Melbourne Nightlife

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Most of the press that you read about Melbourne's nightlife would suggest that this city may be located on the wrong continent. Some mistake Melbourne for Barcelona, others think Florence, and some might say they see more Athens. One place within the city limits does not claim to merely be in a European style, but actually has named itself the European Bier Cafe.

I did get a hall pass one evening to enjoy a couple biers in this location and took advantage of the opportunity. The cafe lives up to its name serving European Biers that you would not find in many other places in Australia. We enjoyed some Hoffbrauhaus (HB) bier from Munich, and also some great wheat beer called Erdinger. They also were nice enough to bring out a bowl of chips the size of my head (which is very large).

The atmosphere was clean and the service was good. It is easily within walking distance of most of the CBD hotels, and is located centrally on Exhibition street.

With all the history Australia has of England shipping the Irish over to work Australia's lands... did you doubt that one of the best places to get a beer is in an Irish pub?

Birdie O'reilly's is actually located in the heart of Chapel Street, and ironically enough it used to be a church! Now it is the home of a great little Irish pub, which is frequented by many a husband as their wives are on a shopping rampage. I think there is even a special for weary husbands on Saturday afternoons.

The afternoon crowd however pales in comparison to this place at night. I guess the Irish do not wake before sunset, which makes sense by lookng at their pale skin!

Either way, grab a pint, drink a guinness (its a meal, not a beer), and join the party!

Dress Code: An Irish pub, and a dress code? Just bring all your teeth... no wise cracks or you will not leave with all of them.

Commercial Road in Melbourne is the area to go for the gay nightlife. Its welcoming to all travellers - gay, str8, bi. If your not gay friendly, this is definitley not the area for you and more than likely you will be out-numbered :-) If you like techno music then the best club for you is The Market. If you like top 40, dance and pop (with some remixes) the best club would be the Xchange.

If your feeling like you wanna get wild you definitley have the opportunity to hook up. It's not the most classy clubs but if you wanna have a drink and dance and have a good night, this could be the place for you. For me, its good occassionally :-)

Dress Code: Everyone is trendy! Dress with a funky style, trendy shoes and hip shirts are cool. Hair seems to be important for a lot of people down there. Definitley not shorts!

A tiny little bar set down a back lane.

Chinese pop-culture and retro-communist Mao-esque icons.
If you like that kind of thing.

Hours:
sunday to wednesday 5pm - 1am
thursday to saturday 5pm - 3am

Dress Code: where whatever.

Not really a night club as such, more a pub/club, with a couple of bars with cheaps drinks, and it is well known for the young crews. So if ya down under and wanting to mix it with the youth Mentone Pub (edgy) on wednesday nights!! is the go

Dress Code: pretty laid back, what ever u want really, just no thongs guys

Hawthorn is a great spot for all your different types of outtings, bars, clubs, you name it and it will be in the area, well worth a look. Room is always a good place to head for your dancing and the Hawthorn is a nice local pub with a new age touch with a lil music on the side to keep you going.

Dress Code: keep it simple, but nice and neat and make sure you got some nice shoes

There are heaps of screens in Melbourne - from megaplexes through to art house venues through to drive-ins and open air screens (summer only).

Village Cinemas = the biggie. City Centre (4 screens), Crown (10 screens), Jam Factory (12) in South Yarra or any other of the numerous main shopping malls. Also has 'Cinema Europa' - art house screenings.

Hoyts is the main rival - also to be found predominantly in the burbs as part of a shopping mall. Hoyts' Cinema Europa is 'La Premiere'.

Both Village and Hoyts do 'TIGHTARSE TUESDAYS when ticket prices are heavily discounted (AUD$9 from AUD$15). Hoyts has just opened screens at Melbourne Central and have, through its promotion, started the price wars. AUD$8 for any screening any time - Village has responded offering the same for any screen in the city.

The best of the 'independents' is Palace Cinemas. (S.Yarra, Brighton, St Kilda and Balwyn). Arthouse movies in the main. Their equivalent of Tightarse Tuesday is on Thursdays ($8.50) but has also just extended it to include Tuesdays.

But it's worth becoming a member of Palace if you plan to see more than 1 film in a year! (Annual membership is AUD$15 - includes a free ticket there and then. Membership also gives you AUD$5.50 discount on any film. As they issue temporary cards on day of purchase, if you are in Melbourne for only a limited time, you can still make use of it!

Nova in Carlton is also a great independent venue - 11 screens (although some are tiny) provides the north with virtually every arthouse film around. Nova's cheap night is MONDAYS.

KinoDendy in the city - another 4 screen art house - cheap nights: MONDAYS.

Last but not least - Astor Cinema in Windsor. Fabulous old 1920s music hall venue - huge screen, with stalls and balcony. Its a rep cinema - usually inspired double-bills (old and new). AUD$15 entry.

If you are a complete movie buff, you can therefore do it cheaply on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays by chosing your cinema.

Dress Code: Its a cinema - anything goes....

It has cosy and very relaxed atmosphere with prompt friendly service. Vinyl records playing cool/hip grooves. Baroque furniture, with many scattered candles giving a slight Gothic feel. Great place to go mid week for a lazy after work drink. I went there to dance also on Saturday nights. Great nights!!!

Dress Code: It's open from Wednesday to Friday 4pm-Late, Sat 9pm-3am.
Girls can wear what they want but boys has to wear a something with neck,even a polo shirt but it has to have a neck. And forget gym shoes!!!