Melbourne Bars

Babble Bar and Café is not your typical local. As on old weatherboard home-turned café/bar, our seasonal menu and friendly staff are what make us a Prahran culinary institution.

Established more than two decades ago, Babble is synonymous with the edgy food and great coffee for which Melbourne is famous.

Our Menu

Our fare is a collection of old-school favourites and instant classics that caters to both the gym junkies and those on a permanent cheat day. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, fully licensed and with a selection of locally sourced produce, check out our menu for yourself!

An Icon

Having previously been a residence, a florist and a deli, Babble is steeped in a rich history that dates back more than half a century. In 1992 it was transformed into the café and bar that stands today and has maintained its character and warmth for over 20 years.

Run by our offbeat and on fleek staff, we’re bound to make you feel right at home from the minute you walk in the door. So, pop in, say “hi”, and swipe right next time you’re in the neighbourhood.

Private Functions

Our unique space and location are suitable for nearly all types of functions and events...

A local social destination for anyone and everyone to relax and enjoy the quality food, coffee, drinks and personalities that make Babble the institution it has always been. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as catering for events and functions, Babble has entertained and welcomed customers for over 20 years.

We like to think of ourselves as a very friendly, welcoming and professional establishment that prides ourself on customer service and quality food and beverages. Our menu caters for all types, from housemade corn fritters through to our grilled cajun chicken burger and softshell crab salad for lunch or a pan-fried Barrumindi served with roasted chat potato salad, balsamic roasted cherry tomatoes, pickled fennel and salsa verde for dinner. Function's or event can choose from out main menu or a function menu that will be provided upon request. Our menu's depth caters for any needs but we are also flexible to custom orders should they be requested.

Our venue is located in the heart of Prahran, less than a 1-minute walk from the centre of Chapel Street, and offers a full-length outdoor balcony and open floor plan that can hold up to 71 inside and 33 outside (standing). We want to ensure any function or event gives you what you require, so will discuss all function or event requirements in detail to create an experience that we know will be memorable.

Our kitchen and bar is fully equipt to handle over 150+ covers on any given day, presenting opportunities for larger functions or events. Our bar is set up for coffee, juices and numerous alcoholic beverage, including cocktails.

As you are elevated from the cement world we live in you arrive at Level 3. The elevator doors open and it's like you're seeing life through rose coloured glasses. Madame Brussels' Main Parlour Room is grassed for your comfort.

Did you know we are now serving our fabulous range of cocktails, punches and the Madame's own signature drink from noon everyday of the week?
And to make the drinks even more tasty we have introduced a bigger more glamorous snack menu: Click on "Garden Party" to view our snack menu.

The Hedged Bar

Behind the trellising and hedged bar you shall find many a sweet juice to tantalise one's tastebuds. Stare in wonder at the rare dark spirits or sip from the green fairy.

The Terrace

Our rather fancy terrace looks over the east end of marvellous Melbourne. Church spires, grand old theatres, and of course the turrets of the Windsor Hotel are your cityscape. Recline on a divan as your waiter brings you your own madame's signature DD CUP- go on, relax on the Terrace; enjoy it with splendid company.

Indoor Garden Party

Think Peggy Gugenheim in the 50s, in a Palazzo on the Venetian Grand Canal. Curly Twurly Wurly furniture for propping and preening upon, unbuttoned Chesterfields for your dalmatian. Make no mistake, the lavatories are rather grand.

THE PARLOUR "Up the rear of madame brussels"

Beyond the garden gates is a room of mystery and intrigue. Leave behind the pink haze as you enter our Den of Iniquity, boasting some of the rarest dark spirits in Melbourne including over 20 of the worlds finest rums. Hands up, one asks, who had a copper or brass plate mounted on their loungeroom wall? Did your father collect them with the beer steins that sat upon the hand-carved hunting sideboard? The lights are low, your partner's hand is somewhere it shouldn't be, the hunchbacked man asks if you would like a stiff..... scotch.

Secretly hidden in the beautiful bayside suburb of Aspendale and also widely regarded for its professional and friendly services. Rossdale is without doubt the perfect place for a corporate conference , birthdays, family celebration or intimate and elegant wedding all year round. Our newly renovated clubhouse with golf course views, relaxed and modern outdoor areas with picturesque garden spaces make every occasion, one to remember. Renowned for its inclusive and friendly club culture, Rossdale is a club for the whole family Our family friendly restaurant and outdoor activities ensure that Rossdale Golf Club truly is one of a kind.

Everyone is welcome here at Rossdale Golf Club. So come down and view the facilities today and see for yourself why everyone is talking about the new and improved Rossdale Golf Club.

Deusy Doo is a fresh beachside eatery, bar and function space that has recently arrived in Black Rock. Located on Beach Road and offering spectacular beach and sunset views, Deusy Doo is a beautiful and relaxing space in which to enjoy the many delicious treats its menu has to offer.

Deusy Doo is sure to please. Its philosophy is to offer more for less. With an emphasis on fresh, healthy ingredients, there are pizzas, pastas, sliders, wings, burgers and gelato for the young or young at heart. Boasting coffee from Sensory Lab, vegan and gluten free options, fine wine and cocktails, Deusy Doo is the perfect place to start or finish your day or to hire to host your next special event.

All in all, Deusy Doo presents a tempting picture. Tasty food and a charming environment designed by Erika Lancini. Who could ask for more?

The Lincoln is a grand old Carlton hotel built in 1854. Since the end of 2014, she has seen a new lease of life under the direction of Iain Ling (ex MoVida) on the floor and Howard Stamp (ex MoVida, Green Park Dining) in the kitchen. The menu is available throughout the venue 7 days a week lunch and dinner, with the kitchen closing at 10pm every night and all day dining available on weekends.

The kitchen works closely with small regional suppliers and is focused on using sustainable and seasonal produce, with as much as possible made in-house, from their bread, mustard and pickles to curing their own free-range bacon. The public bar has retained its art-deco features, with 12 taps featuring craft beer, showcasing speciality brewing at its best, and trusty Carlton Draught for when the footy is on the big screen.

The space lends itself to a variety of areas suitable for groups of any size, whether a sit-down meal in the semi-private dining room, or standing canapés in the front bar. With generous group menus and a wine list focused on small interesting producers, there are plenty of pleasant surprises to be found if you are keen to try something a little different. There is a bottleshop available over the bar so if you find something in the list you like, you can always take an extra one home with you.

If it’s a celebration you’re planning, they have you covered, be it for birthday engagement, anniversary or family get-togethers, the warm and professional team will work with you closely to make sure every last detail of your celebration is right for you. For a more intimate night, why not treat your loved one to a ‘Full Lincoln’ where you put your trust in the chef’s hands as they feed you eight of their favourite dishes over the course of the meal.

Lunch specials for $18 are available from noon to 3pm and happy hour specials are on everyday until 6pm.

Located in the heart of Fitzroy Street, the Secret Garden Bar is tucked away from the hustle and noise, and is the perfect venue to escape the norms of everyday life. The Secret Garden Bar offers the tranquility of garden daybeds to relax on while sipping on one of our delectable cocktails. Sit back and enjoy a wine with friends on the timber decking outdoor area or enjoy a private occasion for a more intimate experience.


The Secret Garden is one fantastic space for hire. With our whimsical décor and features such as day beds, timber decking and greenery inside this amazing space. The Secret Garden lends itself extremely well to any celebration due to the fact you may find after viewing the space you do not need to go to the extra fuss and expense of decorating yourself.

Secret garden will work closely with you to provide an unforgettable experience including personalised waiting staff for all of your food and beverage needs. We will not give you a generic party but one that will make your event shine. Let us create an unforgettable night for you.

From a quiet drink in a cosy lounge, a private function celebrating a birthday, engagement or hens, or team building at our Cocktail Making Class, the friendly Back Bar team will take care of all the details to create a night you’ll remember.

From the moment you walk through Back Bar’s door, you sense an air of style and sophistication. The room is exquisitely fashioned with a richly coloured Axminster carpet, ornate couches, gilded mirrors, flocked wallpaper and a pressed metal ceiling reminiscent of the glitz and glamour of the 1920’s.

At Back Bar you can sit and relax in what feels like your own private and decadent lounge room while sipping on one of over 60 cocktail creations on offer like ‘Bangkok Fire’, ‘The Parisian’ or ‘Le Pink Bits’, or you can chill out with a cold beer and a few mates while contemplating your next move in a game of chess or backgammon.

Back Bar has a unique style and ambience far removed from the cold ultra modern image of many other cocktail bars. Its dim lamp lighting and open fireplace radiate warmth throughout providing that perfect place to escape the cold of a Melbourne winters day whilst warming with a glass of red.
As cosy and glamorous as Back Bar may appear on a week day, when the weekend arrives it takes on a whole new dimension, transforming with style offering a vivacious atmosphere where locals, corporate executives and celebrities come to release the tension of a working week.

Step away from the chaos of Chapel St and into Green St’s Back Bar, and discover a place where you can quietly lose yourself in your own thoughts or find yourself partying with friends in one of the best cocktail bars Melbourne has to offer.

Functions and Events

Creativity, experience and attention to detail, a function at Back Bar is seamlessly designed just for you. Whether you are looking to celebrate a birthday, engagement, hens party, or just a get together with friends, Back Bar’s function rooms offer two of the most unique and stylish function rooms Melbourne has to offer.

Back Bar have two function rooms available. The Red Lounge with a capacity 60 guests and the larger Gold Lounge with a capacity for 110 guests. Both function rooms have a fully stocked cocktail bar, are air-conditioned and have their own bathroom facilities. Both rooms are licensed until 3am Thursday to Saturday (or on the eve of a public holiday) and until 1am other days.

Choose to hire one of our function rooms privately for your celebration, or simply book in with a guest list, we offer a number of options for hosting your event.

Private hire of our function rooms includes security on the front door as well as use of all of the room’s facilities. Bring your own music along on an iPod which can plug directly into our sound system, or arrange for a Dj to play with a complete set of Dj equipment available for use. You may also like to have a slide show of photos playing in the background with two TV screens located in each of our function rooms. There is also a microphone available for speeches.

Back Bar offer an extensive canapé menu to cater for your function’s food requirements, whilst you are welcome to bring your own celebration cake along.

Wilson and Market is a Cafe, Restaurant, Bar, Private Dining Room & Function Space, located at the Prahran Market Entrance, Commercial Road, South Yarra.


The new luxe urbane eatery and bar, Wilson & Market, offers a quintessential Melbourne dining experience, underpinned with the best local talent, seasonal, biodynamic and organic produce, sustainable seafood and considered luxe interiors.


Wilson & Market is the perfect venue to host your next special occasion. Choose from 1 of 2 unique spaces, the stunning private function room or all weather terrace bar with indoor, outdoor atrium.

Located next the Commercial Road entrance of the Prahran Market it's an easy 2 minute walk from Chapel Street, South Yarra or by the 78 or 72 route trams.

All of W&M's menus, due to seasonal produce from their own farms, are bespoke, essentially tailor made to your requirements & budget.

There are 2 dedicated areas for your celebration:

Option 1: The private dining room accommodates 20-40 guests seated & 60 standing up, complete with private bar & separate entrance. It’s an excellent option for a range of private or corporate events.

Option 2: The terrace bar is an ideal space & ambiance for a fun cocktail event for up to 80 guests. This indoor & outdoor atrium complete with retractable roof has a luxe Mediterranean vibe, private sound system & late liquor license, making this the hottest party ticket in town.

29th apartment is a re-creation of an apartment originally inhabited by the infamous Katishe: a salacious struggling artist who worked the local streets by night to support her passion and hopes of one day being discovered for her talents as a painter. A little after the time Jack Kerouac and Sid Vicious rented rundown rooms at New York City’s Chelsea Hotel, Katishe created her own slice of NYC at 29th apartment.

When this gorgeous eccentric walked the dangerous streets at night and brought the rough and tumble men and women back to her place, none of her clients expected the maze of abstract oil paintings that stacked the walls. Fixated with the underground art and cultural movement that Andy Warhol had championed (and perhaps used to being up all night with her trade), most of Katishe’s paintings tell stories from the streets of NYC, the city that never sleeps. Since her mysterious disappearance in the early 80s, 29th apartment has only existed as a memory until 2009 when the current owners of the bar found her self-portrait, ‘Katishe’ as well as remnants of her personal life that are thought to have been part of her night time craft. Paying homage to this hard-working woman, the new owners re-imagined 29 Fitzroy Street as a bar and casual art gallery. With a fish tank that houses a now water-discoloured dildo in the cute bedroom, a decal of a back alleyway that leads to the toilets and a bookcase full of Katishe’s literary inspiration, 29th apartment brings the underbelly of St Kilda and New York together in a blend that can only be understood by taking a look into the heart of Katishe. 29th apartment welcomes you to ring its buzzer and enter into the comfy lounge room for a night of NYC inspired artwork, music, food and beverages.

The Smith is one of Melbourne’s best gastropubs.

Located on one of Prahran’s best known streets, The Smith is focused on quality, offering a contemporary, produce driven menu where simplicity equates to casual sophistication.

The team in the kitchen and front of house, led by chef and owner Michael Lambie with business partner Scott Borg, is made up of some of the most respected hospitality professionals, each committed to providing a fun, memorable and entertaining experience in an unpretentious environment, with modern design, a stunning fit out, and a thought leading approach to quality cuisine.

Affordable enough to enjoy every day and memorable enough for every special occasion, The Smith is consistent, unwavering and focused on offering the complete hospitality experience.

The Empress Hotel is a renewed and revamped take on an icon. This classic inner Melbourne pub situated in the north of Fitzroy, has been serving thirsty locals since 1873.

At its soul, the Empress Hotel provides everything you’d wish for from your local pub, a relaxed public bar to share a beer with your friends, dining hall, pool room, beer garden, bottle shop and several functions spaces.

While the spirit of the refurbished Empress Hotel remains very much intact, the addition of an alfresco outdoor dining area and modern Australian, Italian contemporary menu, with some old classics, complete the pubs reincarnation. Tables may be reserved for groups of two, four, six or 12 people.

Doing away with the dingy and dank of corner pubs of the past, Publican Guy David has torn the roof off what was once a band room to reveal a sun filled beer garden perfect for long summer days and alfresco all-day dining. Now featuring a retractable roof, the beer garden can be enjoyed all year round, rain, hail or shine.

Offering live sports, craft beer and concise yet exciting wine list the Empress Hotel really sets itself apart from other local pubs.