
only silhouettes and smoke were visible in the dimness.
the bar was amply filled with a unique group of people,
some smoking cigars, others just enjoying a cigarette.
feeling equally special,
we couldn't resist but reward our efforts
with a cocktail and a cigar,
indulging the privilege of knowing such a unique place...
