I didn't want to review this club, because I didn't want to share the best kept secret in…read moreMelbourne. But I will because it's just too awesome. It's hip, urban underground and smooth. Classy yet it doesn't even appear they are trying. Open from Wednesday through Sunday, each night the Mango Bar comes alive with different sounds and genres of music. They've certainly got their pulse on the hottest up and coming local acts, as well as playing host to a range of renowned international DJ's. Each night there's something diff; electro funk, deep house, jazz and blues - there's something for everyone at Mango. The drinks menu deserves a rave as well. Spirits, beer and wine, as well as a sensational selection of martini's, cocktails and the signature Mango Daiquiri. It's like an oasis away from home. Somewhere you feel totally comfortable, totally chilled out and completed entertained by the music and live acts. There. The secrets out. Now go and enjoy!

Another Hall st gem!…read more Great selection of drinks, from $5 Friday happy hour, to cocktails & top shelf whisky's Mango is the perfect amount of chilled tunes & chatty crowd, with a small dance floor to carve up listening to resident & guest DJ's later in the night if the mood so grabs you, or enjoy the outdoor seating & perhaps throw in a game of jenga. BYO food (pretzels / crisps / nuts onsite for sale), and drop in for a quiet one, or settle in for an awesome night with the staff, old friends & new! PS- word is the espresso martini is the bomb (I don't drink coffee myself. Yes, we do exist)

In the middle of last week I was sitting happily at home contemplating an alcohol-free day, and how…read moremuch my overworked liver may appreciate such a wondrous happening. Long story short, is I got a phone call saying there was a new wine bar down the road in Essendon, and that I should tag along to check it out. If you like a very competitively priced glass or bottle of wine, I suggest you do to. The wine bar down the road in Essendon turned out to be the Essendon Wine Bar. The night I went was the soft opening, and there was the odd fixture waiting to be fixed in the back of the venue, but it also gave us a chance to look through before it was all polished and suave. One of the highlights for me was seeing inside the old safe (the venue was a NAB branch in a previous life) which now serves as a liquor store (as in backup booze cache, not bottle shop). Somewhere between being a bank and becoming a wine bar, this was also a nightclub, so some of the furniture has been re-purposed, but much of it is slick and new. The back of the venue will retain a wide dance floor and as it will be open until late a few nights a week, but it will be given a facelift. The smoking area out the front is a nice spot when there are no smokers, and there is footpath seating. Food is outsourced to neighboring restaurants. Armed with my initial freebie-opening-night-celebratory-wine, I perused the wine list. It was still being printed, but the interim one was interesting and featured a number if wineries I had never heard of. Second glass of wine was a Heathcote Shiraz, and it was great, at $6 a glass or $22 a bottle. In consultation with my group, we invested in a bottle for the third round. Then another. A third, equally-well-priced bottle was purchased, but I can't remember what it was. Then there was a discussion about sampling a white, so we did that obligingly without doing too much damage to the bank account. Finally it was time to leave as the sober driver wanted some sleep. A beer for good health courtesy of the bar manager was all that stood in the way of a swift departure. Throughout all this I nibbled on samples of the catering, and can tell you the olives a good, the arancini balls delightful, fries moreish, and meatballs worth the wait. As a special tip for those of you who made it this far into my review, bottles of Champagne, real Champagne from Champagne, start at $65 a bottle for Mumm Cordon Rouge or Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label. Now tell me you don't want to check this place out!

Got a groupon as a gift at this place and as mentioned on the coupon went made a booking for 9pm…read morethis evening. The place smelled of puke (or was it cheese), either way it was not too pleasant. The voucher was for a 'Wine Tasting Experience with a Meat and Cheese Platter' for two. Their menu states that a platters include 'cheese (4), cold meats (3) Marinated olives, water & gluten free rice crackers' and the pictures on the website looks scrumptious. Infact, I though it was one of those hidden gems, a cozy nook and and was eager to try their yum cha. However, when I made the booking last evening I was told that I could only order what was available as yum cha was outsourced. The wine list consisted of a few low to mid range wines and I settled for a glass of '2013 Mike Press Pinot Noir Adelaide Hills' and my husband settled for a glass of Pimm's. As for additional food, we were told told that the only food available was from the pizza menu. Husband came back with the drinks from the bar and it took approximately 30 minutes for the Tasting Platter to arrive upon questioning it's whereabouts. The slightly rude personnel behind the counter had the nerve to say 'It is because we are busy', when we politely questioned as to how much longer it would take. Made a mental note to not spend a penny more than what the voucher would cover and to take our dinner bill elsewhere. The cold cuts, prosciutto and the salami tasted funny, the cheese was alright, the water crackers were soggy and who the hell serves Peckish Crackers. I could have made a better platter at home. I wish restaurants would stop existing for the sake of existing and actually do justice to the culinary art. Absolute disappointment!

Let's be straight here - I love this pub. I guess it simply has a lot to do with it sitting on the…read morebanks of the Maribyrnong River, and for me, a pub on the banks of a river is always going to be a pretty good pub, if only for the views. Actually, it is quite a nice river as well, but as for the pub, well the pub is nothing short of fantastic. Even without the river (which would take a point off by the way), it has a great beer garden, and there is also a pretty awesome selection of beers. This is definitely one of those pubs you could really relax in.

A rating of 1 is extremely generous…read more This place ruined my birthday dinner. I booked a table for 20 people for a Sunday night dinner (during the phone conversation no information was given about the specifics of the venue, including the dress code) and upon arriving at the venue, some of my guests were not allowed to go in because they were "too casual" (they had hoodies and zip up jackets) while people with thongs and shorts wondered freely inside the venue. I was informed by a security guard to call anglers tavern and ask to speak to a manager. I did. I called and was told the manager was not available to talk to until the next day (even though he was inside that night) I asked to speak to another manager and was told no. What kind of venue that is customer service denies a customer the right to entry then denies them the right to speak to a manager? Absolutely horrid. Not only were the security guards rude and arrogant, so were the other staff we dealt with in this short amount of time. I had to relocate my party (at the very last minute) to another venue because why would I spend money on a place that has no understanding of the basic concept of respect and has no consideration for customer satisfaction. Avoid at all costs.

I really love everything about this place, the atmosphere the service and wine. It's a great place…read moreto go of an evening and chill out with friends

Fine wine, sneakily good beer selection and a casual atmosphere makes Strange Loves Bar a good…read morefriend of mine. With 3 areas to seat yourself, I've never had any issues finding room to relax here. If with friends I like to sneak upstairs for a comfy seat. In a more intimate situation or when I'm by myself I tend to enjoy front row seats and people watch. Typical of the area there is no real food served here. If you need some fine dining to go with a fine wine you'll be handed a book with local restaurants who will deliver to your table. And even bring an eftpos machine if needed. The staff here had reasonably honest and broad knowledge of wines and beers. The beer selection varies more often than the wine. For a wine bar there isn't a huge variety by the glass and some of the bottles are rather overpriced. Considering that there is fair competition within walking distance with other venues offering similar service. Still a great spot for post dinner drinks or two.

Doesn't allow a baby into their ('wine bar' portion) premises, thus missed an important function…read more Legally okay under current liquor laws, personally not okay with venue. Strange. Quirk not communicated on website, not communicated verbally, not communicated with person who booked venue. But anybody under 18 is allowed into the restaurant! 3 month old located the other side of a plaster wall, no can do. Manager typically arrogant, unapologetic and occupied solely by self interest when confronted for an explanation. I'm sure you'll remember this feedback. I would advise seeking the services of another venue, unless you can be sure everybody you invite, along with dependants are over 18. Biagio's - communicate with everybody who books the wine bar - communicate this personal choice via a statement on your website.

First time here, quite a nice place, friendly service & a spacious & stylish interior. There's also…read morea lot of choice in the drinks menu & I was glad my lemon lime & bitters was not brought out in a bottle. We ordered the salami pesto pizza, which was very tasty & enough for 2 to share. Although I didn't have a coffee, it seems to be a popular spot for coffee & cake with a selection of delicious looking cakes on display.

This place is an absolute charm and I love coming here! A must go if you're in the area and want to…read morehave some chill down time. But be warned once you're in there its very hard to peel yourself away from the place! I spent an hour sipping on pinots and playing connect 4 (they have some board games you can play) and would have happily stayed there all night! This place is verrrry popular so if you wanna come here with a group of mates make sure you call in and book. Shout out to their pizzas. My god - the prosciutto pizza is the bomb! These guys make brilliant pizzas. Theres also a vietnamese and a Japanese restaurant thats a few doors down that allows you took order and then they deliver to your table at the wine bar. Very cool!

Valley Cellardoor is one of those uber cool, sophisticated looking places - it's so superb in fact…read moresitting back from the street in its California bungalow design it looks as though it may be VIP invitation only. But no siree, everybody is welcome here, the staff and owners make sure of that!! The ambience here is cruisy, it's dark but stylish; I prefer sitting outside behind the fenced area. With a plentiful wine selection and almost every other alcohol, the Cellardoor also frequently offer free wine sampling - for weeks on end!! A short stroll from the train station or to the junction for trams, next to the shopping centre and a stones throw from cafes, restaurants, hotels and bars, its a perfect place to start your evening, get tipsy for free or to just chillax and enjoy the atmosphere of Moonee Ponds in a secluded oasis after work.

Gotta love the brunny! Wednesday night's been a usual spot for me and my mates since we found out…read moreabout open mic night. Last semester a bunch of my international friends would muster up the courage after a few drinks to play but now I just go for the 10 dollar jugs & random acts. I don't come here enough seeing as it's literally only a block away but this will change once exams finish up. I'm super bummed I can't go tonight which is why I've decided to get the word out for any one who may be available. With the ram stop right outside theres no reason for anyone to pass up the opportunity to chill at the brunny. Go grab some cheap beer and head here for a comfy night lounging with live music ASAP! There are always random bands playing from around the area and it's always fun to hear new music. The best part though, yeah you didn't think it could get any better did you? Well, the best part is the beer garden. You know a place has got to be good when they've mastered the layout of each room to suit pretty much anyone and everyone.

My two crazy russian friends had arrived home in Melbourne safely from the adventure around Europe…read moreand were having a 'welcome back' party here. I'd never been before but everyone seemed to think this was a good venue for cheap drinks and relaxed atmosphere. That is exactly the perception i got out of it. You cannot miss that crazy purple sign above the door and once you enter the dimly lit venue has not a lot going for it, but everyone inside is totally chilled giving the place a real laid-back feel. We arrived and they were sitting out back so i ordered a drink and headed out to the large beer garden. There's a large wooden communal table with small slum-couches scattered around. The venue is usually busy but never really feels 'packed out', such a great little place.

I'm not really sure whether I should be giving a pub such a high score simply because it has a…read morerooftop deck, but I am and I have so I guess I can move on. Well, it is a little more than that because the deck was pretty cool, and especially on a day as the day I was here it is a great place to sit with a beer. Okay, I wouldn't necessarily say that the views are pretty good, but it still has a nice charm about it that makes it a great place to spend some time. Oh, and it also has craft beers, at least upstairs.

Really good dining experience. The restaurant is actually called Bistro 289; the attached pub used…read moreto be known a hangout for shady types, I'm told. The dining room can be a hangout for hungry types now, for sure. I took my folks because we were staying at a nearby B&B and didn't want to venture too far in the rain. It worked out well, as we all had a very good meal. It's at the high end of pub restaurants, with veal saltimbocca, chicken bacon & mushroom risotto, pumpkin ravioli, that sort of thing. Really tasty, every dish. And a good wine list. It's not too bright or loud, service is friendly and responsive. A quality meal.

Having recently opened and already hearing good things about "The Vale", we decided to pop in for a…read morecheeky drink or two after a show in the CBD. The use of space and display of the vast and excellent selection of wines and beers on offer definitely made the place feel cosy and welcoming rather than small. The atmosphere was relaxed and easy going, with background music adding to the feel but not encroaching upon conversations. For couples or small groups, it was easy to feel like you were the only ones there but larger groups would also just add to the buzz without overpowering the place. The staff were friendly, welcoming and speedy - happy to hang around and engage in a chat, and not just about the venue. We didn't try any food (as we'd already eaten) but the menu looked nice, and the pizzas other people were having looked really good. Will definitely be going back again!

Great atmosphere, small but interesting menu - some share plates - good wine selection.read more

This is another one of those suburban pubs that really doesn't have much of a draw to it. However,…read moredespite that, I still found the pub to be rather pleasant, and the staff were pretty good as well. The other thing was that they had a pretty good area in which you could watch sports, which is certainly something that I do appreciate, even though I'm not a huge sporting person myself. Yeah, this pub wasn't all that bad actually.

Best feed I've had in ages. Not the most picturesque but damn good parma. And well priced. Great…read morevenue and has so much entertainment sport wise. Staff are fantastic would come back just for their service. Two enthusiastic thumbs up