This is one of those accidental discoveries that I discovered as I was walking down Plenty Road one…read moreafternoon after work. Having not seen it before, and pretty much picking it out as one of those trendy innercity bars (not that Preston could be considered inner city, but it is on the south side of Bell Street, so as far as I'm concerned that pretty much classifies it as inner city) I decided to check it out. I have to say that as soon as I stepped into the warehouse (it looks like it used to me a mechanic of some sort) I was immediately impressed. This is definitely the type of bar that I could spend a lot of time sitting with friends or just reading a good book. What's even better is that you can order food from the burger joint next door and they have no issue with you eating it here. Definitely on my must visit again sometime soon list.

What do you mean you're going to let me bring in my OWN food, play all your board games and sit on…read moreyour comfy lounges while serving me drinks? Are we in some kind of alternative hospitality universe here, or what!? The Raccoon Club is incredible: a warehouse styled building in the middle of seemingly nowhere (but conveniently located right in front of a tram stop) this is the kind of place that more neighbourhoods need. A huge space, great tunes, welcoming publicans, board games, a pool table, the option to call the local thai/pizza/indian and have them deliver it right to your couch or oversized bar stool...you're going to want to silently high-five the world when you first come here, and that's before you even think about having a drink. Is that a giant list of locally crafted beers and ciders I spy? Why yes, I think it is. And hang on a second, what's with the incredibly well stocked back bar? 15 types of Gin? Weird stuff I've never heard of? Good god, can I bring my tent and pitch it in the corner for a few weeks?

This kitty purrs a soothing mix. From the sounds of your own conversation having a voice over by…read morethe serenading voices of 1950's and the faint white noise of cocktails being shaken by the gifted bartenders, Kitty is where it's at. I love those places that you enter and they seamlessly immerse you into the stage they've created. You open the Kitty Somerset door and step into a vintage store turned bar. One would only hope to bump into Don Draper inside. But alas, he is nowhere to be found. Instead you are met with a smokey Chicago-esque setting: it's very dim with globe lighting, keeping it classy with sturdy dark leather couches and a friendly bar with a menu to woe. Anything you want can be found here. I've sampled the menu a bit and nothing has been miss. The Mezcal Maid is for any tequila fan. The Espresso Martini is more on the nutty side. The Secret Garden is a go to. Have your way with the menu & I promise, it won't disappoint. Let's recap: Vintage vibe. Slow tunes. Classy drinks. Check. Check. Check. They ALL make you want to come here, decked out for a 50's dapper party.

I ran into one of my rockabilly friends last night getting of the train at Croxton and we agreed to…read moremeet for a drink some time soon. It's no surprise she suggested Kitty Somerset on High Street as the design aesthetic kind of matches her own. In saying that, I got absolutely no beef with this joint whatsoever. Kitty's is part of this new wave of bars, cafes and restaurants that are brightening up this end of High Street (call it gentrification or whatever, but it's better than disgusting men's clubs and a bunch of crusty old bastards playing dominoes and staring at your girlfriend as she walks past). What once was the height of suburban boganity, the Thornbury stretch of the street is now populating with great little hideaways for those in the know. Kitty's do great cocktails in a great setting, with flair and in a cheery way. They have a courtyard for summer and an open fire for winter. Really, they're one of the coolest little spots in the area. You should check it out... And, it's open LATE!

Fun little dive bar. If you're looking for a place to get a little rowdy this would be a good place…read moreto go. Beer selection is a little limited nothing darker than a pale ale. Eclectic crowd of locals and tourists. Pitchers of beer are very popular here. Random Aussie boy performed and rapped to top 40 songs while the crowds danced. So random but had lots of fun.

We had hubby's birthday party here and had a great time. The DJ starts fairly early (he was on at…read more7pm when we arrived) and it's a bit hard to talk to people inside but you forget about this as the night goes and and the place fills up. We had share plates of bruschetta, meat pies, prawn tempura etc and they were all tasty. The bartenders were all friendly and helpful. Towards the end of the night, when the place was packed, you had to wait a fair bit to get a drink, but maybe this is standard at all places nowadays? I felt they could have done with 2 or 3 more bartenders from 11pm onwards. Good venue on Chapel Street for a casual drinks night or party.

There are a lot of really cool things about this little pub near the Queen Victoria Markets. Okay,…read moreit also doubles as a backpackers hostel so you are going to get a lot of the backpackers drinking here, but that isn't really a bad thing. On the front door there is this really strange statue that I am still trying to work out what it is, but due to the fishing theme that hits you when you walk inside (such as the net and the bouys that are dangling from the ceiling) I suspect that it may be a mermaid or something like that (though it does look a bit ugly to be a mermaid). Yes, this is a pretty grungy pub, but that is what I like in a pub, and they also have some pretty cheap drinks here as well, so this is certainly on my list of pubs to return to again.

Again am embarrassed to admit how long it's taken me to get to this awesome pub. Seriously dont…read moreask, cos I won't tell. Let's just say too long. I've seen in the last few weeks some awesome bands here. Most notably The Stiffys, Laura Imbruglia and Dart. Definitely a dive bar with decently priced not shit beer. They aren't changing the world, but maybe they are. Bringing decent craft beer to the masses.

This wasn't a particularly bad bar, but then again it really wasn't one of those bars that I'd be…read morefalling over myself to go and visit again in a hurry. Sure, it was rather quiet, and had a nice atmosphere, and the staff were pretty good as well, however it simply didn't stand out in a way that made me want to make an effort to visit it again in a hurry. I guess because there are just so many good pubs and bars around here, you really need to be something extraordinary to capture my attention.

Great little hip hop bar with graffitied walls of famous hip hop singers. Happy hour from 4 -9 what…read moremore could you want

I like having cheap drinks and I like having a good time. Therefore, I like Randy Dragon. Call me a…read moretight-arse but the thing that I like most about Randy Dragon is its happy hours, which run in some shape or form every night of the week. I've met a friend who works near by on a Friday night where you can get a $10 jug of Carlton from 5-7 and 9-11. But Randy Dragon is much more than just a cheap bar. Located on Flinders Lane and down a small flight of stairs a very funky interior awaits. The décor is pretty neatly decked out with large comfy couches, chandeliers, lots of warm red colours and some nice mood lighting. The atmosphere is lively and the place is buzzing with young professionals after work. They also seem to have a policy to only employ hot barmaids too, which although not being very egalitarian, is quite good to look at. Give it a go!

Ohhh Randy Dragon. It's hard to describe this place. With all its dark red vinyl and low lighting,…read moreit's on the cheesy side, but it KNOWS it's cheesy, and that somehow makes it OK. Fun even. Plus, it has cheap drinks, even on the weekend. There are generally varying drink specials going on, long happy hours, that sort of thing, no matter what day of the week it is. No one would really come here for the ambience -- people come here for the cheap drinks. It's a step up in atmosphere from a backpacker bar or dingy old pub, but make no mistake -- it's definitely the type of bar/lounge/whatever that people come to so they can get trashed -- or at least, start the process of getting trashed. I guess my point is, this isn't a place to come and linger over a quiet cocktail or wine or two with a friend. This is much more of an after-work let's-get-the-party-started kind of a scene. The longer you're here, the more you drink, the more fun Randy Dragon gets -- and somehow the cheesy vibe of the venue when you're sober turns into a dark, intimate, even sexy vibe when you're decidedly less than sober. And that's what Randy Dragon's banking on. As far as dress code, there are bouncers at the steps down to the Randy Dragon, so you can't get in looking like total riffraff, but these are generally nice bouncers, not the usual annoyed bouncers with a giant chip on their shoulders. The bartenders, on the other hand, are abrupt and not very polite, but it is what it is. I've only ever been here on the weekend, when the music is Top 40 and heavy on the R&B, and a few people were grooving, but this is no dance club. More of a basement lounge-y type place. Check it out if you're in the CBD and want some cheap drinks and don't mind the not-quite-classy-not-quite-trashy-either kind of vibe.

I came to FAD tonight after a dinner and have to say i really enjoyed it. I met up with some newly…read moreacquainted friends and we boogied the night away. The DJ was super friendly and played anything we requested (I even requested California Love - Tupac and it was played). There seemed to be a big old-school theme to the night and the likes of Pat Benatar and Diana Ross. The venue wasn't that large, but enough to accommodate to our large group. We sipped on vodka cranberries and shots. Corrs Lane is usually packed and lots of fun, FAD Gallery is a place to visit if you like old-school beats, a boogie and some friendly peeps. The only thing that confused me about FAD was the toilets, i don't really know which one is male or female and the basin to wash your hands is actually in the middle of the outdoor area, so strange.

The music here is awesome. Great decore, nice staff. The art on the walls is for sale and if you…read morelike it, it would be worth checking out the gallery upstairs. Drinks are cheap (not the best bubbles I've ever tasted) but it's a fun place with a cool vibe. And it's in a cobblestone lane way off Little Bourke which only adds to its cool and means your perfectly place for lots of dinner choices. If your one of those smoker people there's ever an outdoor court yard specially for you. Oh, and if your a bit shy you should know that the toilets are outside through the courtyard. If you like dancing this place can go off (in a great way). Did I mention the comfy lounge chairs and couches?

Hidden away down a side street in Prahran, is the incredibly elegant and luxuriously ornate Back…read moreBar. Separated into two equally as stunning lounges, guests may have their choice from either the Red Lounge; which is located at street level with views of both Green and Chapel Streets as well as a licensed outdoor area. Or the Gold Lounge, which is three times as big as the Red Lounge making it perfect for larger functions or events. I love Back Bar as my after work destination when I'm in the mood for a classy, yet quiet chat with the girls whilst enjoying a few vinos. Back Bar offers happy hour every night of the week from 5pm - 7pm giving guests a discount on local beers, basic spirits and cocktails. Perfect! You should also keep an eye on the website, as Back Bar often host Cocktail Master Classes and other fun events, great for corporate functions or birthday celebrations.

Ooh, I quite like it in here! Slightly away from the Chapel Street 'strip', lies Back Bar. Entering…read moreis like stepping into an idea of opulence from 30 years ago. It's very elegant and old fashioned, but not in a hipster way. It feels more authentic than that. I popped in for a cheeky drink then popped out again so I didn't explore much, but what I found was just the ticket. Quiet, relaxed, and with a certain air of sophistication. Or maybe that's because I was in attendance, who knows. The place had a well-stocked bar with everything you could want to drink, an open fire for those winter months, and large, ornate chairs. This place is well worth a visit.