Let's be honest.  West End is not traditionally yuppie territory.  Don't even get me started on the hippie rif raf that lurk around that suburb.  Having said that, there are a few legitimately cool places to check out in this locale and one of the increasingly popular watering holes is Archive.  If ever an Eagle Street Yuppie wanted to venture somewhere slightly 'alternative' for drinks without the risk of grungy and unhygienic conditions, Archive is your answer. ...

As alluded to by its name, Archive's interior is decked out with an abundance of old books, quirky objects and your grandma's second hand furniture.  On one side of the bar, you can kick back on the couches and chill out as if you were in a college common room (with better looking people) and on the other side, you can show your prowess at the pool table against a mural of comic book wallpaper.  I'll admit that some of the couches are kind of musty, but I guess it adds to the overall character of the place.  There is also some pretty decent live music playing on the weekends which is definitely worth being around for.  

I'm not a beer drinker, but if I was, I would be damn pleased with the impressive selection of beers at this place.  Archive stands out as a premier 'beer boutique' in our city, dedicated to serving the best domestic and imported craft beers and ciders.  To give you an idea, there are 14 constantly rotating draught beers on tap and over 350 different bottled beers in the bar fridges.  You can also take your new-found favourite beverage home by stepping into the cold room of the Next Door Cellars bottleshop through the back of the bar.   

Did I mention that there is also a mouthwatering menu of bistro food available?  Choose from the generous share plates for grazing or the decent range of traditional pub grub, all of which come with a suggestion on the best craft beer to compliment your meal.  Chances are that you will come here for a quiet a beer or two on a lazy afternoon which somehow transforms into an absolute bender of a night twenty drinks later.  A good feed from the bistro menu will be a pretty good idea at that stage and it will save you that trip to the dirty kebab store later.

Address: 100 Boundary Street, West End
Opening hours: 7 days a week, 11am until late
Phone: 07 3844 3419 
Website: http://www.archivebeerboutique.com.au/