Southern smokehouse swagger and late-night bourbon under one tin roof.

Le Bon Ton: Melbourne’s Deep South Hideaway

Housed in a century-old brick building, Le Bon Ton is Collingwood’s nod to the American South — smoky, dimly lit and unapologetically loud. The scent of hickory wood hits before you even see the pitmaster, slow-cooking brisket, pork shoulder and ribs until the meat barely holds together. The space walks a line between saloon and speakeasy, where whisky shelves climb to the ceiling and neon glows through the haze of bourbon and barbecue.

It’s all rhythm, heat and indulgence — the kind of place that could just as easily sit in the French Quarter as it does on Gipps Street.

The Menu: Smoke, Spice and Spirit

Every dish tells a story from below the Mason-Dixon. Brisket is smoked for 12 hours, gumbo simmers slow and deep, and fried chicken crunches loud enough to turn heads. The pit meats are served with house-made sauces — vinegar-sharp, molasses-sweet or tongue-tingling with cayenne. Add a side of mac ’n’ cheese or cornbread dripping with butter and you’re set.

The bar keeps pace with the kitchen. Bourbon cocktails dominate, from Sazeracs to Mint Juleps, poured strong and with purpose. The whiskey list alone could keep you busy all night.

The Vibe: Loud, Late, and Unashamedly Fun

Le Bon Ton isn’t a quick dinner spot. It’s an evening. Music hums low in the background, strangers become drinking buddies, and the glow of the smoker out back pulls people in like moths. On weekends it goes late — the kind of late that feels like a good idea even when it isn’t.

Melbourne’s best version of the South doesn’t fake it. It just lives it, one slow-smoked bite at a time.