Having been here some time ago I was keen to swing by again thanks to Tim.E's recommendation.
A hidden gem and a cosy bar, Cabinet has a great ambiance and feel about it.
Our spritz's went down a treat and the outdoor seating area lovely to soak up the sun.
A definite must if you happen to stumble down this end of the city.
I ordered Rose Sangria and Mushroom spinach pizza which is amazing. Value for money. Staff is also polite! Reasonable prices with good quality. Recommended!
Great cosy place for drinks in town. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the drinks come out really fast. Great in the summer overlooking Swanston Street.
It is no secret that Melbourne has lots of hidden secrets tucked between laneways or up a few flights of stairs. Although how hidden are those places really? Sure, you won’t be able to spot it from a main road, but with the prevalence of online reviews and just social media in general, it’s near possible for a place to be a true hidden gem.
A beautifully hidden little bar with a fantastic view overlooking Swanston St. Managed to get a table on the balcony for a bite and drink before the comedy festival and it just happened to be Wednesday $10 flat bread aka pizza night!
I've always had a thing for IPAs and their hop bazooka IPA was a good choice.
The pizzas are really only enough to feed one and we ordered the salmon and the chorizo. The topping were generous and the crust was thin and crispy. Their table service was reasonable - they were very busy and there wasn't that many staff, but the meals came promptly. They did cut it up a bit funny - like into nine pieces so you had a square piece in the middle with no crust so it made eating a little messy!
Overall a great little spot; the back entrance removes it a little from the hustle and bustle of the CBD and the atmosphere was great.
The food was great, chicken flat bread was 👌🏽 request an outside table. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. Will definitely be coming back!
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We were first made aware of the Cabinet Bar at an Entertainment book degustation event where we meet the parents of the owners. This centrally located venue on Swanston Street could easily be overlooked unless you stand back and look up. Its entrance is located at the rear of the building and stairs with printed photos lead you to a cozy buzzy bar packed full of the post work crowd. We didn’t have a hope in hell of getting a table in the balcony so took up residence at a table near a window.
I ordered several Orion Japanese beers which was in happy hour at $4 a pot. Kelisi chose and stuck with the champagne cocktail titled “The L Word” this contained bubbles, Cointreau & Cranberry Juice and kind of reminded her of the pink lady cocktails she drunk previously in Thailand.
Staff were very friendly and accommodating to guests needs shuffling around tables and grabbing chairs down from chair wall hanging space. The food was largely snacks sharing with some more substantial flatbread dishes. The snack menu was quite interesting and not your typical but we had already booked elsewhere for dinner.
A good place to book a table during the comedy festival or for the theatre given it’s close proximity to town hall & regents theatre.
Had a quick cocktail on the rooftop on Friday night to bring in the weekend. We didn't eat but the menu looks quite appetising with a decent amount of grazing items at reasonable prices. This is almost a hidden balcony above bustling swantson st where we had prime views of the protest going on below. It's quiet and cosy and will be a lovely spot to sit and soak up the Melbourne city life come summer
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The taste of a fabulously concocted mojito still lingers on my tongue. I attribute this to the well equipped mixologists (pretentious, I know) of the Cabinet Bar.
I sashayed in here on the eve of my birthday last week. I had already consumed a glass of champagne from another venue that had left me unsatisfied, and therefore, quite perturbed. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a room that was aglow with subtle candle light. I was mildly hungover, so the unobtrusive light was most welcome. I promptly ordered a mojito, and felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. Too many a time had I sat at a bar and ordered a mojito that had turned out to be not only unsavoury in flavour, but uninspiring to the soul. I stirred my straw cautiously and took a sip. I felt my body illuminate with the vast palate of flavour that the drink had to offer. An amalgamation of mint, rum and lime coursed through me, and I keenly drained the glass. Next, I ordered a Shaun Roberts. The taste of Pimms was reminiscent of happier times, and it was lightly kissed by the delicate agglomeration of ginger and gin. After this, I regret to say I departed in order to dine and fill my bereft stomach. All I can say is, if you wish to endeavour into a world of lusty liquor, venture into The Cabinet Bar, and satiate your tastebuds.
A Hidden Balcony in the CBD !
This is a great place hidden in the city with great views of the city and amazing flat breads. This was a super quick stop before we saw a show and it was wonderful, seated outside on the balcony on a summers evening.
The Service, Food and Drinks were all wonderful. We happened to visit on a Wednesday and they do $10 flatbread all day. Crispy, Crunchy and full of texture opting for chicken and the pork and apple. good meats melt in the mouth and crispy bread all expected from good flatbread.
It was a good quick meal and delivered in a speedy fashion too i will be back here for sure.
Restaurant Type: Casual Dining & Drinks
Atmosphere: Chilled-casual. Inside: dim lights, perhaps better suited if you want something intimate. Outside: quite small although really nice balcony with Swanston street views. Got busy real quickly after 7pm.
Service: Friendly & quick
Food: Ordered the eggplant chips, lamb flatbread, chicken flatbread and lobster rolls. Drinks: Rose sangria. Pro: Eggplant chips absolutely delicious! Crunchy flavoursome coating and soft eggplant flesh was the best part of the meal! Flatbreads were nice & light - nothing extraordinary but something different. Con: the lobster rolls were quite small for the price and we found the sauce a bit unusual and not to our taste. Sangria tasted more like an aperol spritz and on the weak side.
Price: Reasonable except for those lobster rolls
Overall, would return for those eggplant chips & maybe give the cheeseboard a try whilst enjoying the view from the balcony.
BEST cocktail I've had EVER! The elder flower worked gorgeously with scotch whisky. The flatbread pizzas were good. A bit too greasy for my liking. Eggplant chips are amazing. I am still curious how they stay crispy instead of getting soggy from the mushy flesh.
Nice little cosy upstairs place, open till at least 2am most nightsBartender was extremely polite and friendly
Drinks are reasonably priced ($6-10 for bottled beers)
Music choice was quite appropriate and so was the volume Would recommend
Cabinet Bar was recommended to us and was close to our accommodation. It was very pleasant. they have a balcony which is lovely and the decor inside is great. Good cocktails, great wine list and a good selection of food if you need it.
I had originally planned to visit on a Wednesday to take advantage of the $10 flatbread pizzas, but the Chorizo, Olives, Feta and Basil Flatbread ($19) was so good that I didn’t mind paying full price. You could smell the fat and spices in the chorizo the moment it hit the table, mingling with the musty feta and fragrant basil leaves. Each bite was heaven, and the crispy flatbread base meant that you didn’t feel too heavy afterwards.
Cabinet Bar is a great hide away to people watch from the balcony.
A regular place I always go to enjoy a few drinks when in the city. A great range of wines and the staff are always friendly along with service and a smile.
Great little place for lunch or drinks with an outdoor balcony overlooking Swanston st. We ordered a sangria and one of the cocktail jugs. Would rate the cocktails 6-7/10, nothing amazing but pretty good, and you CAN taste the alcohol (good sign). Good range of imported beers and wines though. For lunch we had eggplant fries and a mushroom flatbread. The eggplant fries ARE DELICIOUS.
The lunchtime special on the day we went was $10 flatbreads, which is a great value lunch.
A great little bar with Parisian style charm. We visited on a Wednesday evening; it was a good job we booked a table, the place was busy! The Wed flatbread special is great at $10. We had one each (tomato & pesto, and tandoori chicken) with a side of zucchini fritters (really yum!). They have some fantastic wine by the glass choices. Ended with cheese with lavosh, and a choc fondue (sauce has a great flavour but slightly too thin). I'd recommend this place for a date night or small group catch up.
Love this cosy little bar tucked away in Melbourne CBD. Went there last night on a cold wintery night...cold but worth it when having their delicious mulled wine...warmed us up right away! They also have really nice food boards with selection of cheeses, crackers etc. Go find this little treasure!
A Melbourne hidden gem. A cute little balcony overlooking Swanston St and a cute interior perfect for a date night or catch up with friends.
Food and drink menu on a chalk board opposite the bar which adds to the bar's uniqueness.
Friendly service with a smile and a great knowledge of the bar. Food which is absolutely delicious! Try the flat bread special on Wednesday nights!
The ease of booking online also makes it a very attractable Melbourne bar destination!
Went to cabinet before going to see the sound of music.. Sat straight down and ordered as I had already looked at the menu and we were a little short on time.. Ordered drinks by saying just two vodka based cocktails and we got a mrs. Money penny and a Murphy's law... Both incredible!! Food wise the saganaki was amazing as was the margarita style flatbread! The fritters weren't great and wouldn't get them again they were over cooked on the outside and under cooked in the middle.. But hey if everything was perfect all the time life wouldn't be very interesting!! The staff were great friendly, attentive and very good at what they do. I will recommend cabinet to my friends visiting Melbourne. Thanks the the cabinet crew for making the start of my mums birthday night out great! :D
Great cosy little bar. Nice environment. We were made very welcome by the owner. We drank a nice sparkling wine. We ordered the cheeses and fig paste. The blue cheese was perfect and the portion was a very generous 50gm. A very enjoyable experience. Will return.
Loved the share menu here for vegos, Rooftop Friday goodness, deep fried Friday badness! Grouse location.
$12.50 Eggplant chips (hugenerous serving, yay! served with appreciative generous aioli yum!
$11.50 zucchini fritters - looked yum as but served with smokey tomato salsa, we were both quoting Manu 'where is the sauce?!'
More smokey relish please. And a little more salt or flavour in them, but still yummy :)
Saganaki - $9.50 I haven't had it for years so I'm not sure I can properly judge but I liked it :)
Liked the Swanson street view and not overtly busy for a fri Melbs.MickyMag @
Great little bar. Tiny, so best for couples and not groups. Also best if you get a table out on edge of balcony. Great food, nice service. Try the ribs
Came here on a Thursday night with friends and the interior was super quiet but the balcony was pumping! We sat inside and had some of the spritzers, they were delicious. The chocolate fondue dessert sounded amazing - wish we hadn't been full already. A great bar to sit and talk over drinks, would come back any time.
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Cabinet is one of Melbourne’s less well known bars. It’s entrance, which is located in the alleyway behind, tends to ward off the tourists and those who are not specifically looking for it. This results in a bar that is usually filled with an interesting and pleasant cross-section of inner city Melbournites. Couple this with a dimmed and pleasant Victorian inspired interior and you end up with an ideal place to escape the bustling streets below, perfect for catching up with friends on a date.
Whilst inside is where you want to be when the weather is inclement, the balcony, which overlooks Swanston Street, in ideal place for a warm evening. It offers a comfortable area to unwind whilst capturing a welcome amount of the buzz below.
Cabinet offers a broad selection of drinks, including and delightful array of cocktails which are prepared by friendly and attentive staff. Food wise, there is a range of finger foods available and, for the more hungry, flatbreads (which could easily be mistaken for a funky and very tasty pizza). However, if you are looking for a snack to go with your drink, it is hard to go past the zucchini chips which would have to be some of the best in all of Melbourne.
If you want to escape the city, it is hard to go past Cabinet.
One of my favourite bars in town, Cabinet has been bringing great food and drinkies in a cute little avant garde bar with a balcony (sadly full of dirty smokers) overlooking Swanston Street for a long time, it’s a great place to drop by and you always get a friendly smile and some great bar food.
Ah-mazing experience! A quiet little pub up above the alley. Staff is really friendly and nice. Had the honor to meet the then-serving bartenders April and Keaton, cool people! Would really recommend this place to people looking for a quiet chill evening with good food and booze.
Loved the place from the start. Great place for drinks and food to go with. Can give sliders a miss but the pizzas ( they call it flat bread) were a treat. We ordered chorizo one, tasted fab, good amount of topping and thin base with crisp outer crust, eggplant chips are a must have and we also enjoyed the spicy nut mix too. Over all a great vibe with some great music, not the usual run of the mill place.
If you are looking for a bar with some good food, this is the place to be at.
I have been going to Cabinet B&B for a number of years now. Initially hooked by the warm and welcoming service, closely followed by my addiction to their cocktail Michelle's Moment (not sure if still available), and their selection of flatbread pizzas, coincidently $10 on a Wednesday! There is something to be said about a business that holds on to their staff for years on end; the staff are most likely receiving the same fantastic treatment as the punters! Just like the service, the venue is cozy and personal. A balcony overlooking the prime location Swanston st, beautiful in both summer and winter. Bookings are available 7 days a week and I'm of the understanding that the balcony and/or the entire venue is available to be booked out. Unsurprisingly, you will find the balcony booked back to back around Xmas time. Don't get angry, get even. Book out the darn thing yourself! You'd be crazy not to give this place a shot, it's a place I almost call home. See you there! 😎
Love this place! Drinks are reasonably priced and the balcony is cosy, overlooking Swanston St (great for people watching). Great atmosphere for after work drinks or a date, as it doesn't get ridiculously crowded like other places. Food is good too, give it a go.
This is such a cool find! Great atmosphere, great cocktails, great service. Love the Beef Sliders. Great find if you want to have a drink and a bite to eat. I have been here twice now. It's so cool how you can sit on the balcony and overlook Swanston street for above. One of my favourite hidden cocktail bars :)
Such an amazing petite bar tucked away in melbourne CBD. The cocktails are perfectly mixed. Ambiance is perfect. Staff are wonderful. I was recommend the bar by a friend - will most definitely make it my regular stop over. HIGHLY RECOMMEND their eggplant chips.
Small and intimate bar with a balcony over Swanston St for people watching. Staff are very attentive and you can order drinks from your table and pay at the end.
Such a great place! I had the 'Cue Josie-Jo' (upon recommendation from the girl herself who inspired the drink) and it was beautiful! Really cool atmosphere and the staff are the best! Loved it & will be returning!
Amazing. Great views, food was awesome!
We went to Cabinet last night for my sister's birthday drinks. Great interior with an outside option as well. The two bar staff were lovely; really warm and just generally gave the bar a welcoming vibe. The drinks were very reasonable for the location and basically I left wanting to return ASAP!
I first ventured to Cabinet Bar and Balcony over three years ago, only because a friend’s boyfriends older brother had been recently employed there. Since then, the secret has leaked and what was once a quiet, exclusive and hidden gem is now bustling with people and overflowing with life. Never fear, the newfound popularity has only done the place wonders and the quality is as good as ever, if not better. The location is prime. Rainbow Alley juts off Little Collins St and you’re smack bang in the middle of Melbourne’s CBD. My most recent visit was a Tuesday, and I was quick to make the most of all day happy hour. $5 house wines and $3 draft beers: the student’s dream. If your tastes are more refined, the large blackboa
Still one of my favourite bars in town, now taking reservations – the word is out. Possibly the hottest spot on a Friday night with the comedy festival on. A great place, if you can grab a table, enjoy a glass from a very decent wine list and some pre-laughter snackage.
A regular in our fave spots to visit in Melbourne CBD, you always get a smile, great service, a good glass of wine and some pretty good food too! A perfect example of Melbourne Bars and their ability to make any space work this small area has set themselves up in the heart of Swanston Street and they even have a big covered balcony for all the smokers! On a cold dark night it is cosy and intimate and busy! We grab the last table and settle in with a great glass of Sangiovese from Heathcote and check out the chalkboard for dinner options! Terrible piccies! It cannot do the food justice but we have a fantastic feed with a spicy bean quesadilla, chicken flatbread and a bucket of big hearty eggplant chips! Seriously good! This is a great spot for Melbournians whether they want a quick drink on the way through or a good place to set up shop for a bit of food and drink – this place has a real heart to it and you always feel welcome.
It seems Wednesday's have really become quite unproductive work days for me, as it's the day I usually go into the city to go to the gym and then meet up with Brad for lunch. Although he's got exams and assignments coming up so (half) hopefully this trend
Cheeseburger Anyone? "Where's The Sauce"?
+4.5
Fresh and tastey. I bought a deal on cudo for 4 people.
We went here the other day and were impressed. so when looking at the normal menu it is pretty pricey for a tapas style bar. I probably wouldn't pay $17 for pizza flat breads. but on the other hand the food is very nice. salami flat bread and the pumpkin one was nice and the spicy prawns. but my 2 favorites were the mini chorizo hotdogs n lamb sliders. very little n cute but full of flavor. well worth the drive to the cbd and good buy on cudo. Awsome work guys. not 1 type of food to complain about out of our picks! We all enjoyed it!
What a lovely bar!. Myself and a group of friends went to Cabinet Bar and Balcony for Birthday drinks and had a magical time. The food was delicious and beautifully presented, the wine list was extensive and the wait staff were lovely. Contrary to some other reviews which suggested the wait staff had 'attitude', I found them to be incredibly helpful and friendly. In particular the gentleman who greeted us at the door was more than happy to help us with the food selection, and the bar staff were just as accommodating. The manager who I spoke to a few weeks before to book a table had also been just as friendly and helpful. The ability to book a table was fantastic and allowed myself and my friends to have a very social night in a chilled, cosy bar. All in all a really wonderful bar in the centre of Melbourne.
Festivus - not to shabby. Great hidden gem
the pizza breads are awesome
cool vibe
good date spot
Thank you. Thanks for your amazing cocktails. We where inpatient as we had a dinner booking. It was such a great spot!! Never been before but will come back under less hurried situation.
Nice wine bar. Either drinking a glass of Chardonnay on the balcony during the day or chilling with mates at night, it remains little hidden cute bar with a welcoming artsy ambience. The bar staff are lovely and cheeky :)
Wouldn't have found this place, if a friend hadn't led me there. Cheeky little bar, with a cheeky barman. Crumbed, stuffed olives, heaven! Decent wine selection and great bar food. Love it.
Great Wine Bar. Really trendy wine bar great selection of wine. Nice vibe and friendly staff. Nice on a cold night
Really cute bar, good vibes and drinks. Hard to get attention for menus...etc
Had the pleasure of being taken here for my birthday. Easily one of my favourite places in the city. Great food - (lots of vego options!) - Great drinks (try a cocktail jar!) and friendly, helpful staff. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for casual after work drinks and tapas. A+++
This place is cosy, inviting, and does the most amazing eggplant chips. A true gem in the heart of the city!
Glenn Antony Dylan Hartland
+4.5
What a wonderful evening!. I visited Cabinet Bar and Balcony for the first time last night and bought along 15 friends for drinks and nibbles. I'd passed this bar many times and always wondered about it and decided that our Xmas party was the perfect occassion to check it out.
The staff were lovely and amazing - always keeping a close eye that we were right for drinks and snacks. Even once our numbers had dwindled down towards the end of the evening we were consistently well looked after.
A huge thanks to everybody at Cabinet Bar and looking forward to returning soon.
What a great found. Nice atmosphere with friendly bar tender. The cocktails made were amazing when we asked them to surprise us. Definitely a great place to hang out with friends for a drink as they do not play music loudly.
Best espresso martini in melbourne. ....bar none! Food is fine but not amazing. You go for the drinks and the service which is impeccable. Love it.
Great Party venue. Went to a 40th birthday party at Cabinet Bar and was very impressed with the venue.
The staff looked after us well, even at the end when we had all out-stayed our welcome!!
Great function food and plenty of it which is always good, and they provided a top notch DJ for the night, (maybe that's why they couldn't get rid of us at the end).
Highly recommended.
Scallop Toasties!!!. Amazing tapas especially the scallop toasties! Wow!
Cute bartender too!
Romantic city restaurant. Amazingly so open yet you manage to walk right underneath every time. Boyfriend brought me months ago and we've been back a few times since to enjoy the fantastic tapas range. I like that its intimate and small, only 40-odd patrons at a time in a warm, cosy place with nice music and candlelit tables. Decently priced too.
Service plus. Like everyone, I love the hidden location, the drinks list, and the decor. But the staff are a cut above the usual part time hopefuls. Trained and experienced, they really turn this place from the very good into the best.
Fantastic food, we had the chicken flatbread, prawn fajitas and the meatballs at all had great unique flavours and fresh!!! The prices wernt too expensive and we got excellent service from the staff. Highly recomended!!!
Great for birthdays. You can rent this place out for functions and im so happy i did for my birthday, finger food was delicious my guests loved it service was very friendly and the venue itself, well i got a lot of compliments for my good sense of choice, the balcony gives wonderful insight of the hustle and bustle of the Melbourne nightlife, its even a great place to go for drinks and just to relax
Great little bar. Food is good (not great but no complaints... and a lot better than some places). Very friendly staff make it a great experience and ambiance at night is great. Had a function here last year too and can recommended for a great birthday bash. Big thumbs up!
I had dinner here for the first time and the food, atmosphere and service was amazing! The price of the food is cheap for the quality you get and the sizes are all decent (defently try the prawns!)
A Hidden Gem.. I was initially taken by a close girlfriend of mine, and have been a regular since.
It's one of those places which i have only told to close friends of mine, because it is a hidden gem which I hope the people treasure.
As much as wish the best for them, It is only a small place, so I'd hate to see it too crowded.
Love all the waiter/bartender and their friendly service, and the food doesn't fall too far behind either.
A treasure amongst few.
Great find. I'm reluctant to share my thoughts on this place as I don't want it getting too busy - but it has been open for a long time now. It's a cosy space with a hidden entrance and a great balcony overlooking Swanston Street. I've had dinner here some time ago now and it was good - lamb chops with pumpkin mash. And I've had lunch - one of the flat breads. But my most recent visit was just for drinks and nibbles. There was two staff on that evening - the guy was friendly and helpful and the lady was not helpful and a bit rude. We had the olives and the cashews, and both were generous serves and tasty. Would I eat here again - yes it is likely.
Perfect hidden bar in heart of the CBD. What's not to love about this place? Location is perfect, close to everything but not too exposed. Service is outstanding, always friendly, welcoming and efficient. Drink selection actually has some thought behind it and the wine list is awesome. Food is delicious, and exactly the sort of thing you want to eat with a nice glass of wine. I even love the decor of this place, muted and old school and comfortable all at once.
Great for catching up with friends old & new!. Delicious modern food; dazzling sophisticated cocktails; friendly attentive staff; intimate cozy vibe, need I say more?
Great food, awesome bar and fantastic host! He's always welcoming with a smile
Came here for the first time late on a Wednesday night and super impressed. First of all a typical Melbourne cocktail bar not easy to find but very very cool. Beautiful inside and balcony stunning. Drinks were amazing and great variety. Only had interactions with one staff but it’s all I needed to see. I would have to say very much experienced which is NOT the norm sadly in Melbourne lately. Thank you so much and I’ll be back.
Cocktail was delicious. Flatbread was quite average so wish it was a bit cheaper. The balcony is quite small but cozy.
Fabulous! Well priced. Great atmosphere. Lovely staff. Food was really good, pub type food but better. Try the eggplant chips, amazing! Will go back for sure
Really embodies a cosy cabinet. Warm environment and staff in an eclectic setting. Great selection of drinks and cocktails, with a set of great curated tapas dishes to top it off. The balcony is a nice intimate place to host smaller events and can fit a surprising amount of people in.
Nice little bar in Melbourne. Service was great and to sit outside on the balcony in the evening was great, even if it was a little cold. Beers and wines are well priced. We will be back.
We came here after a comedy show on a Saturday night at 9pm.
We loved the vibe and atmosphere. The service was friendly and prompt.
We will definitely be back again. Love this place!
Always a wonderful spot to stop into and have a drink. We were lucky enough to snag a table out on the balcony without a booking. The view is wonderful if you like to people watch as it faces over Swanson's street. The drinks are wonderful and refreshing. Though on a cold night their mulled wine is just what we needed to warm up.
A friend took me to Cabinet Bar & Balcony last night and I absolutely loved it.
Interestingly, if you don’t know it, you would probably never see it as the actual entrance is behind Swanston Street.
But this hidden jewel offers great drinks and really good service — the staff have genuine smiles and are not just happy to help you choose from their list of drinks, but they can make you something that isn’t on the list either.
I had one of the best Mojitos I’ve ever tasted!!
I’m gonna go back on a Wednesday to try their Flatbreads!
Definitely recommended!!
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