Cherry Bar

Terrible service, got turned away because I had a sports coat on. I guess you must be doing so well your don’t need paying patrons.

The most famous live music bar in all of Melbourne! A favourite hangout for local and international musicians alike you are guaranteed to always have a crazy night at Cherry and may even run into a few celebrities!
This place oozes rock and roll cool for all the right reasons– just make sure you don’t wear a suit, you won’t be allowed in.
Pro Tip– try their signature drink, the Cherry Bön!

cool place we went last night very good open mic night, good vibe all sorts ages and styles, 3 stars only because drinks pricey 4 teeny shots jameson 40 dollars, but oh my the fat yak is good !!!

Yep the word of the day is D I V E, and yes, when you first enter it does feel like you’ve just plunged off a 200 meter platform straight into an abyss. It’s dark, noisy and smelly, but sometimes that doesn’t matter at all, when you’ve jiving away to soul on a Thursday night. In fact most folk are, you’d be lucky not lucky not to get trampled to death on the small dance space upfront. Generally speaking this night draws a much younger crowd– typically Uni students. (But I’m making approximations here) Anywho a friendly crowd, often resulting in being cheered by strangers instead of leered. Everyone’s in a good vibe, and that results in little drama.

Amazing vibe here. Passionate people into the music be it metal (first time here) or soul (second time). Lose yourself here.

Awesome dingy music venue down acdc lane. Eclectic group of peeps will make anyone feel comfortable!

Found in a random alley downtown, you’ll stumble across the most varied crowd you may ever encounter, in queue for Cherry Bar. From gothy Mohawk-​touting twentysomethings, bulky tattooed metalheads, beanie-​headed hipsters, and skater/​surfer dudes, to middle aged lawyers on a night out, this joint’s got it all. Definitely no discrimination up in here! The tunes on the night I hit the bar were all classic rock, so we were all dancin to the likes of T Rex, The Doors, and Zeppelin.
To the right, the stage, which was funner to watch than any band could possibly have taken to it. The patrons flock to the stage and boy do they put on a show, I’m talkin lip synching, dancing crazily, air guitar, all of it! Grab a $ 5 pot, and many more, from the bar then take to the dance floor. Beware, sticky floor and glass everywhere, no joke, but damn is it a good time or what. Rock out til the early morn!

The Cherry Bar would have to be the most overrated bar in Australia! I have given this place multiple chances over the years and while I have never enjoyed the place, it just keeps getting worse every time I go back. I can not think of a single positive thing to say about the place!
Now, before I start, I want to just say a few things so that people can see that Im reviewing this objectively:
1. I have never been kicked out of the Cherry Bar
2. I have never been refused entry to the Cherry Bar
3. I dont know the owner and dont even know who they are
4. I dont know any of the bar staff or security staff and dont have any personal issue with any of them or anyone else involved with the Cherry Bar
5. I normally give positive reviews — my average review is 4 stars
6. I am covered in tattoos and used to have long hair — thus I fit into the «rock n roll» look required in a bar like this
7. I like a lot of bars and pubs similar to this — but just not this one
8, A lot of my friends like the place and frequent it a lot — Ive tried to like it but just cant
Ive been to the Cherry Bar numerous times over the years and back in the day the problems would start at the front door. The usual conversation with the bouncer would go as follows:
Me: Hello
Bouncer: Its a private function
Me: no its not — its the Cherry Bar
Bouncer: ok — go in
Now what on earth is the point in playing mind games with patrons when you are just going to let them in anyway??? It just antagonizes people for no reason whatsoever and creates a vibe of aggression…
Then, if I was with anyone more clean cut looking, they wouldnt want to let them in and Id have to talk them into letting them in (which to be fair, they did). As I mentioned earlier, Ive never been refused entry but this sort of thing is just a pain in the arse to have to put up with and leaves a very bad taste in peoples mouths.
The last time I went there was earlier this year. Now this time the bouncer was fine — he let me in with a smile!!! But then the problem started a metre later with the woman collecting the cover charge. The cover charge was $ 10 — which like all cover charges is simply a licence to spend more money in a venue… The woman insisted on giving me a stamp on my wrist — even though I didnt want one. I was happy to pay the cover charge and since I dont smoke, I had no need to go outside and get back in — yet she insisted on the stamp. So I held out my left arm for the stamp and then she insisted that the stamp go on the right wrist as opposed to the left!!! I can never ever remember something so pedantic in a pub!!!
Once inside, the story is exactly the same every time:
1. It is simply way to loud to actually hear anything anyone says to you — there is no way of having a conversation in this place because the music is far too loud
2. EVERY SINGLE TIME I have been there I have had drug dealers offering to sell me drugs. I dont go out for this and shouldnt have to put up with it. The police would do well to raid this place.
3. Inside, the place absolutely stinks. It feels like it has never ever been ventolated in its entire lifespan!
4. As Jackie D has mentioned, there are milk crates for seating — you would think that by charging a $ 10 cover charge they would have the money to buy chairs of some sort…
5. A large percentage of the crowd are absolutely obnoxious, pretentious and way too cool — even by rock n roll standards! There is an obvious arrogance amongst a lot of this crowd — but I really cant see hanging out in a stinking cesspool like the Cherry Bar as something to be proud of — let alone arrogant about!!!
In conclusion, I understand that the Cherry Bar plays on the idea of being a «dive bar» but I think that other reviewers are being far too tolerant of this aspect. I the place had only one of its negative attributes such as the smell, the milkcrates, the cover charge, the toilets, the drug dealers, the staff etc, then Ive got no issue with it, but when every single aspect of the pub is like this then I must question it. Personally, I believe that the place lacks a simple element of self respect and Im amazed that people are actually so tolerant of it — let alone give it 4 or 5 stars!!! But, whatever floats your boat…
Last time I went there was because it was the only chance to catch up with a friend from interstate who was only in Melbourne for one night and had heard of the place but never been before. And yet again it was still awful — nothing had changed.
Unless I am paid to do so, I will not be going back to the Cherry Bar.

Great drinks, awesome bartenders, cheap drinks, best jukebox selection. Has two types of bars inside. One for more groups and dancing and the back room for people that wanna be more intimate and hang with their buddies with leopard fur seating etc.

I don’t get the rules the Cherry Bar operates under. Sometimes it’s packed and has a line, sometimes you’re the only dude in the joint, and it doesn’t seem to be based on dates or time or anything.
But, when you’re lucky and can actually get in, it’s pretty good. It’s a bit too cool, in a dingy kind of way, but I’ll forgive it.

Cherry Bar is probably the closest thing to an authentic dive bar in Melbourne, with a rock twist.
Yeah its dark, hard to find and in a laneway with a badass name. And this adds to the cool factor.
You can pretty much bet that any decent rock or metal band will end up having an after party here, or at least have a few band members and crew sucking back a couple beers and tequila shots.
The nights get really fun when they open up the back bar, and you find yourself doing shots of Jaeger with a Norwegian and an American as Freebird plays on the old school jukebox. Hells yeah.
Actually prefer this place on quieter weeknights when less poseurs are around. Shockingly.

In line with what others have said, I concur:
this is not a date-​spot
this is NOT posh
this is a dive bar
…and bars are made for drinking!
That said, there’s a special part of this rock-​n-​roll, dirty, gritty even, hidden morsel of dancing, time-​traveling goodness… that is all that is listed above and how well it fits with the tastes of rockers.
Now I’m not referring to myself as a rocker. Nor do I mean the obvious denizens of such a haunt. No. I mean the groups playing the Forum and the Palace. I mean Les Claypool. I mean the Dap Kings. I mean the guys that tour, that make the music, that make the stuff that would be played here or in the homes and iPods of those rockers that listen to this stuff.
For a chance to mingle with the greats, and get down and dirty in the rock spot that only rock could love, get here!

well… Cherry Bar… i don’t quite know what to say.
It is hidden in the maze of the CBD laneways, extremely dark, the music is rock and roll played deafeningly loud (which I guess is the way rock and roll music is supposed to be played), it has an interesting mix of people and i think just about the cheapest beer in the city!
Head here if you love rock n roll. Best go somewhere else if you want a few drinks and a chat.

Oh Cherry, you old staple you.
Good, proper, wholesome: rock’n’roll. Throw in a hint of great soul music on a Thursday night and you’ve got yourself a party. Cherry does it properly. It doesn’t flake out when the zeitgeist changes direction. Here, rock is always in. And it works damn well.
Often frequented by touring rockers and rock enthusiasts, Cherry is the place to go to get down to all the greats. Aptly located in AC/​DC lane (in honour of the band), this is rock’s home. They host ‘Cherry Rock’ once a year and it’s a rambling good time. Get here and get drunk and get dancing. No gimmicks, just solid rock. It can’t be beat.

Melbourne has always prided itself on being the home of Rock & Roll. With so many world-​dominating bands hailing from our fair town, we know we breed the best here, and wear the badge with pride. Whether you have been a rock pig all your life, or only discovered it when you saw Pink wearing an Aerosmith T-​Shirt, head on down to Cherry Bar and have yourself a time…
Open from 5 until very very late, this place blends live music and «Rock DJ’s» effortlessly to create a place that has fast become a venue that people go whether they know who’s playing or not. That said, if you do want to check out your favourite band here, get in early, as chances are you’ll be left waiting in the alley to be let n if you arrive too late. All live music stops at 11:30pm sharp, and the DJ’s take over to sound system to play a great mix of 70’s, 80’s and 90’s rock tunes and the whole venue becomes a massive dance floor.
Known for turning away people that are too well dressed, Cherry Bar hosts a good mix of local rock bands and the odd international act doing a «secret side show» whilst on tour. It’s also the place that most touring bands choose to hit for their after parties, so you never know who you’ll see at Cherry Bar.
As a musician who has played here many times, the staff knows how to treat a band. Whilst other venues treat the bands like an annoying pest, Cherry Bar know who brings their bread and butter and treats the bands accordingly.
Drinks are at decent prices, and you can head out to the alley to smoke and still hear the music.

Cherry is the ultimate dive bar in all of Melbourne. Dark lighting, milk crates for seats and a whole bunch of rockers.
On any given night you could find uni students, rock-​a-​billies, bangin’ babes and maybe even an international rockstar or two (Metallica stopped by after their last tour, as did Queens of the Stone Age.)
The music is what one would call «alternative», definitely no top 40 hits or house music here! The back room, which is much smaller, contains a juke box which features some of the best of the 80’s and 90’s (think Alice Cooper and Bön Jovi.)
But on Thursday’s this place turns in to the super sexy SOUL night. I highly recommend attending on a Thursday, it will be a good way to ‘ease you in’ to the Cherry experience.
Girly Girls pay attention — the toilets are RANK as you could probably imagine but I think that’s all part of the «cherry experience.»
I absolutely love this place, but I can definitely understand that it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup-​a-​tea.