Fitzroy favorite, loved this place since the day it opened. Yes that is biased of me but haaavvveee you met rum? If not this is the place for you and rum lovers of course. They have white rum, dark rum, spicy rum, smoked rum, barreled rum… if you can find better rum anywhere else? Drink it!!! Yes thats a dusk till dawn rum diary quote. Highly recommend popping into this bar for a look and rum.
Cliff B.
Place rating: 5 Melbourne, Australia
Big time love for this bar, situated in the former Gypsy bar. They’ve done some great things to re-fit it, giving it a very cool feel and perfect place to branch out with your rum palate and try a few curiosities from their impressive collection. Oh — and they have their own rum now too and it is as delicious as you’d expect! Can’t wait to go back.
Steven V.
Place rating: 4 Melbourne, Australia
Walked past this place and thought it looked really cool and laid back, plus 50s music was playing so gravitated inside. We ordered a G&T for me and a Bloody Mary, and then sat at the window and people watched. Really cool vibe. The BM was one of the best tasting drinks I have ever had in my life. The bartender put his soul into it, I swear, and I’m not a cocktail type. He called it a Bucket of Blood. Only issue is it seemed a tad pricey. But I’d totally return.
Tamer M.
Place rating: 4 Sydney, Australia
So I’m not from Melbourne, so maybe I should be ignored. But we walked past this place, and I love rum, so we decided to have a drink. Love the vibe of this place, it was relaxed and casual. And the barmen knew exactly what they were talking about when it comes to their rum. If you love rum, and I don’t mean as a mixer, then you need to visit this place. They and extremely impressive selection of rum, for all tastes.
Hugh M.
Place rating: 4 Northcote, Australia
Pretty Great. A small little quiet space about the same size as all the other good bars of Fitzroy. Focusing on of course rum, but with four handy chapters of alcoholic selection depending upon what you want. Rum based cocktails, Rum by itself; single sections in Spanish style or other, listed by country of origin, so I’m sure some great choices are in order. Wine and beer/cider fills out the rest of their compendium. It’s a cosy little bar, with bar tenders that are friendly and maintain good service. Yes four stars, and I’m sure it’s worthy of five, but my experience here was short lived and hasn’t really soaked in. Oh and the Barrel aged Negroni is great!
Theresa W.
Place rating: 4 Melbourne, Australia
Any bar playing songs from the ‘Pulp Fiction’ soundtrack, alongside the Beach Boys, is okay by me. Their drinks ain’t bad, either. No, really — The Rum Diary is a total asset to Brunswick Street’s packed mélange of bars and restaurants. A classy-yet-casual joint, I could see dressing up for some sophisticated cocktails as easily as just walking in off the street like my friends and I did. I was intrigued by the bar after it was nominated(and ended up being ‘Highly Commended’) at the 2013 Time Out Melbourne Bar Awards for ‘Best New Bar’. Indeed, its cosy décor — think vintage Australia-centric maps, ropes hanging on the walls — combined with the exxxxxxxxtensive cocktail list, make it one of my new go-to bars the next time I’m on that section of Brunswick. I love that you can order so many kinds of rum from all over the world, and that they have a half size(which felt full-sized, let’s be honest) of their Pina Colada for a mere $ 10. Definitely give it a try and see what all the fuss is about!
David W.
Place rating: 5 Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia
A rum lovers destination, whether from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua or Venezuela this place has your taste. Or too early for a rum… Try their Kenyan hand press espresso. mmmm yumm. Knowledgable staff down to earth venue here to serve you up a rum storm. Just like hunter s Thompson would want…
Sam P.
Place rating: 3 Melbourne, Australia
Massive fan of the rums, and am now a total Kracken fan. Service is a little lacking, but more than makes for this with great ambience and amazing rums. great dark corner speak easy type bar… good for after dinner drinks.