this post was submitted on
10 points (81% like it)
13 up votes 3 down votes
all 39 comments

[–]nolongeralurker 6 points7 points ago

Try 1000 pound bend (361 Little Lonsdale Street). Relaxed cafe by day, relaxed bar by night... or at least most nights as far as I know.

Also if you're interested in events try meetup.com (there are a lot of book clubs for example) and melbourne fetch http://thefetch.com/

[–]Phallic 1 point2 points ago

I've done a booze and reading biathlon at this place many times. Its great for it!

[–]maxi_danger 0 points1 point ago

second this motion. 1000 pound bend is cool.

[–]landfillwaist[S] 0 points1 point ago

Hey, thanks for this! Really good recommendation. :)

[–]darsehole 4 points5 points ago

Lounge on Swanston St is pretty good during the day

[–]fortalyst 1 point2 points ago

Lounge is pretty good - also check out Cabinet Bar & Workshop

[–]mysafeworkaccount 0 points1 point ago

just stay away at night!

[–]qwibber 5 points6 points ago

Hit up any of the hipster bars on Sydney rd Brunswick. You'll feel safe, and right at home with a book.

[–]LineNoise 1 point2 points ago

Rue Bebelons is pretty good for that during the day.

[–]stfm 0 points1 point ago

Love this place - first bar I went to on moving to Melbourne.

[–]robotom 3 points4 points ago

Bottleshop + Botanic Gardens? (Cheaper too)

[–]Sir_Fartsalot 1 point2 points ago

The Workshop, upstairs on the corner of Elizabeth and A'beckett streets in the city would suit your activity in the day time.

[–]WalkThePlankPirate 2 points3 points ago

Places I read at while secretly wishing I could approach attractive people:

CBD: Lane's Edge, Spleen, Pony and Loop

Brunswick (all have beer gardens): Bar Etiquette, Brunswick Green, The Spot (on weekdays/nights only), Sporting Club Hotel

[–]NeedsRiotJuice 1 point2 points ago

where in town? plenty of places in Fitzroy/Northcote that I've done that without looking too odd.The Cabinet in the city would work.

[–]jambled 1 point2 points ago

If you want to go over to St Kilda there's a groovy little bar on Fitzroy St (use 16, 96 or 112 trams to get there) called 29th Apartment. Very awesome, lots of lounges, great to chill out at. Wouldn't look weird at all to read a book there.

[–]fortalyst 1 point2 points ago

There's also a few good Twitter communities who meet up once every few weeks, if you're on that - some very nice people there

[–]pizzin 0 points1 point ago

+1 for MTUB!!

very nice people, but if you try to read a book instead of tweeting while you are there you may actually get thrown out**

**the above statement may, or may not be true. Try at your own risk :P

[–]ruzkin 1 point2 points ago

Section 8, in a laneway off Little Bourke. Outdoor bar, plays chilled reggae and dub, many people come to sit on shipping pallets in the sunshine and read with their beers.

[–]lullabysinger -1 points0 points ago

The Martini Bar at the Westin... good to people watch and read.

(Also Transport Bar, heaps of people there for an after-work read/drink).

[–]grahampaige 0 points1 point ago

On a sunny day, the mitre tavern in bank place is always nice

[–]The_Amen_Corner 0 points1 point ago

Upstairs beer garden of Labor in Vain on Brunswick st. It's a great spot for a beer and a bit of a read after work. Relaxed vibe, friendly people.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

Has the novelty of reddit meetups worn off? Normally as soon as someone posts about being new/alone in Melbourne they are swamped with invites to things. If you don't know, there is a Melbourne Reddit Meetup group on Facebook.

[–]Suprdupr 0 points1 point ago

I'm really impressed by this thread because you weren't hit on, which would have been the case in many other subreddits.

[–]WalkThePlankPirate 0 points1 point ago

The name "landfillwaist" may have had something to do with it.

[–]landfillwaist[S] 0 points1 point ago

Lol. I used an unattractive username on purpose actually. I see it worked. :p

[–]beerxedge -1 points0 points ago

So, uh, what are up to later?

[–]MindlessDream 0 points1 point ago

You know I can read to you if you want ;) Call 0418457xxx I'll say '5255' on pickup. FIND ME IF YOU ARE DESPERATE :P

[–]raddat 0 points1 point ago

Spleen. I see at least 3 people, 2 girls, drinking alone there any given night.

[–]SpartacusMcGinty 0 points1 point ago

The bar at Spleen reminds me of those movies where one of the characters is going through a hard time and keeps asking the bartender for 'ANOTHER!' shot of bourbon and then finally stumbles out the back and starts puking next to a garbage can.

But seriously, I reckon a lot of those people drinking alone are just waiting for friends.

Lane's Edge next door is a little more chilled if you want to drink by yourself, IMO. Nicer ambience, albeit a little smaller. The bartenders are real nice too. The back part is a lot busier, although for some reason I can almost always find that one place to sit even though it looks completely packed.

[–]dumblederp 0 points1 point ago

Go find meyers place in the city, both bar and street name.

[–]doxxus 1 point2 points ago

Kelvin bar in westgarth. Beautiful bar, dark and moody, fantastic selection of cocktails mixed by people who know how to, tram stop on front, friendly regulars. Get in earlyish because when the night crowd turn up it's a bit tricky to get a seat. Though if you're planning on going solo, a bar seat should be avail.

[–]JizzblasterBoris 0 points1 point ago

Come to the Carlton on Friday. I'll hit on you and it'll be awkward.

ಠ_ಠ what am I saying here, my name is Jizzblaster Boris...

Fuck it, I recommend 1000 Pound Bend. That place is lovely, and I won't be there, I promise.

[–]onemoreclick -1 points0 points ago

La la land. Except it gets pretty dark at night.

[–]cameronm 5 points6 points ago

Didn't la la burn down like, 6 months ago?

[–]project2501 1 point2 points ago

Yep.

[–]shniken 2 points3 points ago

it gets pretty dark at night

That is because the sun sets.

[–]SpartacusMcGinty 0 points1 point ago

Consider my mind blown.