A log cabin-style dive bar with 1970s ski-lodge nostalgia and Melbourne’s best burgers.

Leonard’s House of Love: Where the 70s Never Left

Tucked off Chapel Street in South Yarra, Leonard’s House of Love feels like stepping into a different decade. The venue is modelled after an American ski lodge, complete with timber panelling, stone walls, taxidermy, shag carpets and dim amber light. ([broadsheet.com.au](https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/south-yarra/bars/leonards-house-of-love?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) The music leans on disco, funk and old-school rock. The energy is unpretentious and instantly comforting — part dive bar, part nostalgia trip, entirely Melbourne.

The crowd is a mix of locals, hospo regulars and anyone chasing that feeling of being somewhere familiar even on a first visit. Drinks flow, burgers sizzle, and the scent of grilled meat and whisky fills the air.

The Burgers That Built Its Reputation

While Leonard’s is first and foremost a bar, it’s the burgers that made it a household name. The OG Cheeseburger remains a benchmark — a soft potato bun stacked with a perfectly charred beef patty, melted cheese, pickles and house sauce. There’s also fried chicken, vegan options and loaded fries for good measure. ([timeout.com](https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/bars/leonards-house-of-love?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) The kitchen, run by the team behind Easey’s, knows exactly what makes comfort food addictive.

Drinks match the vibe: craft beers from local breweries, natural wines by the glass and a cocktail list that doesn’t try too hard. A whiskey sour, a frozen margarita or a cold Carlton on tap — it’s all welcome here. Nothing about Leonard’s feels curated for Instagram, yet every corner is photogenic.

The Backyard and Beyond

Out the back, picnic tables and string lights stretch into a casual beer garden that’s as much a party spot as it is a refuge. In summer it becomes an open-air hangout filled with laughter and live DJs; in winter the inside glows with wood-fire heat and soft conversation. ([broadsheet.com.au](https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/south-yarra/bars/leonards-house-of-love?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Leonard’s House of Love is the definition of laid-back hospitality. It’s a reminder that good bars don’t have to reinvent anything — they just have to make you feel like you never want to leave.