With its hidden entrance in a prominent Italian Restaurant, High Society ensures that you are looked after on a visit there. With its professional, personal service this is a perfect place to venture any time of the evening.

Website

High Society

Location:

Level 1, 23-29 Bourke St, Melbourne CBD

Difficulty Finding:

- Finding Society is not too hard, its right down the end of Bourke Street at the Spring Street (Parliament) end. High Society is inside, upstairs.


View Alley Life in a larger map

Summary:

- Type: Cocktail bar
- Food: Downstairs is Society, an Italian Restaurant
- Music: DJ
- Cover: None

Review:

Service has become a lost art form in a lot of places these days, and this simple yet powerful element has the ability to create an everlasting impression on a venue. Bad service can take a good night out and make it poor, while good service can take that good night out and make it great. In the case of High Society they are able to make any night out great, from the greeting once upstairs, to the knowledge being shared by the bar staff to anyone who wants to listen, they have it covered. The whole night out there is relaxing and seems to run seamlessly due to the service however this is just one small aspect of a night at High Society…

The atmosphere inside feels like you could be there after a casual night out with friends or after a gala opening at the theatre. The large feature wall opposite the bar with its silhouettes of a high society now rarely seen complements the bar at other side of the room giving the whole venue a classy yet relaxed atmosphere. This room however is by far the only place to go and hide here with more rooms becoming apparent the more you explore, so if your desire is to hide away and let the night pass you by you can do that too.

All of this talk about service and atmosphere is good, however what about the drinks? I hear you ask, well I am pleased to inform you that the menu is second to none and the drinks themselves are constructed by staff who show time and time again that they know what they are doing. If you are not sure of what you want, talk to the staff as they are more than willing to suggest something to your taste while most likely giving you a history on the drink as well. Of course the busier the night gets there the less chance there is to talk to the bar staff, but rest assured that the standard of the drink its self stays the same. On top of all of this, Wednesday and Saturday nights are $10 cocktail nights which, when it all comes down to it, is a bonus in anyone’s book and even better here is that the standard stays the same on these nights to the other nights. There is some food offered upstairs however for a more substantial meal downstairs is Society, so really the whole night is covered here.

Final Thoughts:

The experience was hard to fault at High Society, the music was pretty loud compared to other cocktail bars, and the menu is in plastic pockets which is a pet hate. However these are tiny aspects overall and when it comes down to it, didn’t impact the night. If you are up the top end of Bourke Street be sure to go in and visit it as you won’t be disappointed.

Pro’s:
+ Cheap (even outside specials nights)
+ Well made drinks
+ Great staff
Con’s:
- Loud music gives a bit more of a club feel than a bar
- Menu comes in plastic pockets

Score:

Atmosphere: 7
Service: 8.5
Menu: 8.5
Cost: 9
———————-
Overall: 8.25


View Alley Life in a larger map