MELBOURNE (Victoria) -- area code (61-3)

The population of Melbourne is nearing 4 million (that's about 160,000 Utopians).
• Melbourne Gay Scene Updates message forum
• Men in Melbourne message forum
• Check out some good sources for the local gay scene: bnews and MCV

  
  

Click here for Melbourne hotels and accommodations.

• Cherry Bomb
  1/F 97 Smith St, Fitzroy.
• Commercial Hotel
  238 Whitehall St, Yarraville, 9689-9654. Alternative scene here on Mon, Thu and Sat. Drag shows and good times.
• Diva
  153 Commercial Rd, South Yarra, 9824-2420, email. Drag shows. Open Mon, Wed-Sun.
• DT's
  164 Church St, Richmond, 9428-5724, email. DT's is a small pub that's been running for over a decade. While mainly a gay oriented venue with drag shows and other gay-themed events, they welcome everyone. Come in, have a drink and you'll be surrounded by new friends. Check their website for special events.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "DT's is upbeat, nicely decorated and the people are quite trendy. The music is also quite cool. A great place to go before and after dinner!" -- Alexanderwer, May 12, 2008

• The Laird
  149 Gipps St (on the corner of Henry St), Abbotsford, 9417-2832, email. A minute's walk from the Collingwood Train Station. About 10 minutes from the Central Business District by taxi. An exclusively gay men's venue for more than two decades. It combines an industrial look with a cruising atmosphere, fire places, pool table and a beer garden. It caters to a wide range of men, and is a great place to meet up with locals and visitors from around the world. Open nightly. Men-only.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "The Laird is a traditional pub for men only. Fun group of local guys from bears to leather guys. Not many Asians. Different theme nights including an underwear party, which I am told it is usually busy." -- cbc16, Aug 18, 2007

• Opium Den
  176 Hoddle St (corner of Yarra St), Collingwood 9417-2696, email. Wed is Lotus Night, the longest running gay Asian night in Australia. Thu focuses on university students. Fri is King Victoria, Melbourne's premiere drag king showcase. Sat is their big drag extravaganza.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Opium Den is a fun gay venue on Wed night with an ASEAN-themed drag show. Many Asian guys and their partners. Didn't meet anyone who wasn't attached though. Still, cheap drinks and a friendly atmosphere." -- cbc16, Aug 18, 2007

• Prince of Wales
  G/F 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9536-1111. Several bars here. Gays hang out mostly at the front street level bar.
• The Stingo
  48 Hoddle St, Collingwood, 9417-3066, FAX 9417-4699, email. Gay-owned bar (also restaurant and accommodations). Open Tue-Sun.

• Opium Den
  176 Hoddle St (corner of Yarra St), Abbotsford, Victoria, 9417-2696, email. Gay Asian owned and running for over 10 years. Home to stunning and gorgeous Asian cabaret shows. Friendly Service.

• Abode (mixed)
  374 St Kilda Rd, St Kilda. Dance club and theme parties for the hyperfetish, BDsM, Goth and alt life-stylers.
• Beyond
  Hardcore leather and fetish parties. Themed dress code strictly enforced. Check their website for next date and location.
• The Market
  143 Commercial Rd, South Yarra, 9826-0933. Drag shows. Packed on Sat nights. Open Thu-Sun until the wee hours.
• The Peel
  113 Wellington St (on the corner of Peel St), Collingwood. Wild and popular. Two dance floors. Cruising areas. Occasional men-only theme parties.

  Comments from Utopians:

  The Peel dance bar is much improved, with the addition of the upstairs men's recreation zone, it is hard to beat as an 'all round'entertainment venue, but condoms and lube were not in supply the night I visited. Two separate dance floors, the rear one more hardcore than the front. Mostly busy on weekends, late to very late." -- cbc16, Aug 18, 2007

• Trough Faggot Party
  You know who you are. Dark beats, new way, homo electro, manthems. Check their website for next date and location.
• Witness Protection Program Social Club (mixed)
  Uncategorizable good times for fringe-loving party monsters. Straight-friendly.
• Xchange
  119 Commercial Rd, South Yarra, 9867-5144, email. A potent mix of hot disco and drag divas. Open daily.

• Club 80
  10 Peel St, Collingwood, 9417-2182, email. Well-equipped fantasy environments for gay and bisexual men. Four floors of state-of-the-art facilities for heavy cruising, filthy play and active scenes. Also space for socialising, first-run and art-house cinema viewing, Internet connection, reading and refreshments.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Club 80 is a great gentlemen's club. Here many customers just happen to be wearing leather. Movies are all recent releases, free soft drinks from the bar, light snacks also available, security box for phones and wallets (best to use them). The Internet cafe is a bit slow. Head upstairs for cruising cabins, a dark room, then up to the loft for activities requiring more equipment. B/F has a unique barrel arrangement offering many open nooks and dim crannies. Good range of western and Asian guys. Best late at night or on weekends. Sun afternoon till late is fun." -- cbc16, Aug 18, 2007

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Steamworks has definitely been let go. Sad to see it in such a sorry state. Dirty floors, smelly steam room, questionable toilets and slimy showers. Videos were poor quality and very, very old. Best avoid it." -- cbc16, Aug 18, 2007

• Dungeon Warehouse
  130 Hoddle St, Abbotsford, 9416-4800, email. Open Wed-Sun. Intimate and dirty devices for loving and lubing.
• Eagle Leather
  58 Hoddle St, 03 9417 21, FAX 03 9416 4235, email. A leading Australian online store for men's leather, latex, PVC, sportswear and military clothing, leather and fetish accessories. Exciting, erotic adult toys for men and women; bondage, discipline and S/M gear; books, videos and other educational products.
• The Shaft Store
  59 Izzet St, Prahran, 9510-3408, email. Gay owned and operated adult gay shop. Open daily.