Eau De Vie

I have heard about this bar for a while so I finally decided to go without reservations on a Monday night. Most tables were full, but we didn’t wait for table. It had a nice dark vibe and if you were allowed to smoke in bars, I imagine it would have been slightly mysterious and hazy with smoke. Once we got settled onto a large high-​top, we ordered the Blood and Sanderson and a the Kitty Cocobongo. The Blood and Sanderson was served in a skull and was a play on the actual Blood and Sand. The cocktail was good and had enough changes in the alcohol that you could tell it was a take on the original. The Kitty Cocobongo was more citrusy, but very delicious with the perfect amount of foam on top. It was so good we ordered another round of cocktails that were just as good. I’ll have to go back and order some of my other favorites.
Overall… On weekends they take reservations and I have heard it’s extremely busy so I wouldn’t make an extra trip here if your just drinking beer, wine or whiskey. There are many other Melbourne bars that can accommodate that. BUT… If you’re looking for well balanced cocktails with alcoholic ingredients that may surprise you, then try this place with some nibbles. They are very on-​point when it comes to new mixes. They are not just bartenders … they are mixologists!

Great bar for cocktails, excellent selection and knowledgable staff. Highly recommended to seek their advice as they have always steered me true. Desert is also worthy of attention if you’re partial to a sweet treat and a drink. It’s also possible to have a conversation in this place… a rare find these days.

There is no sign on the door but when you do finally find Eau De Vie, you won’t ever forget it.
The music, bartenders and atmosphere gives me an old school classy vibe and with the wide drink selection and nibbles you could really spend a whole night here and watch the magic happen.
Be prepared to spend a bit here as the drinks do add up but it is like paying for drinks AND a show watching them make each cocktail with precision and passion.
I’ve visited alone, on dates or even in groups and each time I stumble away happy.

I first found Eau De Vie a number of years ago while getting dragged around to a few hidden Melbourne gems with some friends.
It’s cozy, it’s inviting, it’s a little bit secretive — it has everything a squirrelled-​away Melbourne bar should have.
Very much in the vain of an old speakeasy, Eau De Vie is luxuriously made up of a lot of wood, a gorgeous bar stocked with pretty much any whisky worth trying, and a cocktail menu that will make any lush blush.
A few go-​to drinks would have to be the Espresso Zabaione and the Yuzu Mule.
The Espresso Zabaione is the best of the espresso martini’s, topped off with saffron and vanilla mousse, and frozen with liquid nitrogen right at your table. A spectacle to behold.
The Yuzu Mule is delivered on large chunks of ice, in a beautiful copper mug. It rings of vodka, honey, and lots of ginger beer. As refreshing as you can get on a warm Melbourne night.
Worth a look-​see, again and again!

I am in love and Eau de Vie is his name. This instantly became my favourite bar in Melbourne. It embodies all the right things for a speakeasy bar: subtle front door easily missed, lovely tunes of the 20s/​30s, dark and classic décor, secret wall leading to another room (I’ll let you figure it out), and the best bartenders in the biz.
Having received a generous gift voucher here, I was ready to make a night of it and almost had to be pulled out or at least convinced we would be coming back soon, for me to leave.
It starts and ends with the cocktails. Give yourself time to read through the menu, understand the theme to help you decide what mood you are in for your libation adventure. I went with the Tio Ernesto, their version of the Bloody Mary. I was skeptical when it arrived partially deconstructed with the tomato juice in a tin can, a tiny bottle of Tabasco and the rest of the drink garnished and ready to go. After mixing it up, it became more clear with each sip why this was regarded as one of the best Bloody Marys in the city. There was a hidden seasoning buried somewhere in the vodka perhaps, that helped this drink shine.
Next was an equally excellent, if not better drink, The Blood and Sanderson. It had me at bacon bourbon but with port, blood orange and lemon, it went down way too easy. The fact that it arrived in a steer’s skull proved this drink was a lady killer.
There was delicious bar food to recommend as well. Fried eggplant chips were thin and tasty, with a light BBQ seasoning and dipping sauces. The real star were the mussels in a flavourful tomato sauce atop grilled leeks. Perfection!
Lastly, I had to try the signature Espresso Zabaione, a carefully crafted martini with a strong and delicious drink underneath a liquid nitrogen mousse. It’s fun to watch them prepare but even better to crack through the shell, mix in the goodness and enjoy a lovely sip! Good luck finding another espresso martini that compares.
All in all, this place could easily become my new go-​to spot for a happy hour drink before dinner or a night cap on an evening out. This makes my list of Melbourne’s Best. xoxo

A true Melbourne lane way bar, tucked away and tough to find on your first visit the cocktails and expansive scotch and whisky (and whiskey) list is impressive and reasonably priced. Be warned you will likely need a booking and don’t plan on a quick drink, it can be tough to get served and the drinks take some time. It’s worth the wait though! Couple a drink with the Mac and Chees croquettes for a good time.

For bars, I am in love with Eau De Vie! Not a huge bar with music that is way too loud to have a conversation. I have had dates here and it’s nice enough to have a conversation, light meals and mostly the list of cocktails. Everytime I visit, I will have a minimum of 2 drinks and they never fail.
You could spot some stars here, on one of our visit, Curtis Stone was there.

Actually finding the door to get into this place is a challenge but well worth it. We came in on Saturday night and there was a bit of a line but the wait was reasonable.
We enjoyed the espresso martini, the aviator and a shared pineapple cocktail. Service was very efficient and friendly. The cocktails are over the top and exciting, who doesn’t love a little liquid nitrogen!
I would absolutely be back here when I return to Melbourne, top quality place.

I can certainly understand why people are enthusiastic about this place, but it’s over-​the-​top gimmicky and the cocktails are very, very small. I need more than just three gulps.
I had the Van Gogh Fizz which is a corpse-​recover style refresher with absinthe as the base. It was okay, a bit skimpy on the alcohol. Also had the Banderillero because our waiter said it was his favourite. It’s served in a bull’s horn – which would normally make me feel like a total assclown, but since others at my table were drinking from perfume bottles and skulls, it was relatively normal. The bull’s horn holds a deceptively slight amount of drink, so ultimately I ended up feeling like I was paying for the weird, gimmicky containers more than for the spirits.
If you love cocktails, skip it. If you want to have a laugh with friends or visitors, give it a try.

Expensive and over-​rated. We waited 40 minutes for a cocktail on a Tuesday night. Now I know there’s a lot of waiting to be done at trendy Flinders Lane venues on any night of the week, but unlike, say Chin Chin, where you are told how long you can expect to wait to be seated, here you are an unwitting slave to the poor service. If the guy who seated us had told us that it would be a 40 minute wait I would have hightailed it out of there. There were only two bartenders on a very busy night, which is a bit baffling. If you’re going to charge 22 dollars for a drink I would expect quicker and more efficient service The waitress apologised for the long wait but it was a bit too little too late. After that, I would even expect a bit off the bill. (Didn’t happen).
As for the drinks, they were nice, but not the best I’ve had in Melbourne. We were also seated right by the serving station which meant our server had to manœuvre around our table… Was quite awkward.
Maybe we visited on an off night, but too many factors disappointed to warrant a return visit anytime soon.

Four stars?! What was I thinking? EDV deserves a solid five. It’s one of my favourite drinking establishments in the city and one of my go-​to recommendations for out-​of-​town visitors.
Sit at the bar and watch drinks dramatically prepared using liquid nitrogen and blow torches. Not sure what to order? Have a chat with the bartenders — they have a solid knowledge of classic cocktail history. EDV has both style and substance. The vibe is intimate and the cocktails are excellent (in both flavour and presentation). Come here with your favourite friends and your hot dates. Come here on a weekday for delicious decadence. Linger. You deserve it.

Some of the best food in town and all of the best drinks!
Great atmosphere, great music, awesome staff! I could spend every day here

Love love love love love.
I did have to walk past this place, back and forth, for about 20 minutes before I wandered into a liquor store around the corner looking for directions. As soon as I said, «Do you know…» the guy finished my sentence. He must get that a lot!
Turns out I wasn’t terribly dense; they were closed because I was there on Boxing Day. Gah! But if you’re looking, it’s the huge brown door on Malthouse lane, next to the Adina stairs (that confused me).
When I finally made it in, I think on December 27^th, I was the only one there. I got to say hi to Greg as he was leaving, and then spent the next hour chatting with Chantel and Cupcake, who were so nice. (I was recommended here by a bartender friend of mine from NYC!)
I had the Ron Zacapa blazer, being a big fan of RZ and of blazing drinks on cold nights. It was so lovely, I had three! However, when you heat alcohol, the fumes from the glass get really intense, so it’s hard to drink immediately fresh, unless you hold your breath a little.
Anyway, definitely come here — I’m headed back to Melbourne in a couple of weeks and I can’t wait to bring my boyfriend here!

So this cute little place is a speakeasy 100%
It’s down an alley with a little light over top, we would of never guessed if it wasn’t for someone telling us before hand! Super cute and chic. Very very busy!
We originally went to eat dinner but found out the items on the menu (food wise) was very minimal or super small plates. Ended up just ordering some cocktails, over priced but delicious.
Four stars for the atmosphere and cocktails!

LOVE. IT. Love everything about it.
(Good idea to make a reservation — it’s easy on their website, and the line can get fairly long on a Friday or Saturday evening)

«UHM HEY DO YOU KNOW WHERE UHHH THAT FRENCH-​SOUNDING COCKTAIL PLACE IS?»
«Eau De Vie? I’m headed there myself.»
«OH MY GAWD WE’LL JUST FOLLOW YOU THEN! WOO!»
It’s ok, they were quite tame and sensible, and patient enough to wait in line once we’d slipped behind the big metal door. It was a Friday night, after all, and Eau De Vie was HOPPING. BUZZING. OTHER EXCITABLE WORDS.
And it was my first visit ever, can you believe it? I was worried I’d built this place up to the point where reality couldn’t possibly exceed expectations. And as I waited in line and looked around the space, I thought perhaps it wasn’t going to. But then the server came down the line to check numbers, and when I mentioned I was a party of just one, he declared that he would be my friend.
Being a busy night, I was sat at a table with a couple of other small parties. We were presented with an array of menus, and while they were a pleasure to read through, nothing particularly jumped out at me. I asked if there was anything on the experimental menu that led with gin and it must have been my night because Jack had a current competition drink meant to mimic cucumber sandwiches. One of those, please and thank you.
Not long after I’d ordered my drink and before I’d received it, I was told that there was a single seat at the bar just for me. MY TIME TO SHINE. And that’s where the five stars cement themselves, because not only was the drink was delicious (of course), but the bar seat was comfortable, the company was delightful, the bartenders were showy and the time just disappeared. I had to make a run for the second-​last tram of the night to get back to my accommodation, though I almost wished Eau De Vie had stayed open all night… because I would have been comfortable at the bar for hours, maybe days.
My one regret is that I didn’t come here a lot sooner. Lesson learned. See you next time, EDV. I PROMISE.

Service is on point. Particularly when we were seated in a booth with an amorous couple that couldn’t resist eating each other’s faces out. 5 mins of that view and the staff sheepishly asked if we were keen on our own booth that had become available which we happily obliged!
The cocktails were superb. They make a grand show of making and presenting it and it wasn’t cheesy at all I loved it. My espresso martini was served with liquid nitrogen poured over it to solidify the vanilla mousse. The aviator cocktail had a blue piece of fairy floss depicting a cloud with a mega cute folded paper airplane delicately placed on top. As with the other cocktails ordered they all had their certain flair to it but these two have definitely made a place in my heart.
Very much enjoyed my night here.
Lastly — Male service staff mustaches — oh my! They wear it well!

If you can find the entrance to this bar then you definitely deserve the opportunity to try their dirty martinis. I chose vodka and as my friend expressed an desire for an excess of olives that’s what we got. In a very cute little jar. We also got the showmanship that comes with using dry ice to keep the classes cool and our vodka arrived in beakers.
I loved the décor, so very gangster chic. I completely adore anywhere that has booths! The bartender was friendly knowledgable and had a huge array of liquor choices.
I will endeavour to become a regular here and I will bring friends.

Fun find off Flinders Lane! (Say that 10x fast!)
When I followed my group of colleagues down a random alley, I couldn’t help but wonder if they were going to do some sort of Unilocal initiation on me, but luckily once we went through the unmarked door, we entered a really cool, dark, speakeasy bar that offered some very solid cocktails.
We walked into a nice room in the back with enough couches to fit a big crowd like us. Browsing the cocktail list, there was so much to choose from. I ended up settling with the rum based «Pre Dinner Moves». Partial reasons for choosing this one out of many was that I was hungry and it came with 2 big olives. :)
Some of the drinks that my colleagues ordered were presented quite creatively; some had smoke that escaped once a cover was lifted, another’s was served in a repurposed tomato juice can.
Prices are typical for these types of establishments ($ 20 – 25) but again, worth every cent. Perfect place to lose yourself in drink and forget about the world for a while!

Having been here too many times to count, I cannot believe that I have not written a review.
Well what can I say, this place I would class as my local when though it’s a good 20 minutes away by train.
Impeccable service, a range of drinks that are so long that if you cannot pick a drink you should just go home.
Added to this is a great ever changing range of food to keep you going.
I fully endorse EDV as a place you can spend all night at. But if you have a show to get to, or a dinner elsewhere, start or finish your night here!

Eau De Vie… Si seulement tu savais a quelle point tu me plait. Je t’aime, je t’adore. On se reverra bientot!
Hands down one of (if not the one…) my favourite cocktail bars in Melbourne. We went there for New Years and got ourselves their $ 100 NYE package — 3 cocktails and a glass of bubbles plus hors d’oeuvres aplenty. The canapes were really good and, well, the chocolate mousse would have to be the highlight of the night for me in the food/​dessert department.
We bought extra cocktails. obviously and, well, I can’t remember everything we/​I had (I wouldn’t expect me to anyway!) only that they were all very nice — some of the best I’ve had.
Eau De Vie has literally everything going for it and it’s seriously cool in so many ways… First of all, there’s no big obvious sign outside, only a big wooden door which gives it a touch of secrecy and exclusivity. They’ve got cool tunes playing in the background, dim lights, a mix of comfy couches/​low tables and high chairs/​tables. The staff are all really nice and they can definitely whip you up a killer of a drink. They make it look so cool as well. 5 stars for theatricality — simply order their Espresso Martini (thanks for the reco Mat O!) or the Rosemary Martini and you’ll know what I’m talking about.
$ 19-​$ 25 for a drink is not for everyone but the ambience, atmosphere, service and whole experience that you’ll get at Eau De Vie totally warrants it.