La-di-dah we do like a fancy cocktail don't we?! On a rainy, dark Tuesday evening it seemed more than appropriate to walk past the brown door - twice. But boy oh boy - when we finally got in it felt downright magical. Smooth service, smooth music and smooth surrounds. This is the place to go if you want to impress friends and visitors to Melbourne. Staff were amazingly friendly and not too cool for school as you may perhaps expect. The choices of cocktails and whiskey were impressive as was the presentation once the drinks hit your table. I can see why this would get packed on weekends so happy to keep it to an occasional weeknight treat (for which my bank account will be grateful for....). As for this locker key business - it's my birthday later this month. #justsaying read more

"UHM HEY DO YOU KNOW WHERE UHHH THAT FRENCH-SOUNDING COCKTAIL PLACE IS?" "Eau De Vie? I'm headed there myself." "OH MY GAWD WE'LL JUST FOLLOW YOU THEN! WOO!" It's ok, they were quite tame and sensible, and patient enough to wait in line once we'd slipped behind the big metal door. It was a Friday night, after all, and Eau De Vie was HOPPING. BUZZING. OTHER EXCITABLE WORDS. And it was my first visit ever, can you believe it? I was worried I'd built this place up to the point where reality couldn't possibly exceed expectations. And as I waited in line and looked around the space, I thought perhaps it wasn't going to. But then the server came down the line to check numbers, and when I mentioned I was a party of just one, he declared that he would be my friend. Being a busy night, I was sat at a table with a couple of other small parties. We were presented with an array of menus, and while they were a pleasure to read through, nothing particularly jumped out at me. I asked if there was anything on the experimental menu that led with gin and it must have been my night because Jack had a current competition drink meant to mimic cucumber sandwiches. One of those, please and thank you. Not long after I'd ordered my drink and before I'd received it, I was told that there was a single seat at the bar just for me. MY TIME TO SHINE. And that's where the five stars cement themselves, because not only was the drink was delicious (of course), but the bar seat was comfortable, the company was delightful, the bartenders were showy and the time just disappeared. I had to make a run for the second-last tram of the night to get back to my accommodation, though I almost wished Eau De Vie had stayed open all night... because I would have been comfortable at the bar for hours, maybe days. My one regret is that I didn't come here a lot sooner. Lesson learned. See you next time, EDV. I PROMISE. read more

When someone comes to visit Melbourne, the "must visit" place is Eau De Vie. Melbourne has this stigma of laneways, quirky art, cosy bars and an air of class: Eau De Vie fills all of these requirements. Tucked away in Malthouse Lane (which is hard enough to find by itself) behind a discrete unmarked door, is this glorious establishment for those who enjoy dressing nice and drinking nice. Eau De Vie is the perfect location for a couple group beverages before a night out, after dinner, or just for a one on one with a treasured friend. My "must try" beverage is The Blazer. Fired rum with walnut liqueur, bana glaze and porter beer makes for the perfect combination on a cold winter night. The Old Fashioned ain't too bad either. Straighten your tie, slap on some cologne, grab your wallet and get down to the classiest joint in town. read more

Yes EDV serves us well. A large non descript door, and then enter into luxurious surrounds in what actually feels like a private club. Add to this the extensive Whisk(e)y menu, the equally as impressive cocktail list- almost the length of a novel, and the fact that you can opt for little bar snackings or even a degustation menu, and this is the kind of place that will consume more and more of your time. There's also little lockers in which one can keep their chosen tipple for a future occasion. Yes, you will pay handsomely here, but EDV as a venue invites a sense of occasion. With some small talk and banter and drinks in hand there's not much else you need here. Go here to indulge. read more

This place is exactly what it says it is.. Hidden, classy and slightly pretentious. Went there for my birthday drinks with a fairly large group and they happily found us a table. The waiter however wasn't so friendly and could have been because we didn't order as much as he would have liked. The drinks itself are pricey and it's not exactly the place you can spend all night getting Drunk on a tight budget. The drinks itself are tasty and overall it's a good place for a drink or two. read more

You don't spend more than a week in Melbourne seeking legitimate cocktail bartending jobs (no more Velvet Hammers or Alabama Slammers, please god) before somebody points you down Malthouse Lane and toward EDV, and bless them for doing so. Because even if their roster's all filled up...you'll be back. As I have been a few times, and I've literally not found a single thing to critique at this joint. When there solo, the bartenders have been friendly, humorous and oozing candor whilst they whip up what's arguably the most notable drinks menu in the city; when there with a date, the polite and soft-spoken server was attentive and patient, never pushing drinks like a ticket scalper under the gun. Impeccable service. Have you ever opened the lid on your jam jar drink ("Hmm, a touch over-done," you say?) and watched as a thick plume of smoke spills over the rim, having kissed your Negroni (I'm totally going to forgive them calling it a Negrizzle) with a delicious charcoal-y aroma of winter nights by the hearth? Because if you have, I bet you did so at EDV and you get what I'm saying here. It might be worth doing drinks like this for novelty alone, but it actually does add something: flavor, atmosphere, even a bizarre nostalgic olfactory tingle. There aren't a lot of joints taking this much casual, unpretentious pride in the drinks they create...but Melbournians are lucky enough to have one right under their noses. read more

So this cute little place is a speakeasy 100% It's down an alley with a little light over top, we would of never guessed if it wasn't for someone telling us before hand! Super cute and chic. Very very busy! We originally went to eat dinner but found out the items on the menu (food wise) was very minimal or super small plates. Ended up just ordering some cocktails, over priced but delicious. Four stars for the atmosphere and cocktails! read more

Love this place. Awesome staff who are exceedingly professional, fantastic drinks, great cheese platters, dark and cozy atmosphere, good music, beautiful people... What's not to love?? Would definitely recommend this for a date or classy, unrushed catch up drinks with friends. It's just the right mix of busy but not too loud. I also feel like this is a great winter bar, and a great place to escape the cold and relax. read more

For a moment I thought Melbourne had out-hipstered me. Eau De Vie is well and truly one of the city's hidden bars. But beyond its gritty laneway door is a cosy, warm room full of substance and style. Whisky is their specialty, making it the perfect place to unwind on a cold Melbourne night. If Whisky isn't your gig, the talented bar staff are at the ready with a catalogue of cocktails. It might seem a little pricey, but really - who doesn't pretend they're wealthy when sipping on a glass of single malt? read more

EDV has been on my list of places to try for quite a while now, and I can happily say that I wasn't disappointed! It can be a little hard to find, down the laneway with no hugely obvious signage out the front. Once you're inside, the dark timber and interesting decorations create a really warm, low lit and intimate atmosphere. As far as cocktails go - they are as good as it gets! Each cocktail is served in incredibly unique glassware, from cute little glass tea cups, right through to replica animal horns, and the presentation of each cocktail becomes quite a theatrical display, with the use of liquid nitrogen, flames etc. From what I can see, the food looked great, and will be back to try that next time. read more

Classic speakeasy style cocktail bar with a vibrant menu that tells a story. I had a few drinks here while passing through Melbourne for work and was so glad I found this place. The bar staff was friendly, and the drinks were well-balanced with thoughtful flavor profiles. Whatever drink they made with the flames was KILLER to watch. Very cool and flashy. If I lived locally I'd love to drink my way through the menu over time, but I just settled for a few gin cocktails. I'm glad I read reviews first, otherwise it would've been quite difficult finding this place. Overall, lovely hidden gem and would highly recommend! read more

Love love love love love. I did have to walk past this place, back and forth, for about 20 minutes before I wandered into a liquor store around the corner looking for directions. As soon as I said, "Do you know..." the guy finished my sentence. He must get that a lot! Turns out I wasn't terribly dense; they were closed because I was there on Boxing Day. Gah! But if you're looking, it's the huge brown door on Malthouse lane, next to the Adina stairs (that confused me). When I finally made it in, I think on December 27th, I was the only one there. I got to say hi to Greg as he was leaving, and then spent the next hour chatting with Chantel and Cupcake, who were so nice. (I was recommended here by a bartender friend of mine from NYC!) I had the Ron Zacapa blazer, being a big fan of RZ and of blazing drinks on cold nights. It was so lovely, I had three! However, when you heat alcohol, the fumes from the glass get really intense, so it's hard to drink immediately fresh, unless you hold your breath a little. Anyway, definitely come here - I'm headed back to Melbourne in a couple of weeks and I can't wait to bring my boyfriend here! read more

Really great cocktails, but even better service. I didn't really much like the drink that was first suggested, and they very rapidly made sure that was fixed. Difficult entrance to find, but I guess that's the fun of it!!!!!! read more

LOVE. IT. Love everything about it. (Good idea to make a reservation - it's easy on their website, and the line can get fairly long on a Friday or Saturday evening) read more

Expensive and over-rated. We waited 40 minutes for a cocktail on a Tuesday night. Now I know there's a lot of waiting to be done at trendy Flinders Lane venues on any night of the week, but unlike, say Chin Chin, where you are told how long you can expect to wait to be seated, here you are an unwitting slave to the poor service. If the guy who seated us had told us that it would be a 40 minute wait I would have hightailed it out of there. There were only two bartenders on a very busy night, which is a bit baffling. If you're going to charge 22 dollars for a drink I would expect quicker and more efficient service The waitress apologised for the long wait but it was a bit too little too late. After that, I would even expect a bit off the bill. (Didn't happen). As for the drinks, they were nice, but not the best I've had in Melbourne. We were also seated right by the serving station which meant our server had to manoeuvre around our table...Was quite awkward. Maybe we visited on an off night, but too many factors disappointed to warrant a return visit anytime soon. read more

Well-hidden in the laneway. Intimate interior excellently decorated. A bit loud but that's because it the energy and excitement was palpable. Back room well designed and i even like the artwork. The drinks are interesting and experimental. While mine was disappointing (PB&J), i appreciate the effort and still will come back and bring others for the unique environment and experience. Great place to go before the show or after dinner. read more

Eau De Vie - PB&J martini. Great effort but was disappointed by the taste - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Gorgeous bar with nice decor. I don't drink cocktails (unless you count Tito's dirty martini 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 read more

Awesome bar! Very hidden, lookout for the brown door. Drinks are outta this world though a lil' smaller on the size! read more

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Great bar for cocktails, excellent selection and knowledgable staff. Highly recommended to seek their advice as they have always steered me true. Desert is also worthy of attention if you're partial to a sweet treat and a drink. It's also possible to have a conversation in this place... a rare find these days. read more

This is such a gem. It's very vibrant with a lot of amazing people. Came here with a friend who is local and raves about it. Very welcoming to visitors. Super friendly staff. read more

Went there for date night and had a wonderful experience! Great service, innovative cocktails and delicious food. We will definitely be back. read more

Ohh I'm having a 'I really don't know if I want to share this venue' kind of a moment. But I think it's too late, word is out and this place can get super busy (especially on Friday nights). This epitomizes everything I look for in a Melbourne bar. It's hard to find - tick, you could be in 1940 or 2040 - tick, espresso martini - tick, fine wine - tick, tuck away in a hidden booth with your lover - tick, charcuterie board - tick - tick, tick TICK! Go there for a drink or go for a long boozy night - just go. read more

If you are on a mission to hunt out 'hidden' Melbourne, this is one to add to your list of 'let's see if we can find it'. If you have not seen a photo of the entrance you might end up looking at the two large unmarked wooden doors and slowly convincing yourself that this might be the place you are looking for. But take the chance and push yourself into a world of whisky (in the aptly named Malthouse Lane basement) and experimental cocktails. Old-school gentlemen's club and intimate hideaway, this place is good at what it does and let's the drinks speak for themselves. If you really want to splash out - and see some table side theatrics - go for the dining experience with a difference - the cocktail degustation dinner will wow you and your friends. read more

A whisky collection that's worth a look and a cocktail list to tickle anyone's fancy. Damn hard to find once you've had few but walking through those big doors transports you into a 1920s flapper club worthy of a peek. The food is a little special too, with the tuna tartare leading my scorecard so far. Enjoy, if you can find it. read more

A true Melbourne lane way bar, tucked away and tough to find on your first visit the cocktails and expansive scotch and whisky (and whiskey) list is impressive and reasonably priced. Be warned you will likely need a booking and don't plan on a quick drink, it can be tough to get served and the drinks take some time. It's worth the wait though! Couple a drink with the Mac and Chees croquettes for a good time. read more

Impossible to find but unforgettable. Coolest true cocktail bar. Their creations are awesome. When you get to the end of the ally just go through the door. read more

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If it weren't for the nondescript entrance this place would draw queues around the corner. Step into a heaving swinging 1920s haven. Superb decor, cocktail and whiskey perfection and tasty bar snacks. I hate to say it Melbourne but youve certainly still got trumps over Sydney. Come one come all ... but please keep it a secret read more

A must in Melbourne!! Hard to find speakeasy type bar, but wow loved it!! Highly recommend for after dinner drinks!

Great cocktails. Excellent selection of whiskeys. It's always fun finding a bar that only has plain doors on the outside but turns out to be an Aladdin's treasure chest. Great atmosphere read more

Fabulous cocktail bar. If you like drinking amazing cocktails in a beautiful low-lit bar this is the place for you. Beware the very long queues though! read more