Golden Monkey

One word! A M A Z I N G!!! We judged the place by the entrance but when we got there it was such a vibe. Staff were amazing drinks were yum also cheap after so many drinks we even ordered cup noodles which was so funny but the cup noodles were exactly what we needed at that point. Romantic vibes but amazing spot for drinks before dancing for girls too.

We had such an amazing time visiting @goldenmonkeybar earlier this week. We were firstly treated by dome amazing baos and dumplings on the upper level before heading down into the basement for some great fun. They have Live Music nights on Thursday and the mood is electric. With the music we enjoyed their amazing cocktails and had a great time. We definitely recommend you to visit them specially on a Thursday to have a great time like we did.

Down Melbourne’s iconic bustling Hardware Lane you will find Golden Monkey, a hidden basement bar reminiscent of the 1920’s Shanghai opium dens. The venue has been hosting talent and DJ’s for almost 20 years now and have recently started live music on Thursday nights. Upstairs is their casual restaurant @eastchinatrading, serving up a variety of dim sum. We loved the house made Buns and Dumplings, my favourites surprisingly being the vegan options which were so packed full of flavour you would never even know. Some of the dumplings were sadly undercooked leaving the wrappers gluey and hard. With a small menu it’s not really somewhere you would dedicate a dinner to rather great for snacks with drinks. Downstairs is decked out in red neon lighting, dark wood, leather sofas and booths. Taking centre stage is the live entertainment that kicks off at 830pm. Starting off the Easter Long Weekend the venue was completely packed, the vibe was amazing. I loved seeing the whole place jamming, dancing and hyping up the local artists which were sensational! Playing til late, you and a group will be entertained for hours. Cocktails are on the sweet side however they also have a small selection of beer and wine. 4/5 Great

You will love this hidden underground bar located at hardware lane in the city! Luckily we had a chance to enjoy a Thursday night live music session which is quite rare to find in the city, but @goldenmonkeybar is killing it. Serving beautiful potent cocktails and some scrumptious bao buns to keep the night going! Loved the cozy vibe here and warm service, and the live music sesh was a total mood add on. We definitely had a blast!

Hidden eccentric underground bar worth trying out. Such an amazing time - good music played by set DJs and the whole cocktail range are all delicious! Drinks are quite diluted, but super tasty. Our favourite would have to be the Sun WuKong - tastes like a passionfruit sorbet! The Cafe Umai is another favourite if you love your espresso martinis. I loved it so much bc it was infused with Chai spices - love a dirty chai for me. Another good one was a pink milky cocktail can’t rmbr the name. Highly recommend if you’re not sure how to start your night!

Great place to gather with friends! Good food, drinks and atmosphere especially with their local band on Thursdays. Service is fantastic too, definitely recommended! Be sure to follow @melbbites on Instagram for more recommendations

Absolute bomb hidden nightspot in the CBD with some Asian inspired interior, cocktails and food! Live music on every Thursday too!

Next night out destination sorted!Transport yourself back to Asia with this Shanghai themed underground bar. Start of your night with some snacks, they have soft and steamy assorted baos, crispy spring rolls and many other items to choose from. Then sit back, relax and enjoy the live band every thursday while sipping on some cocktails or shots Highly recommend this place! Follow @foodietrang on instagram for more food reviews

Found this place the first time just randomly out with friends and looking a good spot to chillout and get a drink. Conveniently located off of hardware lane below East China Trading Company this bar has great cocktails, decent dumplings on offer and a very cool opium den ambiance that just lures you in to sit back, slow down and chill. Ideal spot if your looking for somewhere to bring a date for a sneaky drink after dinner or just catch-up drinks with a group of friends. Golden Monkey got you covered either way.

Great cocktails here! If you're looking for a bar that's a little more chilled out and the music is not crazy loud so you can actually hear what your friends are saying then it's a good choice