I heard that this place was closing down because, well, CoVid, so after work I made my way straight here just so I could have a beer here before it vanishes forever. Look, it isn't strictly a rooftop bar, but it is located in the part of Melbourne that is quite famous for its collection of rooftop bars, and they do have a decent sized outdoor area that, which it isn't strictly on the roof, you could say that it was close enough. While it is more a cocktail bar, they do have beers, and some nice ones as well, though they weren't on tap. However, it is really the views that make this place a place worth visiting. read more

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Super fun! Look for the paper sign in the window to go up. It's on the corner. Suchhhhh a fun theme and they really carry it out throughout every element- drinks, menu, food, server attire, bathrooms, everything! They take really good care of the furniture too. My only thing is that maybe the drink portions could be smaller so we could have sampled several drinks. read more

Madame Brussels - Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Continuing our Friday night out, the few of us decided on meeting at Madame Brussels, a popular outdoor rooftop bar. Oh my ears and whiskers, where did I just step foot into? It was like I walked into a country club, as I was greeted by a waiter dressed in a pastel-colored polo and capris. The astroturf, rose vines, and color scheme definitely painted a picture of "garden party" - which was both romantic, fancy, but also a bit "creepy and Tim Burton-esque," as my friend pointed out. As a huge fan of Tim Burton, I found that entertaining, because I'm pretty sure Madame Brussels isn't supposed to be ironic, like the pastel-colored suburban houses in Edward Scissorhands... The four of us shared a jug of the Pimm's cocktail, which was fresh and delightful, with pieces of cucumbers and strawberries infusing the drink. There wasn't much alcohol and was quite expensive, but nevertheless refreshing. The view from the top was beautiful, but I was distracted by all the smoke-filled air - the one big downside of outdoor terraces. If you can't stand smoking, then... this may not be your place. This place is constantly bustling with people looking for a casual place to lounge, so be prepared to stand our scout out a spot if you're out for the night! The service is really slow on a busy night, but they're really friendly, and the ambience itself makes this place worth a visit. read more

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3.5 stars for ambiance. 2.8 stars for drinks. Cocktail pitchers are a fun concept, but otherwise akin to drinking pricey flavored water ($35 for small pitcher, $55 for large). Two levels of rooftop make for fantastic people-watching and great ambiance though. Smart to bring your lady friends here. read more

Madame Brussels. Opened a chain of brothels in 19th century Melbourne, was vilified as an accursed procuress by society, and apparently was known as Madame Brussels because her nipples were the size of them. Not sure if that's hearsay or reality, but she sounds like my kind of gal. Too bad the Melbourne bar named after her did not tickle my fancy as much. To be sure, worth a visit. One rides up a rickety elevator or alternatively climbs three flights of stairs (me) and instantly steps from the dusty dirty city into another era entirely. There's a yellow brick road, vibrant faux grass lawn, white garden furniture and wait staff everywhere in butt enhancing tennis gear. There's delicious cocktail jugs for two or four, and cupcakes and afternoon tea fare for the ordering. All very novel and entertaining and really quite a nice place to sit down and have a catch up sesh in with the girlfriends. Perhaps it was improper for me to ask at such a themed establishment if they had beer on tap, but I did ask, and no they didn't offer beer on tap. They had a selection of bottled beers but all of them looked a bit wanky to be honest. So this girl asks for a jack and coke instead. "Nope we've run out of bourbon." "Alright, can I have a jim beam and coke then?" "We've run out of jim beam too." "How about wild turkey?" "Sorry we don't have any of that. " "Do you have *any* bourbons available?" "Nope." "..okay. Right. Can I get a vodka and soda please." After leaving the bar with my soda and a hint of vodka, and no more spare change, I tried one of Madame Brussel's famous cupcakes. It had the same proportion of pink icing to cake as the amount of makeup to face on a year nine schoolgirl and I resigned myself to the fact that this bar was pretty much appearance with no substance. My suggestion to the ladies is come to Madame Brussel's with your girlfriends, leave the men at home, order (delicious) cocktail jugs from the set menus and wear a pretty dress. Have an excellent night out with the girls, but as a uni student expect to leave slightly smashed but heavily poor. Still wouldn't come here again but. read more

Madame Brussels - Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Set as an outdoor Victorian garden, the staff are all decked out in their preppy tennis gear. This one goes with all the other themed bars you can find in Melbourne. It's cute, seating just like a garden, even astro-turf to really make you feel like you are outside when you aren't. The menus are pink and filled with "oh darlings." I feel like if you come here, you should get one of their jug drinks. Prices aren't bad at all: $19 to "play with your self," and meant for sharing are the $35 for four standards drinks or $55 "Playing Doubles" with 8 standard drinks. Those seemed to be popular amongst the crowded tables. The bar had a constant unappetizing line, so get something for yourself that'll last the while that you are here for. Either being a bottle of wine, or a jug of drinks. It's an ideal girlie bar: pink, pretty drinks, staff in cute outfits. What else is left to say? read more

Blokes; beware, this is a veritable Sex and the city kind of bar. Not that thats a bad thing, just don't expect, footy on a big screen or some other major sporting event. In fact there is no screens, just a quirky menu, with lots of jugs. Jugs of Pimms, Sangria and other refreshing beverages. This is a great place to sip away the afternoon on all sorts of quirky drinks and soak up the sun. For some reason there was what appeared to be several Hen's nights, and other strange cultural phenomenon going on when we were there. Again not a bad thing but worthy of noting. read more

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Madame Brussels makes me smile. A CBD themed bar with astro turf, a rooftop bar, and eye-candy staff in tennis outfits. As it's a rooftop bar, it's best enjoyed on a beautiful summer's day or warm inviting night. But when the cold season hits, you can cozy up with blankets and love heart hot water bottles brought to your table. In addition to the staff being so cute I want to pinch their cheeks (I won't say which ones), they also seem to be mind readers. During one visit to the Madame, I asked the waiter to 'surprise me.' He returned with a tall glass packed with fruit, on fire, and topped with absinthe. This is probably an indication of my state when I arrived at the bar, but in that moment it was the perfect 'surprise me' drink for the evening. Drinks are on the pricy side, but I've always enjoyed myself when I've gone there. I just can't stay to long, or I will go broke. read more

This place is a bit of a Melbourne institution is its style when it comes to 'rooftop bars'. I went here after the redid the outdoor deck and loved the feel of the place but found the clientele weren't really my cuppa. We had also just been to Cookie which is a bit more grungy and probably suits our age group. Was there on a late Friday arvo/ early evening and it was full of older suits who were beginning to get hammered and were kinda rude about where we could sit. Anyway meh- if you're around pop up to see some cute staff in tennis outfits and old teapots etc, but dint expect to stay there the whole night. read more

Madame Brussels - cocktail concoction - Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

I've gotta vent my spleen after experiencing this place at its absolute worst at a recent wedding party at Madame Brussels. To put this into context: the wedding occupied about three tables here and the collective spend was in the thousands of dollars. We were indulging in the beautiful jugs of mai tai and Pims and lemonade and the likes as well as the great snack food they do and generally enjoying the sunshine. The first thing that sucked was that one of the staff (an absolute wanker) spilled a jug over the table, drowning the wedding bouquet and a patron's bag. Rather than apologising he tried to throw the bouquet out (?!?) and when questioned over what he was doing he said 'Oh, do you want to keep that?' He didn't even attempt to save the bag from the dowsing and then wandered off without a word of apology or even cleaning up his mess, let alone offering to replace the spilled drink. An hour or so later, there was a mix up and our table was delivered the wrong cocktail jug that was meant for one of the other wedding party tables. We had half emptied the thing before our actual jug arrived and when we told him to take the new jug to the other table, he revealed that we'd been drinking the wrong cocktail. Minutes later, the waiter had the nerve to suggest we buy the other table a replacement jug to amend his mistake. The absolute gall of these people (given the amount of money we spent in that place that afternoon) is unacceptable and I will NEVER go back. Be warned, there is very little respect shown to the patrons here. read more

Madame Brussels - Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Don't be thrown off by the name. Madame Brussels is a lot more English country garden than it is Belgium brew house. It's a lot more sexy Wimbledon with strawberries and cream than it is old man sweaty pub. Expect white furniture, flowery dresses and occasionally some fetching tennis getups. I'm probably avoid Madame Brussels during the winter but during the summer it really comes into its own. It's another venue with a rooftop and has a few levels to enjoy the city from. It's hard to compare views but I'd probably say that Rooftop Bar and Siglo edge the views offered by Madame Brussels. Nevertheless this is a cracking venue. I'd recommend going for big jugs of very alcoholic summer drinks to share. Summer loving for Madame Brussels. read more

Madame Brussels - Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Oh Madame Brussels how i love thee. This venue is one of the best i have seen in Melbourne. Located on the third floor (or what is essentially a rooftop), Madame Brussels is all about a trendy yet laid back high-tea environment. When you step out of the elevator (or if you're game, climb the stairs) you will step into an interior like no other. Fake grass, Lounges, Pink walls - it's all so much to take in! The menu can see you ordering some snacks or drinks. People come here to taste the spectacular jugs, anything from PIMMS to Sangria, the jugs are insanely delicious. A jug can set you back either $30 or $50 (Depending on what size you choose) and there are 10's of different types. If you get a chance to wait at the bar when they're making your drink then you are in for a treat! The way they make the jugs is so interesting (i always try to remember the ingredients / alcohol). The best part i do have to admit is... THE VIEW! Unbeatable i say! read more

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Oh Madame, you've wooed me again! Perched on the third level with a fabulous balcony overlooking the CBD is a little garden party slice of heaven. Visualise astro-turf, hipster staff decked out in tennis outfits, afternoon tea food like chicken sandwiches and cocktail jugs. On a hot summer's night this is a fabulous location to kick back with a few mates, grab multiple jugs of sangria and watch beautiful people mingle. There's also a back bar that's good for private functions. Word of warning - to get there you either traipse up three flights of stairs or get the lift that's seen better days. No more than five people at a time in there - I learnt that the hard way # oops read more

Madame Brussels - Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

One thing springs to mind when I think of Madame Brussels: Perfect for a Hen's Party. The gorgeous spunky bartenders in their tighty whitey's are sure to impress the ladies (and gents), as well as the decadent cocktail's which can be ordered in 'singles' or 'doubles' depending on how boozy you want to get. Food? Pretty pink cupcakes and yummy sandwiches with the crust cut off! So if you are lucky (or unlucky) enough to be in charge of throwing your engaged friend's hen's, I suggest Madame Brussels to bring a touch of class to what is normally a filthy day. read more

Madame Brussels - Madame Brussels famous cocktail jugs - Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Madame Brussels is starting to look a bit frayed around the edges. What used to be a fresh garden party vibe is a little jaded and just a tad, well, grotty. Bar staff used to be kitted out in fresh tennis gear, but now any old colour polo top and dirty white(?) shorts seem to suffice. Still, a lovely big rooftop for a late summer's eve drink. Also the shared jug of Bloody Mary was spicy but refreshing, with the kick coming quite a bit later. Missing the French Martini though, was always a fave. read more

Madame Brussels is always a little nostalgic for me, as an ex-tennis coach, with their old Wimbledon-styled lounge bar. It always is pretty busy here on the weekends but is a great place to go with a group, sit outside on a balmy night and enjoy one of their many jug cocktails they have to offer. The setting really makes it, as it's unexpected going up the somewhat rattly elevator to be introduced to the Astro Turfed/yellow brick road that leads around the bar. I do find it a little off-putting seeing the waiters/waitresses walk around in really white, tight and short skirts/shorts all night. Don't know how they feel about it either? I really do enjoy myself here where it's always really relaxed and has a good vibe for a place that could potentially be a little "over-the-top" due it's theme. I like it though it might be because I have this strange attachment to tennis but whatever...jugs of cocktails will bring a Melbourne crowd anyway! read more

Madame Brussels - Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

The cocktails were quite refreshing, a gin and tonic and a southside. The roofspace is pleasant and the decor is charming. Not a whole lot you could ask for when looking for an afternoon drink respite from the heat of the day. read more

Madame Brussels - Refreshing gin and tonic. - Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Absolutely love this place. The decor is beautiful and reminds me of a 1950's tea party meets Alice in wonderland. The cocktail jugs are available for one, two or four people. They also have food available if your a bit peckish but going with the theme it's scones with cream and jam and cucumber sandwiches on the menu. So if your looking for a big feed you might want to look for some wear else. I love this place and am frequent visiter read more

Madame Brussels - A shared jug for two of Moscow mule. Yummm! - Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

You've heard all about Madame's cocktail jugs, chicken sandwiches, astro-turf, sunny balcony, and the staff who are just the cutest hipsters going, right? Right. But did you know about the back bar that's great for private functions or their amazing line up of events? Well, the events are great and a fun way to spend time with old friends or make new ones. This year I've been to wine tastings, a martini masterclass, and monthly gin tastings at the 'Juniper Society'. Not only is Madame Brusels a fun cocktail bar, but they encourage their punters to educate themselves and know how to get a good crowd together. Ask them for a list of their upcoming events at the bar and you won't regret it. read more

Definitely don't come here chasing a good drink. It's not a bad place to hang out with the girlfriend on a sunny day but everything is pretty expensive for the quality. It's a good novelty. read more

Madame Brussels is good for three things - novelty factor, the cocktail jugs and the rooftop views, but it's not really a place to settle in for the evening. It's a destination you tick off the list but you wouldn't necessarily make it your regular. read more

Disclaimer: this is a review for the event side of Madame Brussells. Afternoon is meant to be a delightful, delicate ladies affair. Whilst in no way does this exclude men joining in, Madame Brussellls certainly does appeal to those of us who are female and organising a bridal shower. The location is easy to get to (just be ware the faulty elevator), has ample parking near by and the decor is quirky and eccentric. Perfect for ladies afternoon tea! On pretty paper the offer looks wonderful. A per head charge which is somewhat reasonable. Including jugs of cocktails, non alcoholic cocktails and the afore mentioned afternoon tea. Now I still beg to differ with the staff here on the alcoholic part of the cocktails. Across the entire afternoon we would have been lucky to have one shot of booze in any particular jug. Our event ran from 12-3 and perhaps I should have eaten lunch before arriving. The food offering is clearly taken from a minimalist approach. Our group was fortunate that 4 guests didn't show and we all had enough food to sample what was on offer. Which was mini quiches, mini sausage rolls, sandwiches, cupcakes, scones and a chocolate tart. All of which was on display in the hall that we had to walk past to find our space. Not covered just sitting there taunting us. We were assigned one lovely and very polite staff member. Perhaps previously they have had bridezilla in and throw a hissy fit over things, as the staff seemed very hesitant to do or say anything without our hostess word. So much so that it wasn't uncommon for the tables to be left with dirty dishes, empty jugs for over 30mins. All in all not a great experience of the event offered by Madame Brussells. The regular bar area is still a lot of fun! read more

Interesting first visit. Our server was a little curt. Not rude but on the cusp. There isn't that much food on the menu and hence the charcuterie board being off was a major and unhappy surprise. What we had - a cheese platter and some toasted sangas- was nice but far from exceptional. Our King Valley proscecco was nice but hugely and expectedly marked up. Sitting on the outside deck on a lovely day was the best part. I'd need convincing on the need to return. read more

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Love this place! Nice terrace with cool views if the cbd, cocktails come in jugs if you want them to, staff is dressed in a typical garden party style. read more

Madame Brussels - Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

I went a somewhat sunny/cloudy/sunny/drizzle/cloudy/sunny Melbourne day and it had a great view. It felt like the place was decorated and staffed to cater to over 40s women a hens day time party pit stop. Maybe it was the all male staff with short shorts that made me think this? I did have a good time people watching. read more

Madame Brussels. In short; garden party chic. Think an astro-turf decked rooftop of a quaint old house, waitstaff that look like they belong at a tennis club in the 80's, big jugs of Pimms and Nanna's furniture. Madame Brussels is one of those spots that is a victim of its own popularity. Sometimes you can catch it on a beautiful afternoon when it's not too crowded and it's perfection. Other times it's wall-to-wall suits and spray tans that will have you running for the hills. Unless of course you're into that in which case, pull up a little white garden chair. This is one of those venues that is just perfect for a ladies catchup. Pretty cocktail jugs and glasses of sparkling rose, a side of chicken sandwiches and sausage rolls, served by waiters in short-shorts in a vintage garden setting, overlooking Melbourne. It's a fun venue. Something I just discovered about Madame Brussels is their back room, known as The Parlour. With no rooftop view, this dimly lit hidden room is more 'vintage-brothel chic' than garden party, but is a quiet spot away from the rest of the bar. This room can be booked out. I attended a small gathering for a colouring club here and there was no cost to hire out. Not sure if this is always the case or whether it had something to do with being a freezing cold Melbourne winter Monday evening, but it's worth enquiring about if you have a get together and need a room to host it in. Not ideal for crafty persuits due to the poor lighting, but definitely a fun space to gab with the gals. The staff were really lovely and accommodating, keeping us topped up with food and drinks ordered from the bar. In true Melbourne style, it is in an unassuming location atop a very dingy flight of stairs or life-risking lift ride. Worth adding to your must see Melbourne list. read more

Nothing better than sunshine, doubles and watching Melbourne in all it's glory.. Always play doubles... trust me With Champagne always get a bottle... read more

Where the outdoors in indoors and the indoors is out? Much like a cross between a high society tennis club, a grand picnic, and of course Alice in wonderland, darlings. Its always fun but tiring, and potentially dangerous to race one's friends in a lift versus stairs scenario. And yes, I have won on the stairs, once, and I was going down. If you're luck enough, you will encounter the secret back room- Some rather grand events have been known to transpire here. Great cocktails, and jugs, of varying taste and calibre. Oh yes, and some time ago they added a sort of extra balcony type arrangement outdoors- now even more stairs to climb. There are some fun shenanigans that occurs, yet i have not encountered enough. Look out for hot cocktails served in tea pots in winter. When it gets busy, its chocka's hardly much room to move outside, and all the prime real estate by way of seating inside has been swooped upon many moons ago. It can be hard managing to battle through the crowds. Also, one can wait around half an hour in a line for a drink at night. But hey, this is madame Brussels, and its very popular. read more

A Melbourne institution, Madame Brussels does it her own way & does it pretty darn well. Yes, you have to climb what seems like endless flights of stairs (or wait for the teeny tiny lift). And yes, the drinks might be a little pricey. But the set up is cute, in pretty garden party style complete with bright green astro turf and roses. The bar staff are dressed in theme (think sexy tennis outfits, yep, tight white shorts), are super friendly & attentive AND offer table service - I love not having to get up and queue at a bar. Winning!! And those jugs of cocktails - pretty darn tasty! Just be warned, a jug for one, is still pretty sizeable!! Hurrah! Clearly, on a warm sunny day, this place is pumping, but I also like it on cooler, quieter nights. We all love our rooftop bars here in Melbourne, so Madame B is definitely one you should check off your bar bucket list! read more

This place is so cool. We stopped in here randomly for drinks while waiting for a restaurant to call us for a table. Ordered a pitcher of Moscow Mule, and some beer, and some nuts/olives. It's on the top floor of a building, you take an elevator. And it's a little kitschy room with chairs and sofas, both indoors and outdoors. A lovely relaxed vibe. It started raining and customers were given little umbrellas to hold while sitting haha. Service was also friendly and fast. Great find. I'd come here again, though dunno if I'd make it the destination for the whole night read more

Cute Victorian furniture on a rooftop bar with staff that only wear polos, short shorts and tennis socks. There is absolutely nothing that can go wrong with this formula. This is another one of those secret and out of view Melburnian roof top bars that I had the pleasure of visiting. The staff were very nice, the bouncer/doorman was cheery and the cocktails were spectacular. The garden gin was a bit too sweet but it did the job. Clientele skewed towards the younger crowd but they were a very well behaved crowd which was so refreshing to see. read more

What better place for a pre-lunch cocktail on a beautiful Melbourne autumn Saturday than Madame Brussels. MB specialises in jugs, but as I had plans for the rest of the day I limited myself to one drink (referred to on the menu as "Playing with Yourself"). I asked for something long and refreshing and my very amiable waiter suggested the Gin Garden - London Dry Gin, fresh lime, eider flower cordial, apple juice and soda. This actually came in a jug anyway, albeit a little one, and was served with a couple of thick slices of cucumber. Perfect thirst quencher. There's a lovely eclectic retro feel about this place with its 60's garden furniture padded with purple and red plastic cushions, wooden balustrades, and a soundtrack that could have been lifted from a 1940's movie. There's a parlour inside, but the weather was so perfect everyone was sitting out on the terrace. The upper terrace, however, was temporarily unoccupied in preparation for a hen's bash later in the afternoon, so I walked my drink upstairs and sipped away while enjoying the view of the city skyline. Along with Naked in the Sky, MB's is one of my favourite rooftop bars in Melbourne. read more

I'm picky. I admit that. Freely. I am also a foodie. For better or for worse, I truly enjoy a great dining and drinking experience. Those of you who have read my reviews know that I value the experience and customer service every bit as highly as the quality of the eats and drinks -- so when I visited Madame Brussels for the first time last night, I had high hopes that it would be a fun and quirky experience, based upon the reviews of friends and others. Meh. I wouldn't even give it a capital "m" in meh, but I was brought up to use capital letters for the first word of sentences. I think it's safe to say that the venue would be best suited for smokers who like to sit, or stand, on a roof terrace. If that's not your thing, you probably won't get much out of the location. I absolutely hate smoke, despise it, and whilst there are a few tables inside at M. Brussels, the decor is decidedly uncomfortable, disjointed, and NOT designed to encourage you to spend hours and hours there. Maybe it's just me, but iron "garden furniture" with a few awkwardly shaped cushions just doesn't cut it. Outside and upstairs has a great view of the city, but, more barstools than chairs, meaning people sit at small tables on tall stools. Unfortunately, we didn't really get to try the drinks. We had a few bottles of bubbly, which is easy to approve of, and the service was satisfactory, but the smokers killed it for me; alas. I will say this: They have a few absinthe varieties (sort of) on the menu, which was great to see. I'm an aficionado of the Green Fairy and would love to find somewhere in town that had some truly top shelf choices -- Madame Brussels had one which I think was okay, and thankfully I didn't see anyone trying to set it on fire... Anyway, maybe it's just not my sort of place. I am not a fan of roof bars generally speaking, and certainly not when they're full of smokers. I dread to think of what the place would be like in spring/summer, packed with 'em...will we try it again? Maybe. I sense that if you're a Uni student, you'll find this spot much more appealing. read more

I do think Madame Brussels has some really great qualities. A lot about the place doesn't appeal to me hugely though. A huge outside area will always win me over. The drinks are ridiculously expensive. It's not that they're unbelievably priced. They're just silly at times. I think I once paid $50 for a jug of Sangria. Staff are lovely. Layout is interesting to say the least. I imagine it more appealing if I were a 16 year old girl waiting for my knight in shining armor. It's very Melbourne though. And people are very aware of this place on a Friday & Saturday night. read more

Look it's interesting and different enough for me to like it, could do with some more unusual characters trolling the area. Usual mix of cats whonthink they have arrived and corporate monkeys. Well suited for a cocktail I say!! Moondoggy Esq. Dive bar afficiando read more

I had heard such great things about Madame Brussells. Named after the first Madam (a brothel manager) to advertise her services in Melbourne, this bar purports itself to be a place to go the reminisce about bygone eras with cucumber sandwiches and jugs of Pimms. I had heard it was cute, fun, relaxed, and well, charming. On the other hand, I found it to be over-crowded, the bouncers unpleasant, the drinks overpriced and a little flavourless and the overall experience a little underwhelming. I was so looking forward to a plate of cucumber sandwiches, too, but my friends and I left shortly after arriving and have not dared venture back since. Perhaps if it weren't such a long climb to get there I'd be more generous, but you'd expect a little more effort put into the execution of such a concept. read more

Madame Brussels - Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Tea cosy! I saw a tea cosy being used as a tea cosy! The first time I was lifted to this rooftop bar I did not know what to expect. Such a dodgy building with an elevator that makes to consider taking the stairs. Unsure if this is the place you were told to come you continue to push forward in search of fresh air and cold beer. You finally reach the 3rd floor of the building where more question start flooding your mind as you decide to go along for the ride. I don't want to give too much away but this is another one of Melbourne's unique spots. Enjoy some of the many imported beverages and have a great night. read more

When I first moved to Melbourne I mistakenly - and rather presumptuously - believed that its bars would be all beer and rugby; rugby and beer, to the exclusion of anything interesting, unrugged or even slightly genteel. Visiting Madame Brussels was my 'aha!' moment. 'Aha!' Not all of Australia is just like Home and Away. Perched in a statuesque building far above Bourke Street, Madame Brussels boasts not only one of the best roof terraces, ergo views, in Melbourne but possibly also the strangest theme: tennis. And with its inexplicable sporting theme dictating that Madame Brussels' almost boringly good looking bar staff don shorter than short tennis whites, there's more than panoramic views to ogle at this boutique little bar. Madame Brussels could be accused of straying too far into novelty territory if it weren't for its awesome - if slightly weak - drinks and even better lemon sponge cupcakes. And thoughtful touches such as providing its roof terrace seated customers with hot water bottles and blankets during the cooler months and selling cocktails by the jug rather than glass, all serve to make Madam Brussels a must-visit if you're after something a little different. read more

So twee it hurts, Madame Brussels is named after an old madame who operated brothels along Lonsdale St. What does this have to do with a rooftop bar in Bourke St? I've no idea, but they certainly make a point of relating the story to you. When they're not selling you overly ornate snacks and expensive punch, while you sit on a outdoor lounger inside their astro-turfed main room. With the pink walls, and white wooden latticework booths. It sounds like I hate Madame Brussels, and certainly the pretentiousness and the relatively high prices means it's not really my cup of ironically specific tea. But... I've been there, in the rooftop garden, on a cold winter's night. The staff has brought us out some woollen blankets, and we've rugged up and sat talking and looking out over the city. And I guess the expensive drinks are well-made, and the ovely ornate snacks are mostly tasty. If twee's what you're after, you could do a lot worse. read more

This is a very cool place. Their fruit punch is daaaaangerously gooooood. The decoration is lovely, not mantion all these hot waiters in their tennis shorts. Cool place to hang out and have a drink with gals. read more

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