The Alchemist Bar & Cafe

We had the best time. Couldn’t fault it. They had a band on tonight which was talented and gave a relaxed vibe, good crowd. The staff were so lovely and genuine.
And then there was the food. Yum! We had the sliders and vege skewers. Simple fare done really well, the chef obviously takes pride in their food. Everything had flavour.
Curious about the big cocktail menu, next time for sure.

From the point that I discovered it in 2010, The Alchemist occupied a particularly fond corner of my heart. From the dark, velvety and maroon décor, accented by candelabras awash with wax tailings and leather-​bound tomes strewn about the tables, the beauty of its interior was nothing short of breathtaking. Smooth, fitting background jazz milled about as the highly awarded bar staff and mixologists concocted drinks that were akin to artwork in their own right, and unique beyond reproach. It was, by far, the greatest bar that I had ever entered.
After over a year-​long absence, I returned last week, and by the time that I left, my heart was heavy; everything that I loved about The Alchemist now stands as a pale imitation to its former glory. The lights have been turned up, the candles extinguished, the thematically fitting artwork removed from the walls and replaced by crude sketches of celebrities (each, shudderingly, for sale), and the jazz replaced by painful 80s pop music. This once-​glorious place of cozy, intimate conversation now boasts a pool table. The atmosphere that I so loved seemed to crumble away before my eyes.
The signature cocktail menu of old has been ‘rebooted’, and the drinks that kept people coming back are gone. Instead, its replacement, adventurous at times but remarkably more ‘standard fare’, failed to impress. I used to be more than happy to dish out between $ 20 and $ 30 for a single expertly-​crafted and unerringly delectable cocktail, but with these new offerings, that is, unfortunately, no longer the case.
The staff are still absolutely lovely. That has always been the case.
I have a great number of exuberant memories of The Alchemist, and I really want it to endure and grow so that I may craft many more. I so genuinely hope that The Alchemist returns to its former splendour as soon as possible — I miss it.

One of the best bars in Melbourne! Such awesome and friendly staff, made me change my opinion about Melbs totally (since Ive had some bad experiences). Coctails are amazing, food is tastylicious! See you soon!

Went there with a Scoopon. Groupon? I never remember… Anyway we grabbed a couple of drinks, both of which were delicious. My boyfriend said it was the best old fashioned he’d ever had (and the bartender knew how to make it even though it wasn’t on the menu — bonus points) and my Yellow Brick Road cocktail was divine. The décor is shabby chic… Red velvet errything. Like a brothel/​jazz bar/​circus all rolled into one but from about 60 years ago as it’s all falling apart! That’s kind of part of the charm though. Go chill out and try the cocktails, they do them well.

I’ve been here numerous times and every time I’ve found their staff to be charming, and their food and cocktails delicious. My favorite, an Amaro Montenegro.

Great place for romantic canoodling on the velvet Louis XIV chairs over a share plate of spicy squid and warm mixed olives. The Dixie jazz was perfect volume, the table lamps lit just so, and the candle wax dripped and ran in rivets enough to distract me only for a moment from my interest du jour.

The great thing about The Alchemist is … EVERYTHING.
Been here numerous times and have always managed to snap up a couple of tables at all times of the evening. Although you can book a space up until 8 on a Saturday (not sure for other nights).
All the cocktails both I and friends (who when not looking if stuck a straw in and had a sneaky sip of) had hit the mark.
Whilst there are numerous «fancy (god I hate that word) cocktail bars» in the area and the CBD The Alchemist offers a more relaxed venue yet still offering amazing service.
I organised as part of a hens night a few drinks here. Staff were AMAZING!!! Very professional and good natured (and even better eye candy) for a bunch of gals out for a «good time» (I do not count myself in this category… much!).
Check it out!

The Alchemist… Ah… How do I go about this one?
Well. This place is quite different from any other bar that I’ve been too but, IN A GOOD WAY, different… and I like it!
The Alchemist has a retro and vintage look about it — Chandeliers and Cabinets (that look like they were transported here from a different time) adorning the huge semi-​open plan lounge, comfy couches, cool photos on the walls and dim lights. It’s a feast for the eyes — you walk in and, especially if it’s kinda quiet, immediately it feels like you could just sit there, relax w/​a great cocktail in hand thinking about nothing and everything.
The cocktail menu is very broad and will cater for all needs and wants. I’ve literally been turning my temporal lobe upside down for the past 2 days trying to remember what I had to drink on the night. No no, I wasn’t wasted but, you know how sometimes, you just can’t remember something no matter how hard you try? I know it had the letter P in it but that obviously doesn’t help — nice work Kev! Anyway, all I remember is that it was quite good!
They serve food as well and you’ll also find bubbles, reds, whites, piss (sorry I meant beer.) on the menu.
I shall return…

The Alchemist has one of the most extensive drink menus around. In some places, this would mean that there’s a lot of duds on the menu, however every drink I’ve ever had has been beautifully made, well balanced and delicious with a capital D. Either check out the table in the front of the menu for tasting guidelines, or talk to a bartender about your favourite flavours and have them whip you up something new and unique.
A great spot to meet with a group of friends for drinks, there’s plenty of tables and comfortable old-​world couches and background music that adds atmosphere but doesn’t take over your conversation.
The snack menu is also pretty impressive — try the cheesy croquettes for a spicy lava ball of awesome.

I still have dreams about the chocolate cocktail here… spectacular and I must go back for seconds.