Ampere

This coolly sexy joint knows it’s hip. Delicious cocktails from knowing staff. Sit up at the bar and sip the night away.

Popped in on a drizzly winter’s afternoon, around 3.30pm mid-​week, and loved so much about this little bar, a sister of sorts to Gin Palace next door. We sat outside taking in the great street-​art, the heating so potent we were soon in t-​shirts, despite the weather. Inside there’s lots of quirky and cool design to also occupy the eyes, all creating a great atmosphere. There was only one bar member on for this time of day, as it was pretty quiet, but he was fast and friendly. The drinks menu is super-​impressive too. Hope to make this a place I visit frequently.

I’ve enjoyed dropping in for a beverage or two when I’ve found myself out late on a school night. Ampere offers a lively atmosphere and friendly faces. And manages to keep it classy, even at 3am on a weekday.
If you’re craving low lighting and plush seating instead, sister bar Gin Palace is connected to Ampere via the ‘swamp room’.
For a little extra fun, I’d recommend ordering the absinthe. It’s served using an absinthe fountain and adds some visual drama to your drinks.
This is a great place for a date night or for drinks with friends.

This place was a lifesaver last night. Wandering around at 1am after a gig, still wanting to hangout have a drink and some food, but not want a club environment necessarily, this place seemed good based on some Unilocal reviews.
They serve food and a massive list of drinks until 3am, and have an outdoor seating area. We had absinthe and bloody mary’s and some salad and had a lovely hangout/​come down after our gig. Service was great and friendly too. Was a great find. Has a very Fitzroy-​ish vibe to it and is kinda hidden in a little lane.
Will definitely return and/​or try to find other places like it.

You can never find another bar in the Southern hemisphere that has a great list of absinthe. This bar stocks and imports them from all over the world and its quality is top-​notch! Not a fan of absinthe? Their cocktails here are equally amazing. They could customise a drink for you, if you’re totally indecisive.
The service is exceptional. Giorgio was extremely well-​versed in absinthe history and he checks up on us every now and then. He’s a great story-​teller, engaging, and an attentive host! Giorgio, if you’re reading this, don’t feel flattered — you know I only speak of the truth! I had absinthe anyway so technically, at this moment, I can only speak of the truth (wink).
I didn’t manage to chomp down on their recommended burgers here but I would do that during my next visit! The atmosphere is wonderful — great music and beautiful graffiti artwork.
I noticed that they also do functions at the back. Didn’t manage to check it out cause I wasn’t drunk enough to crash the party that was held. Another great bar find! Love it!

After hitting my late 20’s-early 30’s, I turned into somewhat of a Cinderella type. Past midnight is no longer in my vocabulary. Of course, there is always those moments where you get carried away and remember that being in your 30s really just means you do the same dumb stuff as you did in your 20s, but with a lot more finesse. You know that hangover is going to be brutal, so make it worth your while.
Bar Ampere is perfect for such occasion. The drinks are good (I have never seen anyone do a jäger bomb here), the vibe is calm and they serve decent food until 3am. Seriously, 3am. I pray NEVER to be out that late, but if I am, I want to be snacking on their toasted club sandwich squares with a glass of champagne in hand.

Fantastic late night bites. None of your greasy spoon, diner fare. Fresh, real food. A ridiculously long list of absynthe and they do the whole set up for you. Kinda fun.

I love this place and it’s fast becoming by go-​to bar in the city.
It’s not the largest bar by any means but the décor is great and I always feel relaxed here. Plenty of tables outside in the covered area with a couple of small tables inside. I quite like propping myself up at the bar though to listen to the passionate bar staff talk about their favourite drinks or recommendations when I’m being indecisive.
Prices are reasonable and they change their wine list enough to give me a decent excuse to keep going back.
Ampere is probably a great place to take a date as well — may as well impress them from the start!

Love this bar! Come here a lot for a coffee or even cocktails and whiskey. They have a great selections of cocktails, cognac, whiskey and all the things you like :) the staff and owner are always lovely, never been disappointed coming over. They also have a cute outdoor seating area for us smokers. Soooo definitely one of my favourite place in the city xx

I’m not sure exactly what the interior design is meant to evoke. A closed rustic veranda leads into a scene that feels like one of those «1933 World’s Fair artistic impression of the future».
From other reviews I see it is inspired by 1930s Paris. I didn’t really get that either. That said, it doesn’t really matter. It looks terrific, has a unique feel and makes a great first impression.
The bar menu is straightforward, but surprisingly complete. You could easily have a bite or a full meal. The are plenty of share plates, but you could also spring on a burger — I’ve never tried the latter, despite the appeal of a late night cocktail and burger.
Very solid drinks menu that is heavy on drinks you don’t usually find in quantity elsewhere — Absinthe, Brandy, Cognac and the like. If I had any criticism, it’s the cocktail menu too fussy. However, you could equally find that adding to the charm. They do have a pick & choose menu for Martinis, which is my go-​to.
The staff take their drinks quite seriously. A good amount of time is invested in preparing your cocktail, so be prepared to wait. Not a bad thing, but not the place for a quick cocktail 15 minutes before seeing a show.
Go through the door at the back and you’ll find the toilets, as you might expect. You’ll also find a connecting space between Ampere and it’s neighbour & comrade, Gin Palace. I can’t really comment on the space as it’s so dark, but it’s definitely snug. I can imagine a lot of couples enjoy a quiet drink there at the end of their night out.
As others have noted, this place is remarkable in itself for being open almost all the time. So very little excuse not to check it out.

You know those nights where nothing works out quite the way you planned? Dinner was disappointing, you meandered aimlessly for a while because no one could decide on what to do, or your friend brought along some irritating person who hated on everything — yeah, that night. Well, Ampere is the place that you can go to turn all that around and make sure it finishes well.
Great cocktails, made with care and a lot of focus. Moody lighting and interesting décor provide launching points for conversation, and an equally nice setting for quiet sipping. It’s a place for grabbing a corner and settling in for some serious liquor. My tip for cocktails is the Sophia Loren, which is a delicious pear and amaretto concoction.
Ampere is open until 3am every night of the week — the perfect go-​to venue for late-​night cocktails.
One note though: the staff take their drink creation process pretty seriously — maybe a little too seriously. The vibe can be a bit intense, but it depends on the night and how busy it is.

Best New Bars 2012
BY SHARKING FOR CHIPS AND DRINKS
I am sick of paying $ 18 plus for a run-​of-​the-​mill cocktail. No matter what your skillset is — don’t try and convince us that 3 – 4 minutes of your time and the ingredients are worth that much. I want a super-​duper experience if I am going to dapple in the dark side of mixology and the prices that come with it. I am as enthusiastic about shabby local bars as I am destination venues and everything in between. One type is not ‘better’ than another, it all just depends on what you are looking for. So how do I recognise if I am in one of these magical places? Community, passion, atmosphere and overall execution. These are a few joints I cherish:
On my list last year Bar Ampere continues to punch well above its weight. Set up by the Gin Palace team next door, this Russell Place haunt specialises in aperitifs, digestifs and fortified wines — its tight drinks list is affordable and easy to navigate. Charcuteries and potted and preserved meats form the European-​focused bar menu. The added fact that this is one of the true ‘hidden’ bars in Melbourne, and is open until three in the morning, makes it a great find for locals and tourists alike.

No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you! Yes, it has really happened… 5 stars from me… It has been a while…
What can I say? I love Ampere, I really do.
First stop after dinner for drinks on a night dedicated to cocktails and cocktails only… Pricey and splashy I know but I’ve made peace with it. I deserved it!
We get to 15 Russell Place, CBD and there it is… Ampere… Vibrant and full of life. You can see the inside of the place simply by standing outside on the street and I immediately feel welcomed. I quite like that.
Named for the visionary Gaul Andre Ampere, Ampere boasts a very classy interior. With dim lights and an all round romantic feel, it is the perfect place if you’re on a date or for those of you who’ve already sealed the deal.
The menu is extensive, offering: Wine, Aromatised Wine, Cocktails, Brandy, Beer and Cider. I had a Tom Collins and am pleased to say that they got it right.
They’re opened from 8am to 3am everyday and, guess what, they serve food and drinks from when they open till they close. Pretty cool for a bar, heh?
Personally, I can’t wait to return and try their Almond Pancakes w/​Compressed Strawberries… Check this out… It’s a stack of fluffy almond pancakes, layered with compressed strawberries and delectable vanilla & maple crème fraîche… Ummmm… Crème Fraicheeee… Love it!

And where I finished off my Thursday night, evidently also the place where a fair few people take their first dates. Anywhoo.
The place was a great place to finish off. Their desserts were pretty rad. Their drinks selection is extensive and comprehensive. Although, maybe have money if you’re taking a date there to impress. Staff were chill, décor was intriguing (but would probably lose in novelty).
I would steer clear of $ 30 cider that’s sold for $ 2 – 3 in the supermarkets of France though.
All in all, a good place for the group I was with to over use our eyes in the candlelight and discuss life in Melbourne :)

A compact yet striking bar that holds its own, and gives Gin palace some healthy competition for the late late weeknight crowds ;)

I’m so in love with Ampere. It’s great for glasses of Champagne (Taittinger) with the girls, a pre-​dinner Martini or a cosy couple of hours tucked in to a corner with a date.
The food is understated but incredibly good. The chicken liver parfait wins me over every time. If it weren’t for the usual accompanying booze the little tiny bread slices in their own bread would make me feel I was having a 5 year olds tea party.
Service isn’t the fastest, but then this isn’t a place to feel rushed, but one in which to wind down from the day or re-​energise before a night out. Take in the interior (don’t forget to check out the bathrooms) and enjoy this little perfect slice of Melbourne’s bar world.

Finally! A great bar that is open during the day!
I’ve managed to come here, on first occasion, for a cheeky
mid afternoon Sloe Gin and Tonic. I love Sloe gin and tonics.
Simply Heaven. The place is Quiet, which gives me a good opportunity
to suss out the over all feel. My take is a futurist bar, with an edge of
distopian. Coincidentally, the lights on the bar back, match the cover
design for the current Sqaurepusher Album?
I was served, and for one drink at that matter, by a charming French
man. Charming because he is, but not because he’s French necessarily.
It would seem that any current customer is a future customer, and I
was treated well, even if for just one drink. The best thing is the magic
tables– cutlery that slides out of the table itself, yet remains hidden.
much like the bar itself, and the back room encountered behind the bar.
I must further investigate this linked walkway that people have strongly
alluded to, it sound like much fun indeed! One is welcomed here, rather
than shunned, though I can’t speak for busy periods. The business cards
are pretty rad indeed; made to look like an metal tag id plate, one would
find on electricity meters and so-​on. The bar has a layered design going
on; while it’s all open, you pass through many sections to get to the bar
itself.
A great place for social drinks, and I hope to encounter this bar further.
The drinks menu is designed around food, so you can have a drink
proportionate to when you’ve eaten or when you are going to.
Om-​Feer, (Ampere) Practical unit of electric current.
1 coulomb of charge passing a point in an electric circuit in one sec.

Russell Place is now home to many a fine drinking establishment, but this one seriously caught my eye. Apparently it’s set in Le Marais in Paris, circa 1938. To be honest, I didn’t quite get that feel. Nonetheless it was certainly stunning.
The wall behind the bar is entirely crafted from the bottom of Antipode bottles, set out to appear as light bulbs. On the side wall, hanging lights are wrapped around mannequin hands that protrude from the concrete. Archway doors lead out to the outdoor area, where smokers and nonsmokers alike can toss back a drink and analyze the passersby.
My friends and I stumbled across the beacon of industrial design at about 1am on a Thursday night. It was pretty quiet at that stage, and we were pretty hammered. We asked for shots, and then quickly realized it’s totally not the place for it. Rather, this place is an upstanding sort of drinkery. All of their cocktails are based around wines, which offers a really interesting point of difference to customers if they’re not drunken idiots looking for a shot. Ashamedly, we ran away from this place, but on any other night we would have stayed for a really unique drink. I highly recommend this to people who are really interested in alcohol (ie don’t just use it as a means to an end).