NOTE: St Jeromes has now closed, but the review is still there to see what you missed out on.

At the other end of the spectrum from many of Melbourne’s bars, St Jeromes is a place for people who are chilled out, dressed down and don’t mind it a little grungy.

Location:

7 Caledonian Lane, Melbourne (CBD)

Difficulty Finding:

- Find the alley; find the bar. While the alley itself is not inviting, persevere and you shall find this hole in the wall.

Summary:

- Type: Bar
- Food: Some in the afternoon
- Music: Chilled with Djs spinning anything from indie to breaks
- Cover: None

Review:

This bar offers a very different experience to what is offered around town and while definitely is not suited to many peoples tastes; St Jeromes should be seen purely because there is not much else like it around. From the outside it looks like a pretty typical alleyway café (at least in Melbourne anyway); however as you venture further inside this often cramped bar you will find that it keeps going and going. Past the bar takes you outside into a courtyard which; after going down a few steps; makes you realise that you are now standing in an alley. But wait there’s a DJ set up on some milk crates down there and another make shift looking bar set up over there, so you still must be inside the bar. Continue on and in the way it started it abruptly ends, at the bottom of a stairway.

This place is grungy. I like to think of it as a bit of a rats nest (but in a good way), and this feeling comes from the way it seems to have just been put together when there wasn’t enough room for a party in the café alone one night. Due to its layout; St Jeromes get busy very quickly. This creates a nice party atmosphere like a really big house party that everyone is crashing but can make it a bit of an effort to get to the bar for a longneck. A new second building extends the place a bit, giving the way to more secluded spots to drinks, upstairs dancefloor and a rooftop area.

With its layout and music this place is really catered to a much younger crowd; scenesters and chilled out folks are abound. This place isn’t judgemental though; you only have to feel young to fit in. Musically, its very eclectic with big splashings of indie, alternative, breaks, drum’n'bass and with a hint of electro. From this culture that frequents St Jeromes, the Laneway Festival was started which has grown to become a huge pop festival across more than just one laneway but multiple capital cities.

Final Thoughts:

If you want something different from dim cocktail bars and expensive drinks; and don’t mind a bit of grunge then this place should be number one when checking out what Melbourne’s CBD has to offer.

Pro’s:
+ Cheap
+ Very funky
+ Party atmosphere
Con’s:
- Often cramped
- If you don’t like it dark and dirty I wouldn’t recommend it
- Limited drink choice

Score:

Atmosphere: 9
Service: 6
Menu: 6
Cost: 8
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Overall:7.25


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