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: MCV and Southern Star.

  
  

• Anonymous Counselling & Therapy Worldwide
  Toorak Rd, email. Talk with a therapist online. You can choose to remain anonymous. Services are provided by email, webcam, telephone or instant chat. Book and pay online. Save the time and expense of travel. Access services while on holidays or business trips. Gay-owned. Utopia Member Discount

Click here for Melbourne hotels and accommodations.

• Commercial Hotel
  238 Whitehall St, Yarraville, 9689-9654. Alternative scene here on Mon, Thu and Sat. Drag shows and good times.
• 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. Upbeat, nicely decorated and the people are quite trendy. The music is also quite cool. A great place to go before and after dinner. Have a drink and you'll be surrounded by new friends. Check their website for special events.
• Heaven's Door
  147 Commercial Rd, 9827-9147. A sophisticated cocktail lounge. Main downstairs bar and dance area, upstairs chill-out lounge, and courtyard. Asians are very welcome. The Asian Treasure Lotus Nights party takes place every Wed evening.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Asian Treasure has decided to merge with Heavens Door to give a better home to the nights. Wed nights are now called 'Asian Treasure Lotus Nights'. The night starts off as a cocktail bar (jazz and blues), leading into retro and commercial sounds after 10pm. Two shows on during the evening - a variety show, so singers, dancers, magicians, as well as drag. Topless bartenders and waiters. Entry: $5 students with ID, $10 general admission. Photo ID proof-of-age may be requested." -- ANDYMelb, Jul 4, 2010

• 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.
• 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.
• Sircuit
  103 Smith St, Fitzroy, 9416-3960. A jeans, leather, down-to-earth gay crowd. It also attracts muscular Asians. Men-only on Wed, Fri and Sat with a mixed crowd on Thu and Sun. Normally free entrance, but special nights have a small entry charge. The bar is on two levels. Downstairs is the main bar, pool tables, outside smoking area and show stage. Upstairs there is a coffee shop, library with gay information and local papers, two movie theaters, and a huge cruising area. On the roof is another outdoor smoking area. Closed Mon/Tue.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Specialist theme parties seem to be more and more popular in Melbourne these days. Two I attended this year have been Woof Club and Trough Faggot Party both held at Club 80. Woof was a diverse range of leather/rubber lifestyle men, ranging from young and good looking novices (Asian and western) to the well experienced crowd. Well worth a look for great music, atmosphere and fun in all the nooks and crannies that Club 80 is known for. Ditto for Trough Faggot Party last Oct. Don't forget the more regular monthly parties at Club 80 - Nude, Gold Edition and Melbourne Fisters... not for the faint hearted." -- cbc16, Jan 3, 2010

• PINK
  Newmarket Hotel, 34 Inkerman St, St Kilda. Full production drag shows every Sat night.

• 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. Cruising areas including an upstairs men's recreation zone. Occasional men-only theme parties. Two separate dance floors, the rear one more hardcore than the front. Mostly busy on weekends, late to very late.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "A popular venue with Asian punters!" -- juzzy, May 28, 2010

• Saturday Night Grosvenor
  Grosvenor Hotel, 10 Brighton Rd, St. Kilda. Disco and drag shows.
• 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.

• Bay Sity Sauna
  16 Cumberland Dr, Seaford, 9776-9279
• Bay City Sauna (Caulfield)
  482d Glenhuntly Rd, Elsternwick, 9528-2381.
• Club 80
  10 Peel St, Collingwood, 9417-2182, email. Well-equipped fantasy environments for gay and bisexual men. Four floors of facilities for heavy cruising, filthy play and active scenes. Also space for socialising, first-run and art-house cinema viewing, Net connection, reading and free coffee/tea/soft drinks from the bar. Light snacks also available. Security boxes for phones and wallets. Some leather. Head upstairs for cruising cabins, a dark room, then to the loft for activities requiring more equipment. B/F has a unique layout offering many dim nooks and crannies. Regular monthly events. Good range of western guys and a sprinkling of Asians. Best late at night or on weekends. Sun afternoon till late is fun.
• Spa Guy
  553 Victoria St, Abbotsford, 9428-5494.
• Subway Sauna
  Melbourne Vault, 13/363 Flinders St, 9620-7766.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Subway Sauna rumbles along nicely. Located under the railway viaduct arches known as Banana Alley, it is an interesting mix of Asian and western men, most popular after work and at weekends. Nice and clean facilities and recent rennovations make it a very well kept and respected sauna." -- cbc16, Jan 3, 2010

• Wet on Wellington
  162 Wellington St, Collingwood, 9419-2210. Nice, clean sauna, steam, showers and plenty of cabins upstairs. Great indoor pool, and TV lounge. Outdoor smoking area. Bar/café service available. Diverse clientele of Asian/western men - young to older - something for everyone. A fun place to spend the weekend, especially Sat/Sun afternoons.

• Mannhaus
  130 Hoddle St, Abbotsford, 9416-4800, email. Open Wed-Sun. Intimate and dirty devices for loving and lubing.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Same owners, same location but a new name that reflects the more diverse nature of their range of leather, rubber and lifestyle essentials: tools, lube, leather cleaners and all manner of fun stuff. From cool and sexy to downright kinky. Two woofs and an oink!!!" -- cbc16, Jan 3, 2010

• Eagle Leather
  58 Hoddle St, Abbotsford, 9417-2100, 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. Pleasant staff with no hard sell. Take your time to browse.
• INYA
  59 Izzet St, Prahran, 9510-3408, email. Gay owned and operated adult gay shop. Open daily.