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

Speakeasy Kitchen Bar - Cafes Near Me - South Yarra, VIC

Great neighborhood eatery! The Speakeasy Kitchen Bar is a gem amidst the urban jungle that's the Chapel 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...! read more

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Thank you for introducing me to espresso martini! SO GOOD! I love that this place provides some healthy options and here're what I've tried: GREEN burger! OMG. blows my mind! it's fantastic. Cauliflower and beetroots risotto - my husband enjoyed this every much. it's not a rich risotto that you typically get. instead, it's refreshing and light but your stomach will feel pretty satisfied. It offers discounted items for happy hour! read more

Attracted by the title, deterred by the looks. However, looks can be deceiving. Move past the restaurant setting in front and make your way down a long corridor and you'll find yourself in a pleasant (and somewhat secret) open-air outdoor patio, complete with soothing lighting and a vintage garden feel. I enjoyed some cocktails with my girlfriend on a fairly calm Saturday night. We received prompt and friendly table service. I had some questions about the drinks, and any questions that couldn't be answered confidently received a second opinion which I appreciated. We got two different drinks each, so four total. I'm not a cocktail drinker, I usually stick to beer, wine and cider, but liked all four to different degrees. Of course I remember the names of the ones I ordered for my girlfriend but not my own. She got an amaretto sour and the Lady Speakeasy. Sours don't come with egg whites in America, but apparently it's a thing here. I rather enjoyed it, as it was a nice balance of sweet, tart, and frothiness for body. The Lady Speakeasy martini was wayy too sweet for my liking, but it's a good girly cocktail. It's like a sweet apple juice made even sweeter thanks to the lychee liqueur, with just a hint of vodka taste, if any. My first drink had creme de mure, which I learned was a blackberry flavored liqueur. It was easy to drink, not too sweet, too tart or too alcoholic. Can't say I consume blackberry hardly ever, but found this cocktail to be rather refreshing. I *think* my second drink was a Tom Collins or something along those lines. It definitely had gin, lemon and carbonation. I'm not a big fan of gin, and though it was certainly detectable, it wasn't all that strong. Not as refreshing or easy to gulp down as my first drink, but still finely crafted. Friendly service, tasty drinks and pleasant ambiance comes at a steep price - 4 drinks almost hit $80. Fine for a chill date night out, but don't expect to get tipsy here without emptying the wallet. read more

A business breakfast brought me to the Speakeasy two weeks in a row. The meeting not so good but the venue isn't bad. Long and skinny, with a galley kitchen in the middle and the coffee machines at the front, we ordered and headed upstairs to a good sized function space. It seems to go on and on with a whole rear area and courtyard which I didn't explore truth be told. The staff are efficient, friendly and helpful especially with the large number of orders they serve up at once. The first time I had bacon and a fried egg with a latte, and a chai chaser. It was, well adequate. Today I opted for the Avo and chick pea puree ( known by most people as hummus I would have thought!). It came with a poached egg plus was sprinkled with surprises including goji berries and mint leaves and pepitas which really added something to both texture and overall flavour combos. It was a much better value for money dish. I've got to say I wouldn't rush there, but it was pretty good. I'm not a fan of the Prahran/South Yarra vibe but this place was pretty good. I'd definitely consider the function space too for future events. Overall, yeah give it a crack but just rein in expectations that it's not going to change your life and you'll probably be more than satisfied. read more

Speakeasy Kitchen Bar - Avocado (housing unaffordability) and chickpea puree (hummus to the plebs) and a Poached egg - Cafes Near Me - South Yarra, VIC

I randomly went to this place with a group of friends being told about the outdoor courtyard. Upon getting there we were greeted by our host who seated us in the before mentioned courtyard. We were there for a midday breakfast and the big breakthrough I was served was delicious. I especially liked the house made baked beans and the scrambled eggs which were extra creamy. YUM! I ended up exiting via the back alley which had some interesting street art. ;-). Worth checking out if you're in the vicinity. read more

Speakeasy Kitchen Bar - Best coffee!! - Cafes Near Me - South Yarra, VIC

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What a difference one month makes! Visiting again with confidence after such a wonderful first experience. Now the staff are slow and seen a bit lost! Had to check on my coffee order and then it arrived tepid at best! Hmmmmm.....I was going to bring interstate visitors here next weekend, now I'm not so sure, have others seen these inconsistencies, or did I just cop a bad day? read more

I have always walked past here but never had time to stop in until today, I had absolutely no idea about the outdoor or dining area! Such a great find to start off the day. Coffee was on point, I didn't get a chance to eat off the menu this visit, but I will be back for sure. read more

Ideal brunch location for a sunny day - they have a quote outdoor space! The staff is super friendly, and the food is nice! Ask for the specials! They also accept bookings. We had our friend's baby shower there and they let us put decoration up! ;-) read more

I love this place, it's in a great location, there layout and decor is vibrant, fresh and modern, it's got a courtyard (perfect on a warm sunny day), the staff are nice and they do a great burger! We'd just had coffee at Market Lane and were looking for a place to grab some lunch so I took out my phone, brought up Yelp (of course!) and.... well the rest is history. The burger was so good (for those of youse who know me, you'd be aware of how much I love a great burger).. They serve it on a chopping board (now I don't know about you but I love when my meal is served on a chopping board.. I find it really cool) and you get fries with a bit of tomato sauce. It was a good burger - meat to bun ratio was spot on, juicy patty, fresh ingredients and the fries were done to perfection. This place is a lot more than just a great burger though. They have a full bar, a comprehensive menu, serve, brekkie, brunch, lunch and dinner as well as offer their clientele a private dining area for functions. I shall return.... read more

Speakeasy Kitchen Bar - The speakeasy burger! - Cafes Near Me - South Yarra, VIC

Continuing on the quest to try as many places to eat breakfast at, I found myself here at Speakeasy this morning. That urge for pancakes had struck again so I was pleased when I saw the Lemon & Ricotta Pancake stack and my friend chose to eat the Brekky toast with bacon, caramelised onion and tomato slices with barbecue sauce. Coffee was delicious, loved it. I did like my pancakes but thought they were drenched in raspberry sauce and couldn't really find any ricotta in the dish, but still nice. Overall was pleased with the service and meals also get a Kobie D approval. read more

Speakeasy Kitchen Bar - Cafes Near Me - South Yarra, VIC

There's a lot to like about Speakeasy... great fitout, helpful and attentive staff, and I suspect a great place to set up shop on a Saturday afternoon when the weather is nice and let the party come to you. As the new kid on the Chapel street block however, Speakeasy may have a little ironing out to do. The coffee is acquired from the much-acclaimed Dukes (just a little further down the street) so it should be good, but it's average at best. The food too, is fine but not great. With all the hallmarks of a place that will become one of Melbourne's best, I'd absolutely make a return trip... but maybe wait a while for other people to be their guinea pigs first. read more

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Have been wanting to try out this little cafe since before it opened, being a cold day in Melbourne and hinting towards three thirtyitis I scrambled in to grab a coffee and take a look around. Inside is very welcoming; high wooden ceilings with large hanging chandelier type lighting fixtures and a a corridor hinting towards what may possibly be an outdoor area the venue definitely looks promising. There is quite a prestigious menu on offer for both breakfast and lunch meal items like Confit duck & wild mushroom pie, Steak Tartare and Pork belly, carrot & ginger purée just to name a few. Being a little too late for lunch time, I settled with just a cafe latte, the coffee was average and the staff seemed preoccupied with making fun of each other and the phone that had been ringing awhile. I would like to go back to Speakeasy for perhaps a Sunday breakfast, although I do hope the service would be better and the food quality outweigh the coffee. read more

Speakeasy Kitchen Bar - Cafes Near Me - South Yarra, VIC

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While spending a month in Melbourne last summer, I must've walked past Speakeasy's funky alley entrance a zillion times before venturing in. Timid female friends feared it might be like parts of Brooklyn, and that they'd get mugged walking down the graffiti-scrawled lane. Turns out that the graffiti is simply an artistic "teaser" to a HIDDEN GEM. I only wish I'd discovered the place sooner because I would've gone daily, even if only for coffee. As it was, I managed to get in four lunches during my last week before returning to Los Angeles. This South Yarra winner seriously needs to go on your list. Best fun is to drag reluctant friends down the alley off Commercial St., where, like some New York neighborhoods, a seedy exterior belies an impressive interior. Turns out that Speakeasy's main entrance is off of Chapel St., but is easy to miss (I didn't even know it existed until someone pointed it out). Forget it, though, because the alley approach is much more entertaining (caution-replaced-by-relief). The nicely upscale interior has a different ambience than the outdoor courtyard. Weather permitting, though, outside is where you want to be for lunch. Tried almost everything on the menu and was all tasty. The coffee was especially good. Although I didn't have a chance to go at night, friendly "Petros," one of the co-owning brothers, said that weekend music nights are becoming especially popular, so will look forward to that on the next trip! 'Nuff said. Just go. read more

What a little treasure this is. I was skeptical when my partner in crime said we should stop here, it looked like an unassuming little bar, small enough to have a beer in and that's about it. Well, today's lesson is never judge a book by it's cover. Go out the back and ta da! A wonderful courtyard area decorated with some great street art. Apparently the place really kicks up on a Sunday as well with djs ect. The bar snacks were fine, but the prices for a main were heading up there into the very exy price range. I'll be back. read more

Pretty Meh. At least in terms of when it comes to the wine/drinks list. Quite boring and imaginative, speak easy seems to have opted for mainstream favourites, rather than offering anything innovative or exciting. The drinks list is complied of many common beers and wines, that are prevalent around many venues of Melbourne. The food menu looks quite good, but from what I've seen, it's smallish servings for the price. I thought Speakeasy would have been more of a niche customised bar, tailoring to great drinks, but it seems to be catering to the masses with lowest common denominator drinks. read more

August 2017: no smoking outside in dining areas is now law; their coffee better though I still prefer stronger. Now a good brunch venue choice IMO read more

No blasphemy intended, but if God wanted a steak sandwich, I'd say 'hit Speakeasy'. Small yet perfect menu, with an amusing and satisfactory wine list. The Growler ale is fun to order, and I feel no shame ordering from the biodynamic wine range (don't judge me - it's a sulphide thing). It's a bit of a Tardis - small front section with a deluxe outside drinking/eating space. What more can I say - friendly, capable staff, great atmosphere, excellent nosh and bevvies. Did I mention the excellent open steak sandwich? Can't type, drooling. read more

Amongst my most frequented weekend venues. If you want comfort food and cool, yet casual environment add Speakeasy to your places to go when next down around Chapel St. Judging them by my favorite weekend treats namely Bloody Mary, Eggs Benedict, and Fries - I'm a big fan! Keep up the awesome work Alexis & co read more

2 for 1 espresso martinis in the backyard bar on a Friday night, can't really go wrong I suppose when you're friend is the only one drinking them and it's still half price when you only buy the one. It was around 11pm after a gig at chapel off chapel, and no atmosphere whatsoever in the place. Doesn't really come across as what the name suggests. Fun Fact - according to a sign they have fresh oyster specials read more

This is a wonderful place that we discovered during a trip to Melbourne. Mid-shopping spree down Chapel street is the one place that you begrudgingly give in to your grumbling stomach. I really wish they had places like this in Sydney. It looks cosy on the inside, but the natural lighting and woody tones create just the best lunchtime atmosphere. They also have a courtyard outside if you're after a little more sunshine. The place looks and smells brand new that you feel refreshed from the moment you walk in. The service was polite and absolutely charming. We fell in love with this place right away. Food took a little while to come around, but when it did we were not disappointed. In any case, we had some warm fresh sour dough bread and kept yapping to each other to keep our mouths busy. I have to credit the fat triple fried chips and the duck confit pie. However, the duck confit pie is so rich that if you're having the chips, I suggest sharing. The chips come with a homemade tomato sauce which I could not stop raving about. They are quite pricey for a small feed but utterly heaven-sent. Definitely cannot wait to drop in next time. read more

We love this cafe/bar , we are from Perth , but also live in South Yarra, we found this place over twelve months ago and have recommended it to so many people. Great breakfasts. We were there last Saturday lunch , we reserved a table for ten, the food was 10/10 the ambience was fantastic (we are not spring chickens, or young chooks) , but, all agreed fantastic , the menu was a delight for all. We'll be back. read more

Great little spot in South Yarra... If you can grab an outside table, I had the smoked chicken salad and my wife had the chicken burger... Both delicious. Nice to see so many gluten free options in Melbourne in general and here specifically. The egg dishes that others ordered looked terrific as did the smoothies. Service a bit slow but no big deal. read more

Seriously the best burgers I have ever had! Get either the chicken or beef and you won't be disappointed! Can't wait to come back and explore the rest of the menu! read more

Love this place. We always get down here when we're on Chapel Street for an Espresso Martini and always a really cool vibe. Get on it!

One of those classic Melbourne restaurant / bars. I found it walking back to my hotel. Down a lane way off Commercial rd nr Chapel St. I could see the crowd heaving even on a cold winters night. Didnt eat there so cant speak for the food but it looked good! The whole fitout from the back deck to indoors seating to upstairs is full of style. The following morning I found the main entrance on Chapel st for my morning coffee. Nice relaxed chat with the staff and enjoyable seating in/outdoors. Definitely the coolest place i have found in the area. I will keep coming back whenever I am staying in the area. read more

Nice coffee and ambience ...will try some food next time..so yes I will go back. Run by a group of hip young staff...