Manchuria

Every time I visit this place I get several texts and calls from friends asking:
«Where is it?»
«I walked past it»
Manchuria is so well hidden and I almost don’t want to bring people here BUT i’m always glad I do because they always LOVE IT and we have a blast.
There are comfortable chairs and couches, great music and a small deck to hang out at.
The cocktails are on the sweet side for me but they are just beautiful (and pricey) and there is an extensive range of liquor.
What a great hideaway in the heart of Melbourne.

I hesitate to recommend this place so highly for fear of one of my favourite bars in Melbourne becoming jam packed… Manchuria is one of those awesome little date bars you’d only realise exists through word of mouth.
The bar is buried inside a seedy alley in Chinatown. Walk past the empty MSG containers from the restaurants next door and up the stairs and its like a scene out of 1930s Shanghai.
Awesome place for a romantic drink, with great lighting and privacy, including lace curtains for each of the seating areas. Quiet background swing hop music.
I recommend the Zombie cocktail which is the only drink I have seen in Melbourne limited to two per person per night, due to its potency.

I wish I remembered more for the purpose of this review, however that’s what happens when you drink a couple of zombie cocktails at Manchuria. What I do remember however is a typical Melbournian hidden bar with some excellent bartenders. Get down here and try it out!

I love Melbourne’s hidden bars and Manchuria sure put me to the test in trying to find it. Verdict? The treasure hunt is well worth it. Behind the solid entrance doors is a dimly lit cocktail den with sophisticated furnishings, soft music and pleasant staff who kindly attend to your table. It is a great place to catch up with friends.
I’ve only visited Manchuria on a Friday night. On these occasions I’ve had no difficulty in finding a table. What a fantastic surprise! Although, I have recommended this place to a good few people now… Keep up your brilliant work Manchuria!

Yes, yes, yes, yes. That’s the first word that comes to mind when someone suggests Manchuria. An exotic feeling venue tucked up a dark hallway in the city, this isn’t a place you can just stumble upon — and that’s how we like it!
Some of the best cocktails I’ve tried in town, this is a great early evening venue for a few pre-​dinner drinks, or later at night. The Asian-​inspired furniture, fabrics and whole environment contribute to a complete separation from the hustle and bustle of the city outside.
A great idea, brilliantly executed; you won’t be disappointed with a visit to Manchuria.

I feel a bit guilty; I take all my friends or people i want to impress
here. It’s been a lot of people!

I visited this place for the first time on Friday and it was love at first sip. Delicious cocktail perfection.
The atmosphere was dark and cosy, ideal for a Friday night lounge after dinner. We drank the night away and got very excited at trying each others concoctions when asking the bar staff to weave their magic off-​menu. I will be back… if I can remember how to get there.

A sweet little cocktail lounge to bring people you want to impress. Hidden away from plain sight down wah wah lounge alley. The interior kind of resembles the club at the beginning of Indiana Jones and the temple of doom. The cocktails are perfection in a glass using only the best ingredients and garnishes (freshly picked rose petals!). Mo’s Manhattan is my Fav.

Tucked away in a tight alley off Little Bourke, you could be forgiven for passing by Manchuria.
But it is home to some of the best cocktails in Melbourne.
With only a small sign and a roller door to advertise it’s presence, it is a great place to get away from the noise and action of China Town and sit down with some delicious cocktails.
The décor is like something out of an old Chinese dynasty with intricate woodwork, intimate booths and comfortable lounges.
The music isn’t too loud so you can still have a chat with your mates, and the general atmosphere is one of relaxation.
Bar food is on offer but its not as spectacular as the cocktails (or the food along Little Bourke), but worth a nibble if your hungry and don’t want to leave.
The bar, illuminated against the wall has some of the best cocktails around and the bar staff are extremely good at making them to your satisfaction.
Highlights include the Aviation (crème de violette and gin with maraschino liqueur and lemon juice), and The Last Word (green chartreuse, gin, lime juice and maraschino liqueur).
You can’t go wrong.