The Weirdest Bars in MelbourneMelbourne is famed for its bar culture, with endless laneway bars where half the fun is finding the place. These are some of the strangest bars in Melbourne, with oddball themes that make going for a drink so much more exciting. Some are city attractions that every Melburnian has heard of, if not been to; others are little-known gems that have been hiding under your nose.
Melbourne's very own Tiki bar, The LuWow. Image: The LuWow Facebook page.
Southbank's
Chill On Ice Lounge is a cool bar to chill in. At negative ten degrees Celsius, you can only stay in the icy bar for up to half an hour. During that time, you'll sip on refreshing cocktails served in glasses made of ice, and sit on ice furniture. To survive the sub-zero temperatures, you must wear a poncho and gloves, which make you feel quite large and clumsy. Not the best attire for gripping onto your icy shot glass, but what Chill On Ice Lounge lacks in comfort, it makes up for with novelty value.
My visit to the Chill On Ice Lounge (2012).
is a creepy science laboratory themed bar and club which is loved by locals and tourists alike. The place is decorated in scientific glassware - the type you'd recognise from your high school science classes rather than anything too advanced. Cocktails come with oversized syringes, and the bathrooms have dingy beds reminiscent of a school sick bay. The iconic Croft Institute is a laneway bar which can be tricky to find - it is so very Melbourne.
What could be more Melbourne than a lab-themed bar hidden down a smelly, graffiti-covered alleyway? Image: The Croft Institute.
One of Melbourne's most famous bars,
Madame Brussels is a kitsch garden party wonderland. The interior is kitted out with astro-turf and wrought iron outdoor furniture. With fruity cocktails flowing and staff in skimpy retro tennis outfits, it has the feel of a rich person's back garden. The place is named after colourful brothel owner
Madame Brussels, who operated several bordellos nearby in Lonsdale Street in the late 1800s.
In most workplaces, asking the staff to dress like this would be illegal. Photo: Madame Brussels Facebook page.
Purchase all your tea needs at Collingwood's
Storm in a Teacup, and get tipsy from tea infused with booze while you're at it. It is a fairly laidback place, as you would expect from a quaint specialty tea shop, rather than a lively bar with pumping music. Enjoy hard liquor and tea delightfully married together for your afternoon tipple.
Tea-licious boozing. Image: Storm in a Teacup Facebook page.
Go on a holiday to the fantasy islands of yesteryear at
LuWow in Fitzroy. The Tiki bar is decked out with over-the-top décor, with a matching Tropical-themed cocktail list. The LuWow has two main sections, and of course they have cringeworthy names: 'The Island Village' for a sit-down area with table service, and 'The Forbidden Temple' for drinks and dancing. Sleazy entertainment, such as hula shows every Friday night, completes the theme.
The LuWow Tiki bar. Image: The LuWow Facebook page.
Fans of LuWow may also appreciate the
Tiki Lounge and Bar in Richmond.
Robot BarAll of Melbourne's laneway bars are quirky in their own way, but the
Robot Bar is more eccentric than most. The Japanese bar has an obsession with toy robots, as the name may suggest. Robot memorabilia and art defines the place, which even has a hanging installation of small toy robots. Anime screenings every Tuesday night demonstrate that the Robot Bar's allegiance to Japan goes beyond the gimmicky robots. Of course, they have a large selection of sake and Asian beer, and an extensive cocktail menu.
Hanging robot installation at Melbourne's quirky Robot Bar. Image: Robot Bar.
