Mill Place Merchants

Tucked at the end of Mill Place off Flinders Lane, in the heart of Melbourne’s laneway maze, Mill Place Merchants evokes the spirit of a bygone era. The building itself dates to the 1840s and once housed hat, soap, candle, and meat-preserving factories—layers of industrial history now underpin its velvet and vintage aesthetic. Entry is theatrical: guests first pass through a vintage dressing room, filled with mannequins, sewing paraphernalia, trunks and period wallpaper. A floor-length mirror conceals a sliding door that leads you into the speakeasy. Inside, the décor is romantic and nostalgic: exposed bluestone walls, original timber beams and metal struts, ornate chandeliers, marine lights, vintage rugs, and heirloom furniture. The lighting is low and warm; the mood reserved for intimate conversation and close listening. The cocktail menu is curated by mixologist Giancarlo Mancino and pays homage to classic bartending traditions. Signature and classic cocktails include the Pink Lady (gin, applejack, lime, grenadine), Opera Cocktail (gin, mandarin liqueur, Dubonnet, orange bitters), Russian Spring Punch, Millionaire (bourbon, absinthe, raspberry syrup, lemon, aquafaba), Espresso Martini, Gibson, and others. Garnishes and ingredients are often house-made: cherries macerated in bourbon, pickled onions for Gibsons, etc. To pair with drinks, they offer small shareable bites: devilled eggs, charcuterie boards, pickled vegetables, cocktail sangas (mini sandwiches), fried chicken with bourbon dip, and dessert items like Valrhona chocolate & Islay ganache or rum canelés. The music program enhances the ambiance — live acoustic jazz, blues, swing and crooner evenings, often mingling with the bar’s evolving energy after dark. In effect, Mill Place Merchants is not just a bar but a sensory experience: the entry ritual, the layered décor, the menu, and the performance all combine to evoke a bygone sophistication in Melbourne’s modern night scene.