1 Malthouse Lane
Melbourne
http://eaudevie.com.au/Melbourne/
Good place to take a date:
9/10
Be seduced by the sephia tones as you and your date melt into a dimly lit corner for an intimate evening of sampling fine liqueurs and tasty food. Cocktails are the order of the day here, but the tapas gives Eau de Vie a more versatile edge with snacks and sharing plates offering something to line the stomach. And you’ll most likely need it. Nitrogen cocktails and lethally palatable potions make for a heady combination that will help romance thrive in an enchanting setting. The amicable staff specialise in making the occasion just right, and you’ll find plenty of other venues nearby if you want a fun Melbourne date on the town.
Good place to meet for a first date:
8/10
Let’s hope you and your date speak as easy as the speakeasy style that works a treat on this cosy little hub. If you don’t want to commit to a night of fine dining just yet, these potent cocktails will certainly loosen things up and get you both talking, if only about the mesmerising skills of the mixologists behind the bar. Meanwhile the toe-tapping sounds of jazz will lull you into a happy medium and ensure no panicked pauses in conversations as you work out what to say next. Want a fun environment that might offer the chance to meet someone new? Book you and a friend onto the cocktail degustation evening. At $150 a head you’ll be better off using FreeAndSingle to find someone new, but nonetheless it’s an extremely quirky evening with 5 courses and matching cocktails working Eau de Vie into a frenzy of flavours.
Eau De Vie Melbourne
Average age:
The discreet entrance and boozy environment ensures an adult only space for Melbourne dating at Eau de Vie. Whilst the interior might have that 40s salon feel, the creative cocktail list pushes the boundaries to bring the Melbourne dating scene a fresh and original venue.
Time of review:
You’ll soon feel the world shrink into your own special bubble as you share cocktails in Eau de Vie. Whether packed with drinkers or a little quieter, the dim lighting and colourful bar creates a welcoming ambience that will suck you right in. No need to book, so a great option for last minute Melbourne dates if you’re looking for somewhere a bit different to surprise them.
Average cost of a meal and a drink:
If the strength of the drinks doesn’t knock your socks off, the price of the degustation menu might. Nevertheless, Eau de Vie is a premium addition to Melbourne bar scene and you get what you pay for. No moonshine spirits to match the speakeasy décor here, only the best for these addictive apparitions on the cocktail menu. Expect to pay $20 for something off the bar menu if you just fancy nibbles with a few drinks.
Type of cuisine:
The bar snack menu might be very impressive but it’s the whiff of strong blues and soft flavours that is having us saying cheese. If cocktails don’t quite rock your world, you’ll love a late sitting of wine and cheese at Eau de Vie after a busy week at work.
Final word:
Break away from the standard date routine and let cocktails lead the way to an enlightened Melbourne dating experience. An eccentric idea for an evening with that lucky person, you won’t feel out of place popping in for one drink or talking into the early hours depending on how successful the meeting is.