- awesome bartender - amazing drinks…read more- perfect recs - you don't even need a menu, just tell the bartender how u feel - you will be served enjoyment and splendor in a glass - I love the old school bar/speakeasy feel - cool playlist

After finishing our meal at a nearby bistro, we decided to check out the Elysian, which was just a…read morefew doors down. The elegant atmosphere immediately caught our attention, with a huge window facing the street and high ceilings adorned with shelves of liquor bottles. As we were seated, Calvin, who came out from behind the bar, introduced himself and made us feel very welcome. Even menu was quite extensive, but the popular items were located on the front part of pages. We ordered the Glenlivet 24 with their special label and the "Infused Old Fashioned", both of which were well made. My only criticism was that the old fashioned was a bit too sweet for my liking. Overall, the staff was attentive and friendly, making us feel well taken care of throughout our visit. We would definitely consider coming back to this whisky bar in the future!

Loving the emergence/resurgence of the whiskey bars around Melbs at the moment…read more The Kilburn offers flights that group whiskeys together based on their locale, which is a great way to get introduced to a few new favourites, and also a list of whiskey cocktails from the standards to the more peculiar. There's also some decent beers on the menu for those who want to cobble together their own boiler-makers. The set up is great and the inventory on display behind the bar simply mouth-wateringly impressive. One thing was that there didn't seem to be any whiskey 'bible' listing exactly what they had. Understand the logistics of keeping something like that up to date with prices and new inclusions etc can be annoying, but it would have been fun for us to read over, whiskey in hand, looking for the next one to try. I'm sure the staff - all very friendly and welcoming, with table service - would be able to help steer you toward something to suit your tastes and price range, but I do enjoy the tactile experience of flicking through a full drinks menu.

Er mer gerd. There's a very swank whisky bar outside of the city. On my side-ish of town. My new…read morefave. This place breathes a breath of fresh air into a previously dullish area. It's about time! Offering over 600 whisk(e)ys, delicious wines and craft beers. Offering delicious bar food. Very professional and attentive staff, they even offer table service. Beautifully furnished and lots of attention to detail in the lighting and things like bag hooks on the bar. Looking forward to sampling their cocktails and the whisky flights. x

Oh Loretta, you saucy minx, you truly are irresistible. On the face of it, Loretta's occupies the…read morecorner 'front' bar in the new home of Bluebonnet barbecue. It's a pretty little pub on a leafy street and has some outdoor seating, which is good, cos the seating options in the bar are pretty limited. A few low tables and bench seating and you are pretty much done. The bar itself is small but perfectly formed, and it's all good stuff here. No room to waste on sub-standard tipples. Rotating craft beer taps, bottled cocktails, lots of interesting things to try and the bar staff are happy to offer suggestions. The big plus with Loretta's is that you get full access to the Bluebonnet menu, even when the main dining room is between sittings. There are also several bar-only sandwich options to flesh out what is already a pretty tempting range of bbq and sides, although I lament that currently there is no broccoli salad on offer. Anyway, if you love good bbq, good booze and a laid back atmosphere, I recommend you check it out..or maybe don't - me and Loretta have a thing going on and I might not want to share.

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 new hidden cocktail bar is already one of my favourites. Entering through a side door down a…read morelaneway, and climbing the stairs, opening the door as if to a house and being greeted so politely. The choice of the cocktail bad, whiskey and cigar room or the rooftop, delights me and caters or all your needs. The cocktails are strong, creative and use spirits and aperitifs in the most unique ways to deliver the most perfect cocktail. There are so many liqueurs, sprints and aperitifs that you wouldn't have even heard of. All the food sounds Devine, and the chocolate truffles are a slice of heaven. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Absolutely disappointing experience and appalling customer service. The vibe looked good and we…read moredecided to take a chance. We entered at 11pm and decided to get a bottle of sparkling. No one informed us about any policy. We paid for the bottle with 5% service charge which I do not think they deserved. We had a sudden work call at 11.30pm and grabbed the bottle to go, only for the staff to chase us to the front of the bar to inform us that they do not have a takeaway license. For christ sake, we already had bought the bottle!! Though it's alright, we respect policy. They highlighted that they needed to keep the bottle in the establishment. We asked if we could come back and finish it. They said they would keep our bottle. We rushed back to our hotel (Marriott- 200m away for the call). When we returned at 11.58pm, they had already thrown our bottle away. Unbelievable! They were quick to receive our money but equally quick to throw our experience out the window. No doubt, we returned almost at closing times but throwing our wine before closing time - if you wanna go by the book, that is still not your closing time. When we raised our grievances to the staff, she said she told us about closing time at 12 midnight. However, we emphasised that she should have let us know about the takeaway policy and license. Had we known, we would not have ordered a bottle. She looked at us blankly and simply replied "feedback received, but we do not allow anyone in after 12, so you have to leave". Quite honestly, ChatGPT / Claude / Grok could have conveyed more empathy. I am not a VIP customer nor am I a high spender. That being said, I value places with a human connection and empathy, and would regularly visit such places with joy and happiness multiple times. This place is not one of them. For this reason, I will never visit again. If you think likewise, and value authenticity and a true Aussie welcome, you would not visit this place. I hate to give negative reviews but please spend your money elsewhere.

The perfect blend of new and old, Caretaker's Cottage is undoubtably the best bar in Melbourne…read more Don't take my word for it, take the word of the 3 other bartenders around town that unanimously answered "Caretaker's Cottage!" when I asked what do they think the best bar in town was. CC is also on the Top 50 bars list! At Caretaker's Cottage you get high end, modern cocktails wrapped in an old-pub feel atmosphere with interesting decor. Aptly named, the place is a converted old cottage behind the Wesley Place church. Step inside, and it's a mix of old and modern, maintaining the heritage and namesake of the place while having fun and modernizing it a bit to make it more suitable for a casual and fun bar. The drinks menu changes constantly and the bartenders avoid to make any modifications as they work tirelessly to perfectly blend the right amount of ingredients with each concoction. Don't worry, the drinks are that good that you wouldn't want to change a thing anyway. The team gets really creative, too, including ingredients such as ube, yuzu, kiwi, green melon, and charcoal. Both the bartenders and the rest of the staff are friendly, efficient, and happy to help when needed. The place is small but they make it work and on nice days, you can stay outside and enjoy the small yard. Overall, if you like creative cocktails, visiting Caretaker's Cottage is an absolute must!

State of Grace was one of the highlights of our Melbourne trip -- an incredible dining experience…read morefrom start to finish. The atmosphere is vibrant, stylish, and full of character. From the moment you walk in, there's a buzz that makes the place feel alive without being overwhelming. It strikes a great balance between upscale and relaxed, making it perfect for a date night or a fun evening out. The warm lighting and eclectic design add to the charm and make you want to linger. Service was friendly, attentive, and well-paced throughout the night. The staff were knowledgeable about the menu, checked in on us at the right moments, and made the whole experience feel effortless and welcoming. Every dish we ordered was excellent -- not a single miss. We started with the Cauliflower & Mozzarella Croquettes, which were crispy on the outside and perfectly creamy inside. The Grilled King Prawns were flavorful and cooked just right, while the Kingfish Ceviche was fresh, bright, and beautifully balanced. The Stracciatella & Heirloom Tomatoes was simple yet outstanding, letting the quality of the ingredients shine. For mains, the Duck Breast was cooked perfectly and full of rich flavor, and the Lamb Backstrap was tender and well-seasoned. The Pecorino & Ricotta Ravioli was comforting and delicate, while the Seafood Linguine stood out with generous portions of seafood and a beautifully balanced sauce. The Honey Glaze Carrots were the perfect side -- sweet, savory, and executed flawlessly. Overall, State of Grace delivers on every level -- ambience, service, and food. An exceptional spot that lives up to the hype, and one we'd absolutely return to on our next visit to Melbourne.

Food was delicious and perfect potions. The music was way…read moretoo loud which ruins the experience. Service is great

By far my favorite place that I've found in Melbourne, possibly in Aus! I can't speak highly enough…read moreof every aspect of this bar. Intimate setting, yet quite comfortable. Always an excellent music selection, with footy on the tv if that's what you're lookin for. The staff is WONDERFUL. so personable, quite willing to give their recommendations if you ask (and you should- they haven't steered me wrong yet!). The nachos, add beef, are easily the best nachos I've ever had- loaded with toppings, seasoned chips, absolutely delicious. Quite a diverse menu, with plenty of options depending on your hunger level. Great wine and beer selection, and a solid cocktail list too!

Food is awesome - Baked mushrooms - I could just have a plate of them on their own…read more The staff are easy to chat with and service was well timed.

This used to be a night club, and honestly, I am totally over nightclubs, simply because they are…read moreloud, crowded, and can be impossible to enter at times. Well, this is no longer the case here. In fact, this place not only opens much earlier but it has an awesome atmosphere. Actually, I don't even think I can consider it to be a nightclub anymore, but rather a cocktail bar, and a pretty awesome one at that. Not surprisingly, there are references to books, and some pretty awesome books at that, all over the place. Oh, and not only do they also have beer available, and the service is also pretty awesome.

Amazing ambiance and service. The details of this bar are incredible. Definitely not a place to go…read moreoften, but a really cool spot to experience and take other people to. The menu is wildly inventive and requires a bit of explanation (in which the servers do exceptionally well). Definitely a must-stop-by spot if you're visiting Melbourne.

It's always good to visit a bar that I haven't visited before, and with Melbourne there are…read morecertainly quite a lot of bars in which this can be done, since they do tend to be literally popping up all over the place. Well, this one is certainly no exceptions, and while it isn't one of the best rooftop bars that I have visit, it is still pretty good. Yeah, in a way there certainly does seem to be pretty nice atmosphere up here, and the staff are pretty cool as well. Oh, and I probably should mention that they have some rather nice beers as well. Yeah, this place certainly is pretty cool.

What a wonderful day to sit outside for lunch on a rooftop cafe. Warm but a bit breezy and…read moreeventually rain chased us off the roof. The food is Fancy Hank's BBQ from downstairs but it was the open fresh air that did it for me.