A martini remains one of those rare drinks that feel both classic and deeply personal. Maybe it’s the chilled glass, maybe it’s the first sip at dinner, or maybe it’s simply that the cocktail still feels just as glamorous as a classic decades later. 

And if I am being honest, I’ve had my fair share of martinis – it’s something Sydney does very well. 

Back in 2021 (yes someone how 5 years ago) – I spoke to bartenders who helped decode the drink and art of ordering one. And honestly not much has changed. Martini still feel timeless, indulgent and best enjoyed at the start (or end) of a long evening.

So the return of Four Pillars Martini Collective for 2026 feels less like a marketing exercise and more of an excuse to spend the next month hopping between some of the best bars and restaurants with a mini martini in hand. 

Back for its fourth year, the Martini Collective sees Four Pillars partnering with Sydney, Melbourne and now Brisbane for a month-long celebration of the iconic cocktail. The concept is simple: each venue serves a perfectly measured Olive Leaf Gin Mini Martini paired with a snack designed specifically to match. Which honestly sounds exactly like the kind of evening I love.

A martini before dinner at Aalia Wine Room with Raw tuna on fried Lebanese bread, dill, finger lime, caramelized kishk. A ‘Baccala Mantecato’ – Whipped salt cod & fried polenta paired with an icy Olive Leaf Martini at Flaminia. Just a few of the kind of combinations you’ll find when ticking off the venues off the list. 

Running from Thursday 21 May to Sunday 21 June, the Four Pillars Martini Collective feels like the perfect excuse to spend the next month sipping Mini Martinis your way across some of Australia’s best bars and restaurants, all leading into World Martini Day.