Machuria Bar Review

Review By Mia Gaitanidis

How many times have you been searching for great cocktails and after spending a fortune, have been let down time and time again? Stop your searching - this is the place you have been looking for.

Manchuria Bar is a well hidden gem which is nestled away on the first floor of a nondescript building in a nondescript laneway in Melbourne's Chinatown. Located at 1st Floor, 7 Waratah Place (between Lonsdale St. & Little Bourke St.), the entry is easy to miss. The inconspicuous red sign gently informs you that you have arrived. The wide, downtrodden staircase leads you to just a padded door.

Open it and you enter a lovely dimly lit oriental den filled with small alcoves and niches, some separated by hanging beads and others by half walls. The partially burnt thick candles placed on the oriental dark wooden chests also add to this luxurious, yet simple and cozy setting. It is reminiscent of something from Manchuria itself, with a modern twist of course.

The barmen, Donnie and Nick, are, simply put, masters of the cocktail. Their knowledge, expertise and precision in the art of cocktail-making really are a rare joy to experience. Every movement is attentive and meticulous, every ingredient carefully handled and every glass finished to perfection. They are kings of their domain - and their domain brims with an abundance of the good stuff. These really are some of the best cocktails you will taste in Melbourne (try the Lemon Drop, it is spectacular). Not cheap however, cocktails average around $18 - but worth every penny. They also stock a good range of whiskies and wines. The saying 'all good things come in time' applies at Manchuria Bar as there may be a lengthy wait for your drinks, but they are worth the wait.

A small menu of reasonably priced appetizers (such as Peking duck and Spring rolls) are available to order until 11pm Tues-Thurs and 1am Fri/Sat. Fantastic for when your stomach craves some delicious Asian tasters to accompany your flavorsome drinks.

Manchuria Bar is the kind of place where the music doesn't annoyingly dominate over everything. Between Thursday and Saturday the resident DJ plays a fine mix of music, ranging from Southern Rhythm & Blues on Thursdays to a diverse array of genres (includingHouse) on Friday and Saturday night. The ambience is relaxing and encouraging of intimacy via tables for two and half concealed spaces. There is seating for larger groups of four plus and standing room, however keep in mind that this bar is on the smaller side of bars on offer - perfectly suited for pre/post dinner/after work drinks or a nightcap. The crowd range mainly in their twenties and thirties; however any age would not feel out of sorts here.

This is a place where conversation and good times reign supreme. Best of all, its location is so clandestine that if you don't know it's there, you won't notice it - resulting in no queues, no doormen and no worries.

Open from 4pm-1am Tues-Thurs and 4pm-3am Fri-Sat (closed Sun-Mon).

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