Tucked away in a tight alley off Little Bourke, you could be forgiven for passing by Manchuria…read more But it is home to some of the best cocktails in Melbourne. With only a small sign and a roller door to advertise it's presence, it is a great place to get away from the noise and action of China Town and sit down with some delicious cocktails. The décor is like something out of an old Chinese dynasty with intricate woodwork, intimate booths and comfortable lounges. The music isn't too loud so you can still have a chat with your mates, and the general atmosphere is one of relaxation. Bar food is on offer but its not as spectacular as the cocktails (or the food along Little Bourke), but worth a nibble if your hungry and don't want to leave. The bar, illuminated against the wall has some of the best cocktails around and the bar staff are extremely good at making them to your satisfaction. Highlights include the Aviation (crème de violette and gin with maraschino liqueur and lemon juice), and The Last Word (green chartreuse, gin, lime juice and maraschino liqueur). You can't go wrong.

Gorgeous bar with asian-inspired decor. I don't drink cocktails (unless you count Tito's dirty…read moremartini as one ) but they have a nice list. No Tito's but they have ketel one so not a problem. Bartenders are super friendly, unlike the ones you tend to run into in speakeasies in New York. ‍‍ but on average everyone is nicer in Melbourne than in the US ‍ anyway, highly recommend this place and go early to avoid it being crowded

Fantastic cosy place with great food, awesome music, and super awesome bar staff…read more We ordered a share plate. The beef cheek was very tender, and the Cous Cous was salty, creamy and delicate. Definitely worth a visit.

Great neighborhood eatery! The Speakeasy Kitchen Bar is a gem amidst the urban jungle that's the…read moreChapel and Commercial Streets hub. Found this place merely by happenstance, since we had to drop our pooch off around the street for a grooming and wanted to grab a breakfast bite before heading to the Prahran Market. 8a Saturday morn is relatively quiet in Prahran, and the Speakeasy has a very inviting front and menu that lured us in. You can sit alfresco on Chapel, or inside, emerging into an open courtyard out back. The whole layout is surprisingly quite expansive once you get through to the back area and courtyard. And, too, there's a graffiti-muraled alleyway directly off of Commercial, where patrons with dogs can come through and enjoy the courtyard. Fantastic, I say!! The early morn staff couldn't be friendlier or more welcoming. A great way to start off one's day! The caffeine craving was kicking in, so a couple of "long blacks" (that's Aussie for a shot of espresso with a bit of hot water) quenched the thirst. I went with the Spanish-style chorizo baked beans with baked egg and crumbled feta, that was served with a couple of slices of rustic toast ($17). (My partner went with the crushed avocado and feta with cracked pepper and lime on toast with a poached egg ($16.50; $14 without the egg).) Initially, I thought my order of the baked beans was a bit on the small side. However, as it turned out, those beans sure do expand in one's stomach, and I wasn't able to finish the entire bowl -- almost, but not quite.... (I would've popped if I had those last few bites!) The beans had a wonderful crusty top layer that jibed well with the spiciness from the chorizo and creaminess of the feta. Atop the rustic toast, it was a winner! (The avo/feta toast looked fine, too, but didn't have the much-favored "rocket" (arugula) that I've seen at other restaurants.) Our waiter, Joel, couldn't have been friendlier. Both the lunch and dinner menu selections looked great, too. (Joel said the dinner menu is more tapas-like, with people usually ordering dishes to share. There was single-order dishes, as well.) Overall, we both thought we'd made a terrific discovery in this area where the blocks are literally lined with restaurants of practically every kind of cultural cuisine! Without doubt, we'll be back to try out more of the Speakeasy Kitchen Bar real soon...!

This is another pretty ritzy bar, and I'm starting to think that this part of Melbourne could…read moreeasily be called 'Cocktail Land'. Then again, it does happen to be at the 'Paris End' of the city, which is probably why there happens to be all these cocktail bars located around here. Anyway, this place is pretty awesome, especially since you can drink beers here as well because they have beer on tap, and some pretty awesome ones at that as well. Yeah, this was pretty awesome, oh, and the service was pretty good too.

A friend introduced us to this place during a recent visit to Melbourne. Not only does the…read moredownstairs have a speakeasy vibe, the food and drink were delish. We just had apps and cocktails, and everything was great. This is def worth an evening out.

Fantastic sunset tour of Great Ocean Road with the multi-talented Sherif as our guide/driver…read more Long drive, but worth every minute. Sherif had much information to share about the history, geography, and wildlife of this beautiful area. Views of the ocean, cliffs, Twelve Apostlesand sunset were stunning. It was fun to see and photograph kangaroos, cockatoos, and even sleeping koalas. Sherif (a professional musician) even performed a very memorable demonstration of the didgeridoo for us. This tour also helped avoid the crowds. Thanks Sherif for a great tour!

We went on the one day Great Ocean Road tour where we started off at Bells beach, had lunch at the…read moreCape Otway lighthouse (and we climbed up the lighthouse). And I would give this tour a five star except the lunch was merely a light snack that included two small sausages, potatoes, and a salad and since it's a ~13hr tour, everyone was quite hungry by the end. Anyway, we got to see the koalas and were lucky enough to see one awake, walking and climbing a tree! We didn't get to see the kangaroos due to the season but that's out of the tour guide's control. The major highlights of our tour were the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge! The pictures don't do justice, you'll have to go there and see them for yourself! Our tour guide was AJ, he was nice and informative.

Walking past Katuk, you would easily miss this little hidden away bar. Heck, it wasn't until we…read morewere passing by on the other side of Chapel street, when we noticed people in the upstairs area. Then we spotted the doorway and stairs leading straight up. Who doesn't like places off the beaten path? So we crossed and checked it out. The front room is decked out like a library with a high wall bookcase. There is a very tiny balcony, it can fit maybe six people comfortably without bumping too many elbows. A stretched out bar is in the middle and the perfect size for here, and the back has more seating and a small smoking area (Don't quote me on that part). Looking through their menu, there are plenty of drink choices to pick from. I am one of those people who like watching people make drinks, it can keep me easily entertained for a good while, and the cocktails here are well made and created with time. I had the Spiced Pear Collins, it was served in a high glass coated with cinnamon. It was good, gin and pear is always good for me. The Naked & Famous is a really smokey drink and tastes like a pit barbecue of smoked meats went straight to liquefied version and into a martini glass. The normal prices for cocktails go for about $20, but if you come on Wednesdays, they have selected drinks for half price.

Will always be my fav Melbourne bar. Decor is inviting and the staff knowledge on all the cocktails…read moreand spirits always has me drinking things I would never normally try. Great to sit at the bar on a quiet night and chat to the friendly staff otherwise a spot in the back courtyard is best on a busy night! I can often be found enjoying the front smoking area - as my husband smokes and so I can people watch over Chapel St! Can not go past the Katuk's Passion Cocktail!!

State of Grace was one of the highlights of our Melbourne trip -- an incredible dining experience…read morefrom start to finish. The atmosphere is vibrant, stylish, and full of character. From the moment you walk in, there's a buzz that makes the place feel alive without being overwhelming. It strikes a great balance between upscale and relaxed, making it perfect for a date night or a fun evening out. The warm lighting and eclectic design add to the charm and make you want to linger. Service was friendly, attentive, and well-paced throughout the night. The staff were knowledgeable about the menu, checked in on us at the right moments, and made the whole experience feel effortless and welcoming. Every dish we ordered was excellent -- not a single miss. We started with the Cauliflower & Mozzarella Croquettes, which were crispy on the outside and perfectly creamy inside. The Grilled King Prawns were flavorful and cooked just right, while the Kingfish Ceviche was fresh, bright, and beautifully balanced. The Stracciatella & Heirloom Tomatoes was simple yet outstanding, letting the quality of the ingredients shine. For mains, the Duck Breast was cooked perfectly and full of rich flavor, and the Lamb Backstrap was tender and well-seasoned. The Pecorino & Ricotta Ravioli was comforting and delicate, while the Seafood Linguine stood out with generous portions of seafood and a beautifully balanced sauce. The Honey Glaze Carrots were the perfect side -- sweet, savory, and executed flawlessly. Overall, State of Grace delivers on every level -- ambience, service, and food. An exceptional spot that lives up to the hype, and one we'd absolutely return to on our next visit to Melbourne.

Food was delicious and perfect potions. The music was way…read moretoo loud which ruins the experience. Service is great

This used to be one of my locals when I lived in the neighbourhood. But it was during…read moreday/afternoon/early evening when I used to visit. It turned totally knobish later in the evening and used to be insufferable on a Friday or Saturday night with a DJ playing shit dance music on the broken speakers at ear bleeding volume (sounds terrible). During the time of the day I visited it's wonderful. I love the building and the layout inside. The beer selection is excellent and bar staff friendly. It's a beautiful building and the interior is cosy and welcoming.

The Grace Darling is one of my favourite pubs in Melbourne. It's well known as a hipster hangout…read moreand once you walk in you will see why. Calling it a pub is a little misleading as the food and drinks on offer are top notch and the staff, while usually looking grumpy and bored, are pretty cool and do a decent job. It's great as a after work drink or catch up spot because of the range of group seating (massive couches or tall tables) and the great $5 pints of Coopers! They do pretty good pub food and always have good music. The pub looks quite nice and fancy, not a dingy old pub. There is wifi that says guest but none of the staff ever know the password so useless. Check the bar out though!

Though I have been here for some shows I'm reviewing this from an eating and drinking experience…read more The Malthouse bar and cafe is open even when there is nothing showing and has a simple selection of good food. For example on most recent visit a salami and veggie frittata and choice of potato, couscous, slaw salads. Very tasty and good value. Good selection of wines and beer including something new for me Coopers vintage extra strong ale. Friendly staff. Outside eating area. Nice quiet escape from overly busy cafes. Recommend a visit for a bite to eat.