The best nightclubs in Melbourne

Revolver, better known as Revs, will take you in on a Friday evening and treat you to a bit of soul-tinged deep house and then spit you out onto Chapel Street Sunday morning, ears still ringing with throbbing techno. The long-time running Saturday The Late Show has hosted international DJs and producers Pearson Sound, Maurice Fulton, Flava D, Loefah, Pinch, Auntie Flo along with local with weekly residents.

You often hear about ‘the cage’, which sounds terrifying but in reality it’s a booth that hosts local and international dance DJs in a dining room. This dining room is transformed into a delicious Thai restaurant during the more reasonable hours of the day. But you do question what these are once you're in Revs.

Music is front and centre here, with a collection of records pumping out of Funktion One speakers specifically installed to fill the room. DJs play the likes of John Coltrane, Susan Wong, Esther Phillips and Ute Lemper with scatterings of David Bowie downstairs, or you can head upstairs to the 80-room black box venue and party to events put on by Animals Dancing, Crown Ruler, Cool Room and Pelvis. It’s super dark in the room, with a singular light that projects onto a disco ball that casts an eclipse shadow above the DJ booth. And we're not kidding about the speakers – those Funktion Ones really pack a punch.

A red neon sign in shouty capitals marks the entrance on Brunswick Street. The cleaved head of American Psycho’s Patrick Bateman greets you as you walk up the stairs. In the cavernous room above, dismembered mannequins dangle from the ceiling. Glamorama is many things, but subtle isn’t one of them. DJs spinning electronica and a 5am liquor license on weekends (3am midweek) ram home the devil-may-care demeanour.

When beloved Swanston Street venue Lounge closed its doors in late 2018, it was a shock to the core of Melbourne’s party scene. But from Lounge’s ashes arose Colour. Located on Queensberry Street in Carlton, Colour is run by Liam Alexander, Ben Rausa and former Lounge owner Carlo Colosimo. The venue itself has quite the history. Once a former church, this 1835-built building was also home to short-lived club Yours and Mine and 1990s S&M club Hellfire. Colour boasts a first-floor bandroom (with impressively orange walls) and a 24-hour license (except for between 7-10am on Sundays).

Sub Club is a basement nightclub in little-known laneway Flinders Court, and its programming is as underground as its location. The club is carved out of the old ANZ bank vault, which gives it that Tresor vibe. Line-ups reflect forward-thinking curators and subcultures, so no one is left out here. You can expect to hear loads of bass, techno and left-field electro transmitting out of a 10,000-watt sound system. And most importantly, staff insist on a ‘no dickheads’ policy here and ensure it’s a safe space for punters to feel comfortable. 

One Melbourne’s biggest and best nightclubs for international and special events, featuring Melbourne’s top-class DJs every Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm till late playing a variety of music styles including funky house, vocal trance and R&B. It's probably best known for being the home of Poof Doof, an LGBTQIA-friendly club night that's been around for many years. 

The vibe is electric in this darkly red-lit boudoir of a band venue and it's not hard to fathom why. The Night Cat has become a bit of a Fitzroy institution, with live jazz, funk and reggae among its diverse line-up. Entry is usually free unless time is money and you can't afford to wait in the queue that snakes down Johnston St. It's worth it once you're inside, though, with a stage slap bang in the centre, so you can see your favourite jazz band from every angle.

Curtin House is frankly ridiculous, brimming over as it is with a host of outstanding bars and club spaces. The Toff in Town is one of the swankiest joints in the building. Climb the stairs and you'll find a private booth bar to the left and the excellent band space to the right. This cosy little red curtained room has hosted a wealth of talent, both home and from far away. It's a decadent haunt, and one that reeks of character in an already vibrant Melbourne scene. Get right up and sweaty at the foot of the stage or sit back and sample their menu of delicious eats and the extensive range of drinks on offer.    

This Collingwood bluestone stalwart is known for its revolving roster of bands and live acts, but it also hosts a range of club nights. Downstairs Gaso is a summertime haven, particularly when the retractable roof is open and everyone is dancing with a Spritz in hand. Upstairs, a smaller space that has a two-tier beer garden attached is a much more intimate space, offering music of all sorts.

Who says disco is dead? Certainly not the party animals at the Lame Duck, who wear the term 'dive bar' with pride and are committed to living in the '70s no matter what the calendar says. The décor is, well, tacky. There's a shrine to Cher, a vintage purple pool table, a Playboy pinball machine and huge 15-person booths adorned with hot pink palm trees. You're bound to have a good time here.

Nestled in the industrial back streets of Brunswick, Rubix Warehouse is a creative and cultural hub that feeds from the inspiration of the artists, locals and fun-seekers that fill the space each week. Since opening its doors in 2009, Rubix transformed an empty warehouse to an exclusive underground venue boasting high ceilings, a quality sound system and fully licensed bar, all set to the decor of urban street culture.

Onesixone is a nightclub with history. While the big clubs of the '90s were dwindling, Onesixone was just getting started. With an aim to encourage positive and creative thought, the atmosphere switches from heavy dance (including state of the art German sound systems) to quiet lounges and couches to talk to friends in. Many facets of this club make it unique, and standing out is the hard work that the owners and staff put in to make it great every time you visit.

Hop upstairs from bar Chuckle Park on Little Collins Street and enter the dark (yet much-loved) nightclub New Guernica. Expect pounding house music, lasers and light shows that run well into the wee hours of the morning. Check the website for upcoming DJ sets and what drink specials to expect when you next visit.

Despite its giggle-eliciting name, the three-level Brown Alley is one of the best clubs in Melbourne. Weekly entertainment spans techno, R&B, electro, indie and breaks. The downstairs room feels like a superclub while the upstairs room is long and rectangular with DJs at one end in a darkened alcove. The open rooftop bar is the smokers’ area.

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