Boasting five spaces across three levels, The Carlton Club offers a huge array of experience and vibrant personality. Find the decadent pleasures of the Carlton Bar and Restaurant on level one, unwind amongst the tropical vines on level three in the Hasti Bala and Palmz Deck, and indulge in the paradisiacal wonder of the Palmz Rooftop. Serving food on all levels, The Carlton’s distinct, jungle-themed décor gives a colourful spark to a wonderful evening out. Open from 3pm-1am Monday-Wednesday, 12pm-3am Thursday and Sunday, and 12pm-very late Friday-Saturday.
Special: Present your valid festival ticket for that day and get $10 Espresso Martinis from Sunday to Thursdays, or spend $10 on food to get a free pot or house wine. One per person.
Offering Australia’s largest absinthe selection and a vast range of European-inspired delights, Bar Ampere is a refreshingly unconventional experience. Enjoy the renowned house-made Jake Leg ginger beer and soak in the unique Gothic-inspired surrounds as you share with friends the hearty likes of duck crêpes, European charcuterie or vegetarian parcels filled with zucchini, feta and caramelised onion. A unique restaurant with no set dining times, Bar Ampere is superb for those after something a little different. Open 10am-3am Monday-Friday and 4pm-3am Saturday-Sunday.
Special: The festival-exclusive Comedy Express Menu offers 2 share plates with 2 glasses of wine or beer for just $45 until 3am every night. (Please note: The 4 person charcuterie will count as two share plates.)
Home of the legendary James Squire Brew house, The Crafty Squire doesn’t mess around: You’ll find tasty pub food and fine craft beers carved directly from the on-site James Squire Brewhouse – the only working microbrewery in the Melbourne CBD. A modern bar and restaurant spread across two levels, you’ll be able to smash some fantastic twists on classic Aussie dishes and catch some live sport on their big-screen TVs between comedy gigs. Open 11am-3am Monday-Thursday, 11am-5am Friday, 12pm-5am Saturday and 12pm-3am Sunday.
Special:Present your valid festival ticket and receive 20% off your bill.
If you’re aftermodern Australian food with a refreshing Asian influence, then Burma Lane is the place for you. Amongst a fun environment complete with photos, art and hanging birdcages, you’ll find the perfect place for both light bites to share with friends and the more substantial. You’ll be able to ease yourself into a night of laughs effortlessly with a hand-sourced wine list and sensational cocktails. Open 12pm-3pm then 5pm-late Moday-Friday, and 5pm-late Saturday.
Special: Present your valid festival ticket for that day and spend $20 or more for a complimentary glass of wine, beer or soft drink.
Tucked away in a basement in the centre of the CBD, Meatmaiden offers a truly mouth-watering dining experience. Enjoy the sensation of tender grilled and smoked meat cuts, and quench the thirst with a rich array of craft beer, bourbon and zesty cocktails. With a commitment to maximum flavour, Meatmaiden dry-age selects cuts for 40 days, and itssignature Rangers Valley 5+ brisket takes up to a tantalising 20 hours in custom-built smokers. Open 12pm-3pm then 5pm-late Monday-Saturday.
Special: Present your valid festival ticket for that day to recieve a complimentary Comedy Cocktail and an amuse-bouche (ah – very clever, Meatmaiden).
A unique South East Asian-style dining experience directly in the heart of Melbourne, Red Spice Road offers fresh, flavour-packed sensations from acclaimed chef John McLeay. With an emphasis on exciting shared dishes and distinctly-fresh ingredients, Red Spice Road offers the vast surrounds and superb décor that make for a wonderful communal dining event. Bring your friends and spark the senses with an extensive wine and cocktail list. Open 12pm-3pm then 5pm-late Monday-Sunday (6pm-late on Saturdays).
Special: Present your valid festival ticket for that day and spend $20 or more for a complimentary glass of wine, beer or soft drink.
Glamping (or “glamorous camping”, for the uninitiated) has become an increasingly alluring activity of late, with its promise of comfort and relaxing atmosphere under the night sky – so why not experience a night out on the town with the same vibes? The Glamp Cocktail Bar is a truly one-of-a-kind experience in the CBD – the only venue in Melbourne where you’ll savour the refreshing zing of cocktails and delicious African snacks in the colourful surroundings of a safari-style canvas tent. Open from 6pm, Thursday-Saturday.
Special: Enjoy an African Beer – or glass of wine – and some tasty Gato Pima bites (fried split pea and chilli fritters with yoghurt) for just $10.
Situated close to the comedy festival hub of Town Hall, Cabinet Bar & Balcony offer delicious share-style food (such as tapas and flatbreads) and a huge list of drinks to satisfy the comedy connoisseur. No matter what time or day you get out of a show, you can always relax into the Parisian-inspired surrounds and pick up a refreshing beverage – seven days and nights a week. Open 12pm–late Monday–Friday, and 2pm–late Saturday–Sunday.
Special: Show your valid festival ticket for that day to receive Happy Hour prices – all day, every day. $4 tap beers and $6 house red, white & bubbles. We repeat – ALL. DAY.
Comprised of a thoughtful mix of both classic and contemporary Scotish flavours, Highlander Bar presents a particularly fun feed, assuring you’ll go home full and happy with a huge smile on your face. Their cauliflower fritters with parmesan and mayo, haggis with HP sauce are super popular, as is their famous Highlander Burger which boasts a spiced wagyu beef patty inside. They also offer drink specials, like Tinder Tuesdays and Whisky Wednesdays to spice up the weeknights. Open 12pm-late Monday-Friday
Specials: $15 lunch specials from 12pm-3pm Monday-Friday (Burger and Beer or Salad and Wine)
Take a trip down Globe Alley and you’ll find a tasty hidden gem in the CBD. A late-night bar with a truly one-of-a-kind feel, Belleville offers a tasty selection of Asian tapas and mouth-watering Brazilian rotisserie chicken dishes. Unwind amongst the creative wall murals and distressed décor while you enjoy refreshment from an impressive array of completely unique cocktails – take on the Zombie (a trio of Bundaberg Rums, lime, grapefruit, commissary falernum, grenadine, cinnamon, bitters and pastis) if you dare. Open 11am – 1am, every day.
Special: Late-night menu available from Thursday-Saturday 10pm-1am for hungry night owls during the festival.
