Quintessential Melbourne bar, hard to find…but worth the effort. This bar hidden in the heart of Hardware lane offers its visitors an extensive menu that accommodates all tastes.

Website:

Charlie’s Bar

Location:

71 Hardware Lane, Melbourne (City)

Difficulty Finding:

- Extremely difficult, half way down hardware lane on Spencer Street side. Identified only by a small sign on the wall behind restaurant tables.

Summary:

- Type: Cocktail bar
- Food: Restaurant attached
- Music: Lounge music, DJ
- Cover: None

Review:

Charlie’s bar is impossible to find if you don’t know where it is, it is the sort of place you would set out to go to rather than happen to drop in. The dark, atmospheric lighting works well in giving it a kind of underground jazz bar feel. There is a diversity of seating as well, from booths to sofa’s the place caters for all sorts of taste’s.

The menu is very diverse catering to all sorts of taste’s from cocktails to imported beers, all of which is at a reasonable price. The Smiling Assassin is a personal favourite there, with its mixture of vodka, strawberries and Absinthe it is sure to warm up any night out.

There is table service on offer, however in most cases it is better to sort out orders at the bar, as table service can be slow when busy and it can get very busy. This said, Charlie’s Bar is just as much about the no pressure, relaxed atmosphere, as it is about their menu.

Final Thoughts:

I love Charlie’s Bar as it encompasses everything we have come to expect in a Melbourne bar, and is the sort of place you can sit all night and enjoy.

Pro’s:
+ Great atmosphere
+ Drinks list extensive
+ Good music
Con’s:
- Service slow when busy
- Not everything on the menu available

Score:

Atmosphere: 9
Service: 7
Menu: 8
Cost: 8
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Overall: 8


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