Eau De Vie: The Godfather of Melbourne Speakeasies

Tucked behind an unmarked door on Malthouse Lane, Eau De Vie feels like stepping through time. Candlelight flickers off brass and leather, jazz hums through the haze, and bartenders in waistcoats move like magicians. Since opening in 2010, it’s remained a cornerstone of Melbourne’s cocktail scene — the benchmark for every bar that came after. The mood is moody yet intimate, a blend of prohibition-era theatre and quiet sophistication that never feels forced.

The Drinks: Where Craft Meets Drama

Eau De Vie’s cocktail list is built around storytelling. Each drink is an act of performance — from the famous Espresso Zabione, whipped tableside with liquid nitrogen, to the smoked Old Fashioned served under a cloche of oak-scented fog. The Martini trolley remains a signature experience, where your drink is stirred and poured before you with reverent precision. Every element is sensory, tactile, designed to make you pause and appreciate the ritual of drinking well.

For the adventurous, the bartenders create bespoke cocktails tailored to your palate. The balance is always perfect, the presentation meticulous — an art form disguised as hospitality.

The Experience: A World Apart

Part of Eau De Vie’s genius lies in how complete it feels. The bar glows amber, the jazz wraps around you, and the staff remember your face, if not your drink, from last time. Behind the whisky cabinet sits The Whisky Room, a secluded den lined with rare bottles and private booths. It’s where collectors and connoisseurs lose hours, glass by glass. Eau De Vie isn’t just a bar — it’s a benchmark of service, atmosphere and pure escapism that still defines Melbourne nightlife fifteen years on.