Nightlife in Melbourne
Eccentrically furnished bars are a city trademark, recreating lounges from the 1950s or Hollywood bachelor pads of the 1970s. Seek them out in unexpected places, like Comme Wine Room or hovering above the rooftops at Cookie. Theatre and performing arts cluster around the Arts Centre near Southbank. New and established bands perform at Inner North and St Kilda clubs. Roofed venues are smoke-free and open to 3am on Friday and Saturday.
Cookie
Buzzing beer hall
Up a level from the city streets, this disco/beer hall is huge but stylish
with soaring ceilings and pillars. The beer and liquor options are endless
and Thai bar snacks and meals are served. There's seating on the balcony.
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Address
252, Swanston Street, Curtin House, First Floor, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9663 7660
Madame Brussels
Terrace cocktails and cupcakes
Madame Brussels blends fifties kitsch and country club ambience with
astroturf and a quirky trellised bar. Recline on a divan on the garden
terrace overlooking city rooftops while sipping Pimm's and grazing on
cucumber sandwiches and cupcakes.
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Address
59-63, Bourke Street, Level 3, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9662 2775
Mink
Vodka bar
Dim lights, eccentric armchairs and timber-lined nooks make Mink a glamorous
underground refuge for lovers of all things vodka. Part of the Prince
complex in St Kilda, it offers bookable private lounges and booths.
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Address
2, Acland Street, St Kilda, Melbourne 3182
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9536 1199
Transit
Drinks on the square
Smack-bang in the middle of the city, Transit is the most central spot in
town for a late afternoon pick-me-up or into-the-night good time. Swill
drinks overlooking Federation Square or nab a manly wood and leather
banquette inside.
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Address
Transport Hotel Level 2, Federation Square, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9654 8808
Address
Transport Hotel Level 2, Federation Square, Melbourne 3000
Transport
Flinders Street Train Station
Website
Website
Comme Wine Room
Sophisticated wines
Tucked down a city laneway, Comme Wine Room focuses on glamour and fine
wines. The space is dominated by a central marble bar and cosy ottomans for
sharing. Taste the bar menu or head next door to Comme Kitchen bistro.
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Address
7, Alfred Place, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9631 4000
Tony Starr's Kitten Club
Jazz and cabaret bar
The city's Tony Starr's Kitten Club shrieks fifties glamour with cool tunes,
classic cocktails, laidback lounges and powder room. Away from the
cocktails, there's cabaret or jazz in the Galaxy Space and a secluded velvet
nook called the Love Lounge.
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Address
267, Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9650 2448
Synbar
Disco bar
The entertainment is DJ-driven at modern, newly renovated Synbar in
Melbourne's CBD. Away from the dance floor, chill out on the huge alfresco
balcony or sip cocktails in a private booth or VIP Lounge. Enjoy free BBQs
on Fridays.
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Address
Level 1, 163, Russell Street, Corner of Bourke and Russell Streets, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9663 8990
Fusion
Live casino entertainment
Crown Casino's Fusion nightclub on Southbank takes place Thursday to Sunday
with top house DJs and live rhythms. Occasional cabaret, 80s cover bands and
Top 40 nights round off the entertainment.
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Address
8, Whiteman Street, Level 3 Crown Entertainment Complex, Melbourne 3006
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9292 8888
The Loft
Disco with city views
Poised above the city's theatre district, The Loft has floor-to-ceiling
views, disco glitter balls and a long cool bar. The packed dance floor sways
to a friendly mix of Top 40 and RnB on Fridays and Saturdays only.
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Address
117, Lonsdale Street, Level 2, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 425 854 989
Night Cat
Cool club for dancing
The Night Cat has been a Fitzroy favourite for more than a decade. There's
plenty of room to swing and comfy seats and mood lighting for relaxing. The
live sounds are varied, from hip hop to funk and salsa.
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Address
141, Johnston Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne 3065
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9417 0090
Arts Centre
Melbourne's cultural hub
Head for the Arts Centre's spire past Southbank for myriad performance and
exhibition spaces. Hamer Hall presents orchestras, the Playhouse does drama
and the State Theatre hosts opera and musicals. The intimate Speigeltent
returns each spring and summer with cabaret.
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Address
100, St Kilda Road, Melbourne 3004
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9281 8000
Forum Theatre
Classic atmospheric theatre
The Forum Theatre owes its Florentine decor and flamboyant Moorish
architecture to its former life as a cinema. It's one of the city's most
atmospheric venues for seeing a live band or film during the festival, with
intimate cabaret-style seating.
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Address
Corner Russell and Flinders Streets, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9299 9860
Prince Bandroom
Live bands
Bands have been playing the St Kilda Prince Bandroom for decades. It's
received a scrubdown but is still a favourite for music lovers. There are
acts most nights, from Billy Bragg to Sly & Robbie.
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Address
29, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Melbourne 3182
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9536 1168
Bennetts Lane
Jazz icon
Bennetts Lane means one thing - the best jazz in the city. Live acts feature
every night of the week, as well as impromptu performances when stars are in
town. The club, seating 100, is suitably dimly lit and intimate.
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Address
25, Bennetts Lane, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9663 2856
Ding Dong Lounge
Alternative rock
Like its sister club in New York, Chinatown's Ding Dong Lounge celebrates
alternative rock. Drop in for a drink or catch local or international rock
music. The style is Ramones and Stooges, with definitely no electronica.
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Address
18, Market Lane, Level 1, Melbourne 3000
Telephone
+61 (0) 3 9662 1020
