Longsong
Melbourne
Bar in Melbourne, Australia
Book with PearlWhy go
Longsong is one of Melbourne's most interesting bar choices if spirits are your priority. Upstairs on Little Bourke Street, the Southeast Asian-influenced room frames a cocktail program built around regional distillates most city bars don't stock; arrack, rum, back-bar finds worth asking about. Walk-ins are generally fine; get there before 9 PM on weekends for the best seat at the bar.
About Longsong
Longsong, Melbourne; Pearl Verdict
Longsong earns a booking. Tucked upstairs on Little Bourke Street in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, this bar has developed a strong following among the city's more serious drinkers; the kind of crowd that reads cocktail menus the way others read wine lists. If your priority is a thoughtfully constructed spirits program in a room with real character, Longsong is worth the trip up the stairs.
The visual first impression matters here. The space has the feel of a Southeast Asian drinking den, weathered timber, low lighting, a bar that invites you to sit and stay rather than drink and move on. That aesthetic isn't accidental; it frames the drinking experience before a glass is poured. For the explorer-type who wants context with their cocktail, the setting does a lot of work.
The spirits emphasis leans toward Southeast Asian-influenced categories, expect a program built around rum, arak, regional distillates that most Melbourne bars don't stock in depth. This is where Longsong separates itself from the broader cocktail bar field. If you want a gin-and-tonic or a standard whiskey sour, you'll get a competent version, but you'd be missing the point. Order something with arrack, or ask the bartender what's interesting on the back bar, that's where the value is.
Little Bourke Street keeps Longsong in easy reach of the CBD and Chinatown precinct, which means it works as a standalone destination or as a late stop after dinner nearby. The upstairs location gives it a degree of separation from street noise that a ground-floor bar in this neighbourhood wouldn't have.
Booking difficulty here is low, walk-ins are generally manageable, particularly earlier in the evening. That said, the bar is popular on weekends and can fill quickly after 9 PM, so arriving before then gives you better odds of a seat at the bar rather than a table.
Practical details: Reservations: Walk-ins welcome; bookings recommended for weekends. Dress: Smart casual, nothing formal required. Budget: Expect Melbourne inner-city cocktail pricing; plan for $20–25 per cocktail, though confirm current pricing directly with the venue. Getting there: Central CBD location on Little Bourke St, well-served by tram and walking distance from major CBD stops. Leading for: Spirits enthusiasts, Southeast Asian cocktail exploration, late-evening drinks with character.
For a broader picture of where to drink in the city, see our full Melbourne bars guide, and if you're planning the full trip, check our full Melbourne restaurants guide, our full Melbourne hotels guide, our full Melbourne wineries guide, and our full Melbourne experiences guide. If you're travelling further afield, Bowery Bar in Brisbane, Cantina OK! in Sydney, and Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu are worth knowing about for similar spirits-forward drinking.
Planning details
- Location
- Upstairs, 44 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Website
- longsong.com.au
- Phone
- +61 3 9653 1600
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Longsong lives as an upstairs refuge above Little Bourke Street, the sort of room you reach deliberately rather than stumble into. It leans into the texture of Chinatown — neon, old terraces and the scent of char from downstairs kitchens — while presenting a focused, cocktail-led program paired with Southeast Asian–inspired food. The space reads intimate and considered rather than volume-driven, and it positions itself among the city’s more thoughtful late‑night addresses. Overall it feels like a purposeful, inward-looking bar where ingredients and drinks are treated with the kind of rigour that rewards attention.
Best For
Longsong is best for late-night drinking and dinner when you want a deliberate, ingredient-led experience rather than a noisy ground-floor haunt. It suits visitors who appreciate ambitious cocktails alongside Southeast Asian–inflected dishes and who value provenance and technique in both food and drinks. The upstairs location makes it a destination for people seeking a more considered evening out in Chinatown — a place to linger over crafted cocktails and food that reflects careful sourcing and fermentation practices.
Ordering Tips
Order with curiosity: match cocktails to the dishes rather than treating drinks and food as separate moments. The menu emphasizes fermented pastes, high-quality aromatics and sourcing choices, so ask staff about house-made ferments or whether components are imported or locally grown. Prioritize items that showcase those fermentation and aromatic elements, and choose cocktails from the bar’s ambitious program — the pairing of drink and dish is central to Longsong’s approach.
Planning details
Location
Upstairs, 44 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Black Pearl; Notable alternative
- Caretaker's Cottage; Notable alternative
- 1806; Notable alternative
- Above Board; Notable alternative
- Byrdi; Notable alternative
Bar context
How Longsong Compares to Other Melbourne Bars
If you're deciding between Longsong and Black Pearl, the choice comes down to format. Black Pearl is arguably Melbourne's most celebrated cocktail bar; globally recognised, technically precise, worth visiting once for the experience. Longsong is a more relaxed proposition with a stronger regional spirits identity. For a first-time visitor to Melbourne's bar scene, Black Pearl is the reference point; for a returning visitor who wants something with a different character, Longsong offers more discovery value.
1806 sits in a similar CBD orbit and covers cocktail history with depth. It's the better pick if you want a broad, encyclopaedic drinks list and a slightly more formal bar experience. Above Board goes in the opposite direction; tiny, counter-only, reservation-heavy, technically serious. If getting a seat matters to you and you want flexibility, Longsong wins on accessibility. Byrdi is the choice for native Australian ingredients and a strong sustainability angle; a different specialisation entirely, worth the trip if that's your interest.
For Southeast Asian spirits and a room with personality, Longsong has the clearest identity in Melbourne's current bar field. It's not the hardest booking in the city, which makes it the practical answer for most nights. If you want the most technically acclaimed option, go to Black Pearl. If you want the most interesting spirits selection for the effort involved, Longsong is your answer.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Longsong guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Longsong
| Venue | Awards |
|---|---|
| Longsong | No published awards |
| Black Pearl | Top 500 Bars 2026 · #2692018 World's 50 Best Bars · #302017 World's 50 Best Bars · #222016 World's 50 Best Bars · #222015 World's 50 Best Bars · #102014 World's 50 Best Bars · #372013 World's 50 Best Bars · #72012 World's 50 Best Bars · #172011 World's 50 Best Bars · #10 |
| Caretaker's Cottage | Top 500 Bars 2026 · #47Tales Spirited Awards 2026 - Best International Cocktail Bar by Gruppo Montenegro - Best International Cocktail Bar by Gruppo Montenegro (Top Four Finalist)Tales Spirited Awards 2026 - Best International Bar Team – APAC * - Best International Bar Team – APAC * (Regional Top 10 Honoree)Tales Spirited Awards 2026 - Best International Cocktail Bar - Best International Cocktail Bar (Top 10 Nominee)2025 World's 50 Best Bars · #19Tatler Best Bars Asia-Pacific 20252024 World's 50 Best Bars · #212023 World's 50 Best Bars · #23 |
| 1806 | 2010 World's 50 Best Bars · #342009 World's 50 Best Bars · #12 |
| Above Board | No published awards |
| Byrdi | Top 500 Bars 2026 · #1592025 World's 50 Best Bars · #912024 World's 50 Best Bars · #352023 World's 50 Best Bars · #61 |
What to weigh when choosing between Longsong and alternatives.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the crowd like at Longsong?
Longsong draws a CBD-adjacent crowd that skews informed and intentional; people who've sought it out upstairs on Little Bourke Street rather than wandered in off the street. Expect after-work professionals mixing with bar regulars who know what they're ordering. It's not a venue that caters to large rowdy groups; the room rewards those who are there for the drinks.
Do I need a reservation at Longsong?
For weekends and busy Friday nights, booking ahead is the safer call; Longsong has built enough of a following that turning up without a reservation is a risk. Midweek you'll likely find space, but the upstairs location means capacity is limited. Check directly via their current booking channel before assuming walk-in availability.
Is the food good at Longsong?
Longsong is primarily a bar, so food plays a supporting role rather than being the main event. If you're coming specifically to eat, pair this with a dinner elsewhere on Little Bourke Street, which has strong options nearby. Come here for the drinks program; the food works well enough alongside it.
Does Longsong have happy hour deals?
No confirmed happy hour details are documented for Longsong. That said, Melbourne bars at this level tend to let the quality of the drinks program do the work rather than discount-driven promotions. If deals are a priority, Above Board or 1806 in the CBD are worth checking for structured early-evening offers.
Is Longsong good for a date?
Yes; the upstairs setting on Little Bourke Street gives it a degree of separation from the street-level noise, which works in its favour for a date. It's a better pick for two than a group. Pair it with dinner on the same block beforehand and you have a straightforward Melbourne CBD evening without needing to move far.
