Bar in Melbourne, Australia
Longsong
100Pearl PointsUpstairs Little Bourke bar with a following.
About Longsong
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, and 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.
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, and 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, and 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.
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.
Location
Upstairs, 44 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
Compare Longsong
| Venue |
|---|
| Longsong |
| Black Pearl |
| Caretaker's Cottage |
| 1806 |
| Above Board |
| Byrdi |
What to weigh when choosing between Longsong and alternatives.
Also Consider
- Black Pearl, Notable alternative
- Caretaker's Cottage, Notable alternative
- 1806, Notable alternative
- Above Board, Notable alternative
- Byrdi, Notable alternative
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, and 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, and 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, and 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.
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