Berlin
Editorial
Upon entering the stairwell that leads up from Corrs Lane to Melbourne's impression of Berlin pre-wall falling, you'd be forgiven for mistakenly believing you were entering a sex club. The painted black brick walls and corrugated metal stairs certainly give off that feel, as does the buzzer entry.
Once let through the doors by a rather muscular young man in bowler hat and what I assumed to be a thick French accent, the Cabaret-style naughty vibe is fully borne out by the West Berlin side of the bar. A giant semi-nude portrait surveys the opulent surrounds, and also hides a vault where members can store their spirit of choice behind lock and key.
White leather ottomans adorn an ornate rug, with mirrored booths beyond a beaded curtain. A neon sign emblazoned on exposed brick wall declares "Ich bin ein Berliner". The citizens of this Berlin are certainly spoiled, with sexy barmen whipping up tantalising cocktail creations from a seriously well-stocked and top shelf bar, including a divine red capsicum and white chocolate creation involving Ketel One vodka, fresh capsicum juice, white chocolate syrup, grapefruit bitters Chartreuse elixir vegetal and Tabasco sauce. The drinks menu is mocked up in an old school passport.
Pass Checkpoint Charlie into east Berlin however and it's all stark brick walls, commando netting on the roof, metal bunk bed seats with bath tub tables and a peep hole bar with the phrase "Tear down the wall" emblazoned behind it. Gimmicky? Perhaps, but it's done with such style and panache that it would be churlish not to lap it up.
Stephen Russell, Citysearch
User Feedback
aveair
June 20, 2010
Easily one of the most fabulous bars in Melbourne. The hidden location may be a dime a dozen feature, given that it IS a Melbourne bar, but it's the doorbell that rings out in Deutsch announcing your arrival to everyone inside that is a novel idea. The decor is aptly themed and a beverage should be experienced in both East and West Berlin - preferably one of their uber cocktails. A must visit for those who enjoy innovative cocktails in quirky surrounds.
Paul Davis
May 10, 2011
The Berlin Bar is one of the most pretentious bars in Melbourne with the atmosphere of a morgue and the service to match. Just what you would expect when you are paying $20 per drink for the privilege! I needed to book a table for 10 people. The website states that parties over 8 people must be booked. So I sent a polite email for a reservation. The next day I get a reply saying that bookings cannot be made after 9pm, but if we wish to go to the bar in a group then we MUST book! Go figure! So we arrive at 9pm and the impolite waiter informs us that we must make a reservation to get in even though they would not allow us to book! They then leave us standing at the door like lost hobo's whilst they 'Try to fit us in'. They finally let us into the bar and low and behold, the place is half empty!?! All in all, not worth the effort or the extortionate prices.
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