The Melbourne Supper Club

Feels like sacrilige to say it it seems, but for me I can take it or leave it. It’s open in the wee late hours, so that’s good. But maybe because I’m not inclined to spend $ 3000 on a bottle of wine or fraternize over the fine array of fromage, I’m not sure why it’s so highly spoken of. To me, it all feels a little worn. Been there, done that. Not fussed if I never do it again.

Service was really bad. Food was ok. Had to beg for cutlery and water. Could have been so much better than it was– such a great space.

Another of Melbourne’s best kept secrets! Hidden behind a doorway between The European and The City Wine Shop is a staircase to ‘Heaven’ or should I say Nirvana. The first level is a level with cry couches a mezzanine to your right is a large Art Deco window that overlooks Parliament House and more comfy couches and tables! I see it has private dining room and an upper outdoor deck with amazing views! The staff selection Paella was truly amazing as was the wine list! A must visit if you like wine bars and old fashioned good service.

I have been going to the MSC for ~15 years. Over that time it has changed from a must see location for visitors to an embarrassment. I have brought groups of senior academics on a quiet night to be told they don’t serve groups of 10… I’ve had a guest stopped from photographing another member of the group because they don’t allow photographs … Unless they are taken on an iPhone obviously. The staff used to be friendly and attentive, but have been replaced by people who are officious and abusive. Frankly — there are enough great bars in Melbourne that there is no need to put up with this treatment. My friends refuse to come here now — hard to blame them.

This was the first time I’ve been here and I went with one of my Melbourne friends who obviously knows where to go. I was thoroughly impressed with this restaurant/​bar setting and would definitely go back. It’s a bit posh and pricey but it’s well worth the money. Perfect for dinner, a date, a dessert or just some casual drinks. The ambiance is beautiful and being on the rooftop is even better — you’re transported into a different world which largely feels like Europe. The service was good and not intense so you have your own space which I appreciate. Definitely recommend this quaint and «quiche» restaurant!

So I return here after a four or five year absence?
That’s quite a stretch, and I have always been hoping to
return, but it got to the point of being absurd. Although
chance and opportunity never found me back here.
What else is absurd? the freakin’ excellent cheeses they have here.
Holy bat ghost! I had some manchengo, a semi firm blue, and a
very tasty number that has been washed in caramel tasting like
a magnificent version of Parmesan. I didn’t get the names, because
I was so involved in the wine donations that I received, including
occam’s razor, which I already have a previous fondness for.
Then I got lost in eating the cheeses. Several people are to blame
in recent times for my now building interest in all things fromage.
Then there was the food; polenta mega chips, which could probably
be re designed to serve as housing bricks, little wonton things, and
very meaty lamb sausage rolls. Freakin’ ace! Then it was time for some
more wine, and most notably to be incredibly indulged at the same time.
Heaven. No problem with the staff, for I too am familiar with the inner
grimace and groan of seeing a small group walk in an hour before closing,
and on a Monday morning. In fact I’d like to go back to test them, and
in doing so probably look like a fool for my ignorance but hey,
It’s an experience right?
And so to you that are reading this, here comes an open piece of
information, I’d love to come back, I really would, so if opportunity
created itself for me to do so, I’d be more than happy to oblige.
I’d forgotten how this place looked like, but hopefully, it will become
a home of sorts in the future.
Now, I need to explore that wine list again. I was only reading it
for about 20 solid minutes last time, and I am in the habit of studying
wine lists.

Definitely one of the best locations for drinks early in the night or after dinner. Amazing atmosphere, with rustic leather chairs and a great drinks selection. Would definitely recommend!

Three stars if not fair, it is better than that and I will be the first to say it’s not for me when busy, but I can’t say «Yay! I’m a fan»…
I’ve been to the Supper Club three times, and all have been pleasant enough, and for me that’s the issue. Nothing that is gonna have you giving out 4 or five stars is just «pleasant». Pleasant is code for an underwhelming-​never-​to-​have-​a-​second-​chance date, or a boring day’s sailing. Don’t get me wrong, sailing and dates are good, but they need to deliver to hold your interest.
Looking through earlier reviews, I see mention of the patient, gentle, but slightly uptight and officious staff. Can say I have experienced that. ProTip: don’t try stand up while holding a glass, ever. I like and understand the rule, but I don’t need to be policed quite so closely.
For me, the offerings are great, the venue if gorgeous, and the fit-​out supreme, but whenever I am taken here for an event, all I want to do is go to Siglo, and hope there is not queue.
That is another pet-​hate of mine: Doing stair time here, seems like some of us just wanna be seen to have attended…
Now, where is that cigar and my port on the balcony upstairs.

I’ve only been here once, with a friend for a late night catchup and snack.
Our problem is that we had a very different expectation of the place. The impression was it was very laid back and casual, with a range of low end snacks and drinks in an environment that was relaxing yet classy. We weren’t expecting wine lists with bottles listed at $ 3000 each. As such, we were very under-​dressed and felt very out of place.
Our waiter was fabulous though. Very friendly, very talkative (without being annoying) and was quite patient — given we expected something different he had no issue letting us consider the menu options in detail.
The food was quite good. I’d happily go back, but would keep in mind it’s not the best place for a casual drop in snack.

A Melbourne Institution!
Be warned; this venue can be a tad addictive. Tucked between the City Wine Shop and The European, the Melbourne Supper Club is marked only by a wooden door and a lantern style light at the front. As you walk up the stairs you are met with a friendly host/​ess who will kindly show you to your seats (generally soft leather lounges) and present you with an inexhaustible menu of wines and spirits to peruse as you slowly sink into your seat and realise that your idea of «one wine after dinner» is now at odds with the comfort you feel and the wonderful bottles of wine catching your eyes as you flick through the well worn pages of the wine list.
After you have spent a reasonable length of time on the internal struggle of Rhone Valley or Burgundy a waiter appears, seemingly reading your mind, not too early, not too late. Armed with a wine knowledge that will make you feel comfortable either passing control over to them on the final choice (there’s no shame in surrendering to the overwhelming range of their menu) or to have a discussion around which wine would best suit your current mood.
The hard part is over, wine comes out quickly and finds your hand even quicker and if you’re anything like me two things are about to occur, first, you will stare longingly at the table awaiting a selection of obnoxious smelling cheeses to appear, second, you will quickly decide that the wine has breathed long enough (1 minute is close to 15… right?) and hypnotise yourself with the rythmic swirling of red wine in excellent glassware.
Second warning; this is like the point in the old Goosebumps choose your own adventure stories where the crucial decision must be made. If you choose to go home responsibly after the first bottle many may tell you that you’ve made the wise choice, however you will be missing the comfort and relaxation that only leather sofas and good Burgundy can provide. On the other hand, if you were to stay and sink a little further into the couch cushions then you may be there long enough to see the sun rise over Parliament house through their excellently placed oval window at the front of the venue. As is always the story, with seductive beauty comes danger!
There are some places in Melbourne where it is worthwhile saving up, splurging a little and then closing your eyes as you pay the final bill, this is definitely one of those places, enjoy!

In the back of my mind, I always know that The Melbourne Supper Club above the European on Spring Street is seemingly always open and avoided my attention until just before my recent trip to Sydney. Not wanting to jostle for position at a communal table at Longrain, we thought it was prudent to enjoy a feast at the Supper Club as I had not been in there for some years.
After you climb a flight of stairs once you find the entrance which is a virtually unmarked door next to the European, you will receive a friendly greeting and be quizzed as to whether you simply want a drink or a long and lavish indulgence. Being rather hungry, we opted for the latter and were shown to what could be arguably the best seat in the house in the corner near the window. From here you have glimpses outside but can also keep an eye on the comings and goings of the restaurant but also Siglo Bar which is located yet another flight of stairs up.
Commencing proceedings with a glass of Bollinger Special Cuvee ($ 25) we decided to start with Pâté de Foie Gras, pear chutney and toasted brioche ($ 26) because I always find it such a stand-​out dish downstairs at the European. Joselito Jamon Iberico ($ 40) and Escargot ($ 12) along with a bottle of Domaine Leroy Maison Bourgogne Rouge 1999 ($ 105) was selected to match these appetisers. Domain Leroy is a wine producer in Burgundy with properties in several Grand cru vineyards of Cote d’Or and is known for biodynamic farming. Everything matched well and I could go on for hours about how much I enjoyed the pâté and the jamon iberico, as I always devour these staple items when I find them, but the stand-​out for me were the snails. I was impressed that they were already de-​shelled and when matched with the wine were simply amazing.
As they were offering an interpretation of tacos on their «finger food» menu, I had to give them a try. Chickpea battered soft shell crab tacos with smoked mango and pickled cucumber ($ 14.50) was a bold combination and the mango certainly highlighted the taste of the soft shell crab, which was also a generous portion. I liked how the soft shell tacos were served with a clip keeping the elements secure whilst they were delivered. The roasted pumpkin and padron pepper tacos with goats curd ($ 10) may be appreciated more by a vegetarian and after my recent trip to Trippy Taco, I really fundamentally believe that a taco should have some sort of meat in it to be considered a taco. This dish could have been served more as a «tostada» in salad form at least for me to get around the psychological roadblock I had with it.
More jamon iberico ($ 40) was ordered to compensate for the vegetable tacos along with son-​in-​law eggs, which are soft boiled and fried with Asian herbs and chilli caramel ($ 12) and a Reuben — a corned beef sandwich with sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese and Russian dressing ($ 16.50) was matched with a bottle of 2004 La Rioja Alta Vina Arana ($ 105) which although the server was recommending against, I ordered anyway. I should have heeded his advice. Although I love Tempranillo, and this wine is an 80% Tempranillo blend, it didn’t match the best with the Reuben and eggs and I should have instead ordered a pinot. I often just find myself falling into the Tempranillo trap because I enjoy it so much. It is never a value for money wine to purchase in Australia though which is sad.
After spending over three hours of eating and drinking at the Supper Club, I had the opportunity to chat with Simon, the very affable server and sommelier. He shared a great amount of knowledge and led me down the original path of choosing the Domaine Leroy which was amazing choice and matched perfectly for the first round of food that we devoured. Despite not following his advice and ordering the Tempranillo to follow up his choice, he remained cheerful, if not amused by us throughout the night providing excellent service and good insight into the menu and all things epicurean.
When it was still legal to smoke cigars in places like the Melbourne Supper Club many years ago, I recall having quite a few late nights relaxed on one of their many lounges puffing away and even enjoying birthday celebrations there one year. Although that bygone and cheery era has sadly passed us, the lounges remain and this place continues to trade and serve their full menu into the early hours of the morning. Just knowing that Escargot it available, I do forecast spending some early mornings here after making my rounds in the boozers in the area in the short term.

Sure I could waffle on about the epic wine list, the comfortable chesterfield couches, the romantic nooks, the fascinating people watching or the slightly moody staff. But let’s face it, the real reason I come here is for the cheese.
The sweet, sweet, little baby cheeses.
Oh yes, at The Melbourne Supper Club the fromage is extraordinary. A diverse selection is always available and it’s obvious that they’re stored well and served by people who care. The accoutrement are always well matched… like the toasted fruit bread that comes with a gooey piece of delice, or the eccles cake that comes with a stinky piece of blue.
Cheese Nightmares be damned! This is one of my favourite places to end a night out in Melbourne.

Very Melbourne! Unmarked door leading up a flight of stairs to a packed lounge. Great cocktails and almost everything else you could want for a laidback but very cool component of a big night out. Keep going up the stairs and you’ll hit Siglo, a rooftop deck with an awesome view of parliament house and the cathedral.

I’m probably not qualified to rate this place since I barely had anything to drink here. (I didn’t feel like drinking because I was too full from dinner, so I ordered the cheapest thing on the menu, which was a $ 10 dessert wine that smelt and tasted like permanent marker fluid. I took one sip and spent the rest of the night trying to think of a way to discreetly dispose of it. Alas, there were no pot plants in sight.) But I’m giving it four stars because I really liked the feel of the place. It was just the vibe, your Honour. Not too pretentious or loud and it seemed like a good place to while away a few hours on a cold winter’s night. I don’t know how I feel about the lack of signage on the front door though. That shit would never go down in Sydney.

If you’re looking for a classy bar with an impressive wine list, may I suggest The Melbourne Supper Club? I was there Friday evening with close friends and now have a new favourite spot for a late night drink. The service staff certainly knew what they were talking about as our recommended wine and cheese was both divine. A glass of wine was a reasonable price but if you can afford to celebrate (please invite and pay for me) as a bottles of wine can go into the several thousand dollar price point. It took all my restraint and manners to force myself to share the cheese platter equally with my company; secretly I wanted to slide it closer and closer to where I was sitting.
It’s easy to walk straight past and miss, on the ground level it’s simply a wooden door and a thin sign running down the side. However, all you have to do is walk up the stairs to where glorious leather couches and armchairs wait. The place is filled with a certain kind of charm and sophistication yet still comfortable. I was spoilt enough to be seated next to the enormous half circle glass window which overlooks Parliament House. Halfway through our first glass of wine, the rain began to pour and the bar felt to me, exactly like Melbourne.
I was lucky enough to have a supper experience of great company, divine wine and the yummiest cheese I’ve tasted since my European travels.

At how many places can you sit down for a proper meal at 2am? Hungry Jacks does not count as «proper,» though we may love it so. I was visiting a friend in Melbourne who took me on a massive boutique bar crawl that ended here, at the Supper Club. Not sure of what to expect, I filed up the staircase and plopped down on one of the comfy sofas near the bar.
We ordered a bottle of red to start (because two girls need a WHOLE bottle, at 2am, after drinking whiskey cocktails for 5 hours). I let my friend choose, as she’s in the wine business. I took command of the food ordering and got us a healthy (read: drunk munchy) spread of chips, mini sausage rolls and a bread /​dips platter. As we sank half deep into our bottle, and fully deep into the comfy couch (can we organise a crane to get me outta here?), the food all started to arrive. And it was a spread fit for kings; or at least that’s how it felt at the time. The quality of the food was great and the service was quite fine indeed, especially for that hour of the evening, er, morning. I consider it always a well played move to soak up the booze before falling asleep. It was particularly well played coming to Supper Club. I would do it again, and again, and again.

The Melbourne Supper Club has been with me all my adult years making sure I was not led down the dark, evil path of poorly chosen wine and cheap whiskeys, and shielding my eyes from less than tasteful interiors.
When I’m really out to impress visitors with just how great Melbourne is, I bring them here. I never get bored of seeing their surprise that the unassuming, unmarked door on Spring Street is our destination, then feeling their delight and relief when they reach the top of the stairs to the warm and inviting ambience of the understated glamour and sophistication of the Melbourne Supper Club.
Guests are naturally further wowed by the drinks menu, which is not only extensive but also refined. After some wine followed by their expensive but delicious tapas style dishes, maybe the sampling of some single malt whiskey, the dark sky outside the semi-​circular window begins to lighten and its a mad but happy dash to a taxi outside and on home.

An excellent spot for a late-​night drink, or a nightcap after seeing a show at the Princess Theatre. If you’re from out of town and haven’t been here (all Melburnians know where it is), look for The European on Spring St, close to the corner of Bourke St. Next to The European is a small doorway with a thin sign above it — that’s the Supper Club.
The service is wonderful and the waiters will ensure you’re seated somewhere to your liking (depending on space available — and it does get busy, but in a civilised way). Once you’re cosy in a leather couch inside the moody home-​like bar, you have to start on the extensive wine and spirit list. For wines, don’t forget to look at the specials board on the wall. You can spend as much or as little as you like — cheapest glasses of wine are around $ 10, and the most expensive bottles are into the thousands.

So many mixed reviews about this place. I can tell you that mine was fairly pleasurable. However I wasn’t paying so that makes my review a little one sided…
The supper club essentially is a great place to go for pre-​theatre dining. It brings to mind images of ye ol’ gentle men sitting around drinking whiskey and sampling cognac, while admiring the mahogany furnishings that surround them.
My visit on this occasion was completely the opposite although I was in good company I am not sure he was a gentleman and our visit involved some post drinking well. drinking and possibly some theatrics on the side.
As far as that atmosphere went, it was dare I say «going off» during the wee hours of the morning with hustle and bustle surrounding us I really did feel like I had entered another realm with so many creatures to and froing from the bar and the wait staff bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to serve.

I love Siglo, what’s not to. But sometimes it is less than optimal. When it is cold or rainy, or you are starving, there’s not much for you there.
That’s where the Supper Club comes in; down one level, it is indoors, and far more comfortable. But, don’t fret, there’s a huge round window at one end of the room to preserve the killer view of the Parliament House. Great armchairs, and comfy couches make this place feel more inviting than it should, especially given the unmarked door at street level.
The food list is nice, and will satisfy most appetites.
The wine list is daunting, if you dare, you better know your wines. Otherwise, ask for help. And they usually have a couple featured wines each day that are easy to stick with.