House Of Correction

The Verdict

House Of Corrections is a tiny but mighty small bar in Melbourne’s CBD with an interesting history, to say the least. The building has been home to a medical supplies store that stocked human skeletons and death masks, it held prisoners when the old Melbourne Gaol was full, and, most recently, it was a porn cinema aptly named Shaft Cinemas—among other weird and whacky things.

The bar features architectural accents that you would expect from a place named House Of Correction, with padded booths and beautiful art deco swivel chairs.

A sister bar to Goldilocks, House Of Correction serves a rotating line-up of anything but standard cocktails created with house-made shrubs. There’s The 11th Hour made with Mr Black Amaro, rye, apricot brandy and choc macadamia bitters topped with an orange chocolate shard, and Along The Watchtower with bourbon, amaretto, a cherry and rosemary shrub, lemon juice and cherry bitters.

Come winter time they bust out their hot buttered spiced rum served warm with demerara and winter spices.

Snack wise, they’ve got you covered with crispy chicken ribs, steamed dumplings that are handmade on the daily, cumin lamb ribs and beer battered chips (with a delish black pepper aioli). And if you’re craving something more, post cocktail the spring onion pancake will sort you out.

To top it all off there’s a well-stocked back bar, a solid range of on tap beers, and a small—but well-chosen—wine selection.

What are you waiting for? Scope out the elevator on Swanston Street and head on up to the fourth floor for one of the best small bar experiences in Melbourne.

Image credit: Griffin Simm