Bar: Lanes Edge

Lanes Edge is a ‘no-frills’ bar where you can start off the night with casual drinks with friends in an atmosphere that is relaxed and easy going.
Bar: Lanes Edge

Bar: The Carlton

With its wild interior, The Carlton Hotel offers a completely unique drinking experience in a completely crazy venue.
Bar: The Carlton

Bar: The Everleigh

Hidden out in the fringe of the CBD, The Everleigh brings the old charm of the traditional cocktail bar to Fitzroy.
Bar: The Everleigh

Bar: Bar Americano

  Redefining the idea of a small bar, Bar Americano focuses on what's in the glass rather than everything else around it.
Bar: Bar Americano

Bar: Black Pearl

Black Pearl offers world class cocktails, made by world class staff in a low-key, stylish venue that is sure to impress.
Bar: Black Pearl

This site aims to expose the secrets of the vibrant Melbourne night life to residents and visitors. We strive to provide reviews of bars and restaurants only after we have been to them and experienced the place for ourselves.

We have mapped the bars and restaurants reviewed so as to take the hassle out of finding the venue and to assist in the successful planning of a night out. Also we offer some Chasers to help plan a night out where we suggest several places to experience in an evening.

Finally, please feel free to leave a comment or email us and challenge our reviews or to tell us about somewhere new. We are always looking for new places to experience.

For further information go to the About page

Restaurant/Bar: Von Haus

Simplicity at its best, this tiny wine bar in the CBD won’t disappoint. With its menu of whatever they feel like on the day, there is always something different to experience at Von Haus.

Chaser: Martini

I’m pursuing my lifelong quest for the perfect, the absolutely driest Martini to be found in this or any other world. And I think I may have hit upon the perfect formula.You pour six jiggers of gin, and you drink it while staring at a picture of Lorenzo Schwartz, the inventor of vermouth. – Alan [...]

News: The Garnish Vol. 4

JANUARY/FEBRUARY: Its been a busy couple of months recently for AlleyLife and we have been out a lot more in the city with the cool summer weather, which is why there has been a delay with writing. With that said, after a lot of “research” we are ready to get some more reviews up so [...]

Music: MEL to SIN

With the new year looming ahead and getting myself into sweet sweet techno more; I put together this little mix. While not a rager it would be good to chill or drive to. Enjoy! You can download it HERE or read on to see the tracklist and details.

Restaurant/Bar: Sahara

Hidden down Swanston Street, up a set of stairs is Sahara, which offers a drink for those looking for one or for those that are hungry some old favourite dishes with a gourmet international twist.

News: The Garnish Vol. 3

DECEMBER: After a short hiatus we are now back. Now things have settled after the shift its time for another edition of…THE GARNISH…recapping some things that have gone on around the Melbourne bar scene recently. In this edition; more awards for Melbourne Bars, new bars springing up around the place and more…

Bar: Madame Brussels

There is no other place in Melbourne quite like Madame Brussels, in fact it is more like going to a lawn tennis club in the 1970′s and holding a garden party on a sunny weekend afternoon, than an inner city bar.

Bar: The Left Bank

Like the name implies, The Left Bank is situated on the other side of the river where it has positioned itself to be a great place to get a cocktail on southbank perhaps on the way Crown or after dinner.

News: The Garnish Vol: 2

OCTOBER: Welcome to AlleyLife.com.au! We’ve outgrown our old wordpress home decided to move to this site so we can impliment some exciting new changes, but don’t fear; all our reviews and information from there wordpress site are coming with us!

Bar: Misty

Misty has remained through the years one of Melbourne’s best kept bar secrets. This iconic bar has made an art form out of specialised cocktails and beers able to suit any occasion.

Bar of the Month:

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Restaurant/Bar of the Month:

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Featured Chaser:

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