Secret Garden

My first night out in Melbourne! St. Kilda no less. I’ve heard plenty of things about the suburb and the vibe it has, so I’m was ready to rock and roll.
Living out east, I was dressed in a cool «hip, but not trying too hard» outfit, and armed my smart phone pre-​loaded with the first season of Boardwalk Empire to block out my fellow transit riders as we entered the city.
I went to Secret Garden Bar to meet up with work colleagues (all female), and we were said to have a private area to sit and chat. One of them knew the owner.
Approaching the bar around 11PM and the music the booming, the crowds were loud, and drinks were flowing (out of the tab, and some of it onto the floor). I decided to skip the line because I had a private room waiting for me… right? Nope. Sent to the back of the line with the other males, eyes glazed with pre-​drinks and the thought of one night stands.
Luckily, the line was quick and a few minutes later I entered and the first thing I noticed was the NOISE. It was loud, very loud. But I also loved that it wasn’t sweltering. There was no sweat dripping on the dancefloor (yet).
Found the «reserved area,» which was a nice leather couch with a rope in front of the long hallway bar, separating us from the throngs. Still super loud, and not at all private, like I imagined.
The bartenders were nice, and acknowledged me even if I wasn’t served for a few minutes. Tonight I kept it classy, Jameson on the rocks with a squirt of lime (none of the sugary mixers for me thanks)!
After chatting (i.e. shouting) for a couple hours with my coworkers, I visited the bathroom and left. The male toilets were pleasant and not too dirty for a Saturday night. That means no puke at midnight… classy, no?
There’s also a small dancefloor to get your groove on, although there were flashing lights or disco balls. Simply a slippery/​sticky floor and some good speakers. After a few pints, it’s perfect for letting loose.
The outdoor patio area was also refreshing, although I did not spend much time there.
Like I said, this is my first time out in Melbourne, so…
Overall, Secret Garden Bar is a perfectly decent place to hit up on the weekend. Free cover, and other Unilocalers have said the food is admirable. I’ll have to come back.
I don’t imagine anyone being disappointed, but I’m searching for something cool/​hip/​unique that separates it from other bars I’ve been to.
(I may also just be a sucker for dive bars, or classy cocktail speak-​easies).

I attended Secret Garden for a friend’s birthday over the weekend was pleasantly surprised by the venue’s atmosphere. Most often, when a place is hyped up as much as this one, I’m usually left disappointed. But alas, Secret Garden brought the goods.
Not only is the layout superb — a large inside dance floor and bar, an outdoor/​undercover decking and marquee style smoking area where you are freely allowed to walk in and out with drinks — the crowd is stylish and the music is fun (albeit commercial). The faux grass, ornate detailing, and suave furnishings truly give this venue a touch of magic. The Secret Garden pizzas are famous — though I attended too late to try them — and the bar serves a selection of delicious cocktails at regular bar prices.
Free entry is an added bonus, which is rare for a place with such a classy reputation at present. The venue shuts at 3am on a Saturday night, though I found the crowd to be moving on well before this time, making Secret Garden an ideal place to start your night. As a popular spot for the young, hip crowd, be careful not to arrive too late and get stuck in the queue — especially on event type days such as the Spring Races or Grand Final.

Secret Garden is quickly becoming one if not already is the most popular nightclub in St Kilda, with its quaint little picket fence border and astro-​turf outdoor garden you will often see this venue bursting at the seams with partiers on a Friday or Saturday night.
There is a decked under cover area out the front as well as two separate rooms inside for dancing and drinking. Outside in the garden area seems to be the most popular place to hang about, there are Miami Beach style daybeds as well as little stools to relax on. My favourite thing to do at Secret Garden involves claiming one of the daybeds, sipping a signature Toffee Apple cocktail and of course Summer sunshine.
Secret Garden is open Thursday through Sunday hosting different local dj’s each night, the venue also regularly puts on events to celebrate things like Grand Final, Cup Day, Halloween etc. If you haven’t already wandered into the garden I would definitely recommend making a trip St Kilda way and stopping at Secret Garden for a drink.