Croft Institute
21 Croft Alley, Melbourne Tel. 9671 4399 www.thecroftinstitute.com.auSearch for more pubs, bars and nightclubs
| Birthday Party? Need a Function Room? View Function Rooms & Venues |
|
» Report Error
» Write Review
» Link to Page
» E-mail Page
» Add Page to Favourites » Sign up for our Newsletter
» Update Venue Photos
» Add Page to Favourites » Sign up for our Newsletter
» Update Venue Photos
Venue type: Bar, Club
Review: Simon Woodhouse
If it's not down the end of an alley off an alley these days, a major coolness factor is lost. The Croft Institute delivers, with its little rope cordon indicating there's something at the end of the grimy alley you're currently thinking twice about walking down. It isn't a great walk, but hey, it sorts out the cool from the uncool.
The lab themed bar. Light olive colour. Racks of test tubes, flowers on tables in little beakers, and industrial looking sinks around the room. Sprinkle some stools, cushioned areas and artworks around the place, then wheel in a DJ spinning background.
It's a three-level jobbie, so a trip upstairs is part of the experience. Croft Institute's level two toilet area is one of Melbourne's best.
Up even more stairs to the top floor. Here things are completely different, with a theme that feels like school gymnatics. It's the main dancefloor area which is open on the weekends, featuring house, electro and co.
Patrons are your late 20s casually cool kind of bar hoppers we all know and love. The door policy can be strictish after about 10pm, so don't rock up in your office gear or something silly like that.
The lab themed bar. Light olive colour. Racks of test tubes, flowers on tables in little beakers, and industrial looking sinks around the room. Sprinkle some stools, cushioned areas and artworks around the place, then wheel in a DJ spinning background.
It's a three-level jobbie, so a trip upstairs is part of the experience. Croft Institute's level two toilet area is one of Melbourne's best.
Up even more stairs to the top floor. Here things are completely different, with a theme that feels like school gymnatics. It's the main dancefloor area which is open on the weekends, featuring house, electro and co.
Patrons are your late 20s casually cool kind of bar hoppers we all know and love. The door policy can be strictish after about 10pm, so don't rock up in your office gear or something silly like that.
Second Opinion
Super cool versus something creepy in this inner city bar with the science laboratory theme. The crowded downstairs bar is a good place to soak up the atmosphere and get your fill of imported beers, white spirits and house cocktails. Then head upstairs (checking out the interesting rest rooms on your way) for a boogie to dancy house and electro tunes. There is another bar in the dance area complete with astro turf (who need bar towels?). The crowd here is urban chic but here to have a good time and not pretentious. We certainly had a good time here, so it's thumbs up all round!
Julie Whiting
Readers' Reviews
Went there Saturday night and had no idea where I was going I just ended up in some funky arse bar dancing my arse off. The grass bar was something out of the ordinary and the big screen was something else to look at. The music was totally crackin' with some cool hip hop beats and vocals...
Jane Darling, Camberwell, 02/04
I think the Croft Institute is styled after a 30s university department: with a chemistry laboratory, halls of academia and a gym. Although for the layperson I can see them finding the distinction between a chemistry lab and a pharmacy difficult to grasp, because they share some (very little) equipment. Just think of the difference between a cabinent makers workshop and a carriage makers workshop, different trades.
I don't think anyone has done an animal testing laboratory themed bar, with cages of hairless mice that you are encouraged to let smoke your cigarettes.
I don't think anyone has done an animal testing laboratory themed bar, with cages of hairless mice that you are encouraged to let smoke your cigarettes.
Mark, Collingwood, 04/04
Going with locals (as they would be the only ones to remember where) this perhaps the freakiest bar I have ever been to. Navigating the Cleanaway bins through the lane reveals the back of a back door, which then opens to a high school science experiment. What are they smoking? It can only be done mid week, on a wet Melbourne evening - in the midst of a frosty winter, just like something out of Jack the Ripper. And then upon entering, you get gas taps, a sink, conical flasks and a hip DJ. Do yourself a favour and climb the stairs to take a leak and it's then that the epiphany hits you: that you you are in a truly eccentric, memorable and cool bar.
Steve Kelly, Sydney, 09/04