Step into a world of pure imagination at the Wonka Bar at The Westin Melbourne, open just for the season of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the musical in Melbourne!
Until January 2020, The Westin Melbourne‘s Lobby Lounge has been transformed into a dessert wonderland for those with a sweet tooth. We are invited to sample the dessert and cocktail menu.
Darren Purchese and his team at Burch & Purchese have created a fantastical edible chocolate garden inspired by Roald Dahl’s book.
The 3.4 metre chocolate installation includes 150 chocolate toadstools, 50 different chocolate flowers, 15 chocolate butterflies, chocolate lollipops and much more.
In addition, Burch & Purchese have collaborated with The Westin Melbourne to create the Wonka Bar’s special menu of five limited-edition desserts. The most popular seems to be the Golden Ticket ($25) – a gold chocolate bar with dark chocolate mousse, smoked vanilla ice cream and salted caramel cream – as it is sold out on our visit on a weekend afternoon.
No matter – the Black Forest & Chocolate River is just as decadent ($26)!
It combines cherries and chocolate sponge on a biscuit base with chocolate twigs, mushrooms and a warm chocolate river that you pour yourself! It’s a very rich combination and definitely a dessert for two.
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A lighter option is the coconut, blueberry & Violet Beauregarde ($22) with blueberry compote, coconut marshmallow, coconut cake and violet ice-cream.
If tart citrus desserts are more your style then try the Fizzy Citrus Burp ($26), a wobbly brulee lemon curd with fizzy white chocolate aero, a circle of orange jelly and dried lime meringue.
Drinks-wise there are four new concoctions for $18 each. The Blueberry Gumball contains vodka, blue curacao, raspberry balsamic, raspberry cordial, soda water, garnished with an ice sphere, popping candy and fairy floss. If that doesn’t turn you violet I don’t know what will!
As I’m driving I just stick to one cocktail but for next time I like the sound of Pure Imagination with dark chocolate liquor, chocolate sauce and cream, all garnished with chocolate and gold edible glitter.
Children can also join in with the Wonkariffic High Tea!
It features three tiers of treats inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and draws gasps when it arrives.
Look out for the honeycomb and chocolate mousse, a vanilla meringue forest mushroom, amazingly detailed chocolate cupcakes (try to read all the words on the Golden Ticket!), a mini golden ticket chocolate bar and a fairy floss candyman pop.
The high tea is served with a choice of Violet Beauregard’s bubble gum milkshake (which looks amazing but the artificial flavour is not to my kids’ tastes), hot chocolate, juices and soft drinks.
The Wonkariffic High Tea also includes a limited edition Charlie and the Chocolate Factory book by Roald Dahl.
It’s perfect entertainment while you’re anticipating the arrival of your high tea and then you get to take it home.
The Wonka Bar is open daily from 12pm. On weekends the Wonka Bar is very busy and they don’t take bookings, so try to drop in during the week instead. Note you must make a booking if you’re having the Wonkariffic Kids High Tea as it needs to be prepared especially for you.
Wonka Bar is just a short walk from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory playing at her Her Majesty’s Theatre so the hotel is the perfect location for a pre or post-show treat. The Westin Melbourne is also the preferred hotel partner for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the musical in Melbourne and they have put together a ‘Golden Ticket Package. For $450 per room enjoy:
- Luxurious overnight accommodation
- Two A-Reserve tickets to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Musical at Her Majesty’s Theatre
- A copy of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory paperback book (special musical edition cover)
- Your choice of two desserts from the special ‘Wonka Bar’ menu in the Lobby Lounge.
Click here for my review of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical
Click here for the 20 best high teas in Melbourne
Click here for the 100 best things to do in Melbourne with kids
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