Ever wanted to drink out of a syringe or sip cocktails on a hospital bed surrounded by test tubes? Probably not. But if you want to discover something new and quite frankly, a bit weird, you might as well check out the Croft Institute.
A word of warning though, try to visit near the beginning of your night out, before you're completely intoxicated, otherwise there is not a chance you'll ever find it and will probably end up passing out in an alleyway, next to a bin. The venue is in the heart of Chinatown, Melbourne CBD, down a couple of dodgy looking side streets.
Once you've negotiated your way through the laneways and have found yourself in the right place, you'll discover that from the outside it doesn't look like anything special. Well, the inside isn't particularly glamourous either. But then again, the décor is inspired by a hospital, and there's nothing glamourous about that. The Croft Institute isn't supposed to be the most fabulous venue, it's charm lies in its quirkiness. Most bars in Melbourne offer you a range of cocktails, but only the Croft will offer you one in a syringe.
Entry on a Saturday night is $10, and drinks prices are typical for the area (between $8 and $20 for wines and cocktails).
Despite being so hidden away, Melburnians and tourists have all heard of Croft and it can get pretty busy. I wouldn't plan a whole evening there, but if you are out in the city and fancy something a bit different, it's a great place to start your night.
