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
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 keep an eye out for them.
This month: Changes to the AlleyLife team, Cabbie-oke, Melbourne Food and Wine festival, closure of the tote, Vindaloo against violence and some new bars to explore.
First though, the news:
Changes to the AlleyLife Lineup:
Rob has finally got a “real job” and as such will be overseas for the next couple of months, which means he will be taking a hiatus from writing for AlleyLife.
So we would like to introduce Trev as our new addition to the team. Trev will be a permanent addition to the team and brings with him a wealth of knowledge about where to eat and drink in town, and always knows where to find the best Martini’s in town.
UPDATED: Cabbie-oke:
We don’t normally do this sort of thing however we were invited this week to the launch of Cabbie-oke in Melbourne. What is “Cabbie-oke” you might ask? well basically its a Telstra marketing campaign where they drive a refitted Toyota Torago around town and pick people up and drive them home for free. It has been refitted with a flat screen tv, an xbox, disco lights and microphones in the back and customers are encouraged to sing karaoke all the way home. The songs are then put up on a website where people can go and vote to win prizes. In Melbourne there are two of these refitted Torago’s, one in St Kilda and one in the CBD, they will be running for the next 5 weeks on Friday and Saturday nights until 2am.
So the verdict?…Its actually a lot of fun, and if you are a little unsure of singing then there are costumes in the back to dress up with to hide one’s identity. Its an interesting marketing campaign however if you are lucky enough to get a ride in one it its a good laugh and the free trip home is even better.
There is also a second campaign running at the moment as well where luck people will have their cab rides home paid for by Telstra, the catch is you won’t know if its free until you get to your destination. So if Cabbie-oke is not for you, you still might get a free ride home.
For more information: Cabbie-oke/
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival:
Next month sees the Melbourne Food and Wine festival come into town with a WHOLE HOST of things to go see and do. Don’t think this festival is limited to just food and wine, there is a heap of other events on like: Discover the Joy of Sake, Tequila – the unknown spirit, Cocktails in the sky, The Rum Diaries, Martini History Tour…and thats just to name a few. Be sure to pick up a guide and book in for events as they are all filling up fast.
For more information: Melbourne Food and Wine Festival/
The Closing of the Tote:
As everyone is well aware by now, The Tote has closed its doors after a long standing battle with about licensing. It is a shame that such an iconic venue has been forced to close its doors and lets hope that the backlash from what has happened will go towards helping venues like that stay alive.
Liquor Laws Threaten Melbourne Live Music Scene
Vindaloo Against Violence:
On the 24th of February is Vindaloo against violence, this is a way to show support for the Indian community and signal that we will not turn a blind eye to violence in our city.
New Bars in Melbourne:
New Guernica New Guernica
Red Bennies Red Bennies
24 moons 24 Moons/
Final Word:
As a general shout out to everyone, feel free to email us with new places, upcoming events or even queries about where to go. Even though we have a delay in releasing reviews sometimes, we are around and monitor emails and are always happy to hear from readers.
So we would like to introduce Trev as our new addition to the team. Trev will be a permanent addition to the team and brings with him a wealth of knowledge about where to eat and drink in town, and always knows where to find the best Martini’s in town.
We don’t normally do this sort of thing however we were invited this week to the launch of Cabbie-oke in Melbourne. What is “Cabbie-oke” you might ask? well basically its a Telstra marketing campaign where they drive a refitted Toyota Torago around town and pick people up and drive them home for free. It has been refitted with a flat screen tv, an xbox, disco lights and microphones in the back and customers are encouraged to sing karaoke all the way home. The songs are then put up on a website where people can go and vote to win prizes. In Melbourne there are two of these refitted Torago’s, one in St Kilda and one in the CBD, they will be running for the next 5 weeks on Friday and Saturday nights until 2am.
So the verdict?…Its actually a lot of fun, and if you are a little unsure of singing then there are costumes in the back to dress up with to hide one’s identity. Its an interesting marketing campaign however if you are lucky enough to get a ride in one it its a good laugh and the free trip home is even better.
There is also a second campaign running at the moment as well where luck people will have their cab rides home paid for by Telstra, the catch is you won’t know if its free until you get to your destination. So if Cabbie-oke is not for you, you still might get a free ride home.
For more information: Cabbie-oke/
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival:
Next month sees the Melbourne Food and Wine festival come into town with a WHOLE HOST of things to go see and do. Don’t think this festival is limited to just food and wine, there is a heap of other events on like: Discover the Joy of Sake, Tequila – the unknown spirit, Cocktails in the sky, The Rum Diaries, Martini History Tour…and thats just to name a few. Be sure to pick up a guide and book in for events as they are all filling up fast.
For more information: Melbourne Food and Wine Festival/
The Closing of the Tote:
As everyone is well aware by now, The Tote has closed its doors after a long standing battle with about licensing. It is a shame that such an iconic venue has been forced to close its doors and lets hope that the backlash from what has happened will go towards helping venues like that stay alive.
Liquor Laws Threaten Melbourne Live Music Scene
Vindaloo Against Violence:
On the 24th of February is Vindaloo against violence, this is a way to show support for the Indian community and signal that we will not turn a blind eye to violence in our city.
New Bars in Melbourne:
New Guernica New Guernica
Red Bennies Red Bennies
24 moons 24 Moons/
Final Word:
As a general shout out to everyone, feel free to email us with new places, upcoming events or even queries about where to go. Even though we have a delay in releasing reviews sometimes, we are around and monitor emails and are always happy to hear from readers.
As everyone is well aware by now, The Tote has closed its doors after a long standing battle with about licensing. It is a shame that such an iconic venue has been forced to close its doors and lets hope that the backlash from what has happened will go towards helping venues like that stay alive.
Liquor Laws Threaten Melbourne Live Music Scene
Vindaloo Against Violence:
On the 24th of February is Vindaloo against violence, this is a way to show support for the Indian community and signal that we will not turn a blind eye to violence in our city.
New Bars in Melbourne:
New Guernica New Guernica
Red Bennies Red Bennies
24 moons 24 Moons/
Final Word:
As a general shout out to everyone, feel free to email us with new places, upcoming events or even queries about where to go. Even though we have a delay in releasing reviews sometimes, we are around and monitor emails and are always happy to hear from readers.
New Guernica New Guernica
Red Bennies Red Bennies
24 moons 24 Moons/
Final Word:
As a general shout out to everyone, feel free to email us with new places, upcoming events or even queries about where to go. Even though we have a delay in releasing reviews sometimes, we are around and monitor emails and are always happy to hear from readers.
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