Yah Yah’s

Bit of a dive! The feeling of being a bar that was once iconic but now seriously unloved. It was virtually empty on a Saturday night. But the music upstairs was good. Downstairs is kinda funky so probably deserves more love from ya all. Staff are friendly.

People seem to be able to describe this place really specifically which is great! Unfortunately I cannot remember much.
I do remember the music being 50s or 60s so I was having a fantastic boogie. Star for that
I was dancing with some girl. Star for that
I rocked up at 2am and was there til 5am. Star for that.
The people who go there and the atmosphere is my kind of scene. Star for that.
You rock Yah Yah’s.

At some point or another we’ve all experienced a messy night out,
or the dregs from it, and at some point this will occur at Yah’s Yah’s.
It so happens to be be of the bars/​dives (well sorta, but not really)
Live music venues that is actually open further than two strokes
after midnight. Unfortunately, most cool places close far too early.
Its a rather cavernous space here, and the music is usually
pretty up there for bat proverbial awesomeness. Rock out!
It’s quieter and more sedate during the day, or early night. But unlike
the Ramones’ song, you don’t wanna be sedated here. Not when
its all going down. There’s still ample opportunity to chill out on
the couches though. If only for a moment to rest your feet.
More recently, Yah Yah’s played host to a vintage market thing, and
record collection bonanza sale thing. It was incredibly packed. Much
like Huxtaburger is 99.99% of the time. When this place is packed
you know it’s good. There’s the secret upstairs room too. Yah yah’s
has a big layout, and that suits live music well.

It’s open until 5am, so if you’re having a big night out on Smith Street or surrounds, chances are you’ll wind up at Yah Yah’s.
Down and dirty good times are in order here. The dance floor pumps with white boys trying to pull smooth moves to old soul or accidentally hurting themselves while getting all Fresh Prince to the 90’s hip hop. The girls dance too, but it’s generally better and therefore less noteworthy.
Yah Yah’s always puts on great displays of human mating rituals — you’re guaranteed to spot some OTT hair flicking, sleazy bar hovering and my personal favourite, the couple in the corner snogging like they don’t have homes to go to.
Whether it’s a dance, a drink or a late night pash you’re after, Yah Yah’s delivers.

For a dirty night out, go to Yah Yah’s. I don’t mean that in a bad way, not that I have to explain that to you. You like it dirty. It’s plain to see.
I mean dirty in that stayed up too late, drank too much, mixed my drinks, chain smoked, talked shit (too loudly) to strangers, spilt beer on my dress, stumbled up the stairs, danced like no one was watching brand of filth. The kind where, the next day, you have partial amnesia.
Yeah, it’s brilliant. Rock on.

Yah Yah’s is a rock bar with a good atmosphere that’s less concerned with fitting a hipster mould and more concerned with just partying. The patrons seem to be a bit older than you’ll find at most of the bars on Smith Street, but they seem to go party pretty hard, so it can be a bit of a sloppy affair by the early hours of the morning.
It has a bunch of big booths to sit at, which inevitably leads to chatting with strangers sitting across from you (this isn’t something I’d normally do, but the vibe at Yah Yah’s is conducive to making new friends for some reason).
The music is generally pretty good, but the DJ’s aren’t always great (like when the dance floor is pumping and then suddenly you’re listening to Emmy Lou Harris and everyone disperses).

Carnage, chaos, chicks, chunes in no partcular order. They are some of the things you want for an all nighter that goes on until 5am in the morning.
Yah Yah’s is one of the only places I know where all these Cs can be met in the Fitzroy/​Collingwood area. With three levels there is something for everyone with lots of people to explore and a genre of music for everyone.
Drink prices are pretty cheap and there is often live music playing. When everywhere else is closed and you are not done yet, what are you going to do? Stop the good times? Curl up in bed? Or something else?
I’ll let you answer that.
There are also a number of cool bars to explore on that end of Smith Street if you are there early. A real hotspot.

It’s 3 in the morning and all the bars are closing and you have to decide what your next move is. What do you?
A. You end your night. (BORING)
B. You go to Chinatown and gorge on Chinese food because that’s what a drunk person does. (You’ll hate yourself for it later. All those calories)
C. You get in a taxi and go to Yah Yah’s to continue dancing the night away. (Nice one)
D. None of the above.
I choose C.
With live bands and dj sets until 5am on Friday and Saturday, Yah Yah’s is a great after party venue. Located on the corner of Gertrude and Smith Streets, with red walls and black leather furnishings, this is one of those places you stumble out of and are slightly embarrassed about going there the next morning. Trash bag.
With moderately priced beers and sort of friendly bartenders, it’s a great place for large groups and dancing.

It’s a Saturday night and you’re drunk, on Brunswick St, and you really want to dance to the classic alternative hits. Best make your way to Yah Yahs.
Pulling out all the old Blur, Nirvana and Artic Monkeys songs. This probably isn’t the place to go to be all hip with the trendies late at night. But if you’re with a group of friends and you don’t care about being constantly cool, come here.
The crowd get up on the stage that usually hosts bands earlier on in the evenings; I’ve even seen some improvisational and inspirational dancing to Enya’s ‘Sail Away’ before the DJ busted back onto some 90’s hip hop.
It’s good to see bands, but the wall in the middle of the room really obstructs your view if it’s packed and you end up on the wrong side of it. I know they’ve cut a hole in it, but that just makes it easier to see the people on the other side and not the band.
The bouncers are friendly and the crowd generally is too, albeit a little drunken. But that just adds to the charm. Either way, I’ve seen some solid local acts play here early in the evening and done a lot of dancing here late at night.

Named after the kick ass live album by The Rolling Stones, and known for partying as hard as the band themselves, Yah Yah’s is a bar that serves drinks and plays music.
No food, no footy on the TV, just music and good times.
Spinning classics from the rock, soul, garage and surf persuasion, plus all the best 60’s and 70’s tunes that get ya moving, Yah Yah’s is also a live music venue. Hosting a range of acts from touring bands to local favourites and up & comers, their booker is a lady who knows her shit, so a gig at Yah Yah’s is usually highly sought after.
Open Thursday to Sunday, you can expect a good mix of folk here, and if your wanting to come dance your Saturday Night away, get down early cos the line at the door can get rather long.