We rock up with a voucher. Can't even work out how to get in. From the outside it looks like a…read moretotal dive. I wonder where the motorbike gangs are. Then we step into the spacious rear beer garden and it transforms. A great layout and plenty of space (in part due to the lack of people). Inside it's been renovated with solid wooden bar tables and so much room and cozy spotz. Dance floor and band stage. Sunlit cubby complete with cushions. It's great! Staff are friendly. The limited menu is supremely well priced. Parmas from $10, desserts for a fiver. Drinks are cheap. Fat Yak on tap always makes me happy. The food came out super fast. It tasted good. It's not a gastropub but we hardly need more of them. The biggest shame is that more people don't know about it. Great for private parties. Excellent for a cheap feed a quick bevvie. Gotta love a beer garden. Get to it! All your friends will be impressed about your well hidden gem find!

Between 3.5 and 4 out of 5…read more. "...WHY THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS..?? WE LOVED IT..." Bought a Groupon Voucher for a meal at the COMMERCIAL HOTEL, Yarraville - COST $20 for 4.. YES.. that's $5 each..!! We made a day of it - Went to Scienceworks in Spotswood.. Had Lunch in Newport.. Saw a film at The Sun Theatre.. Finished off with Dinner at 'The Mersh'.. Yes, I agree.. from the outside it looks 'CLOSED' - that's part of it's charm, but when you get in - from the side car park gate - it's all good.. really good.. We ate in the beer garden - reminded me of a good rough inland country pub.. The 'tranny' posters on the inside walls.. so reminiscent of Oxford Street, Sydney.. It's a pretty eclectic place - I was enchanted by it... And there were quite a few eclectic diners - A good sign.. Staff are laid-back... whatever... all good... no probs... kinda people - really really liked this... We had our 'Mersh Parma' - not huge, but enjoyable.. Well cooked Parma, home-made Napoli Sauce, nice-tasting Mozzarella, crisp well-seasoned Steak Fries, well-dressed fresh Salad.. A good honest home-style meal.. Hey... what do you want for $5...!!! We had dessert: $5 each 2 x very large wedges HOME-MADE Apple Pie - Delish... 2 x very large slices HOME-MADE Raspberry Cheesecake - Very Delish... Drinks: $31 total 2 x jugs Lemon Squash 2 x pots VB Beer We will absolutely go again - my kind of 'really relaxed' place... Visited on Friday 9 October for Dinner with my family of four.

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.

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!

Fantastic contemporary Australian cuisine! Our Aussie friends suggested this restaurant for our…read morefirst night in Melbourne. Service was friendly, everything was delightful and the wine selection was fantastic!! Great introduction to Melbourne dining. The roast lamb for the table was particularly memorable!

Host appears to have too many additional duties causing delays being greeted and seated. Asked for…read moreand received a different table as the one offered was in an awful location. They rush your choices for drinks/food evidently to turn the tables on time. As requested we gave our full order at once. I don't want to have my food start appearing before my cocktail is finished! Long delay between a couple of the tapas style courses. Limited dessert options and overly high priced wines, especially by the glass, although the list is quite extensive. The food is very good. The atmosphere is very loud and slightly chaotic. It's worth a meal but with so many options I doubt we would return.

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.

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

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