A small door on busy Brunswick Street offers an entrance to a narrow staircase that leads to an intimate bar called Rust. Cocktails and 2-4-1 drinks on Thursday and Friday nights, along with free admission, make this the ideal spot for pre-dinner drinks, as well as group events and more private gathering places. Flooded in uneven layers of low sag, Rust captures the epitome of relaxation. Sipping on two Long Island Iced Teas, our bodies melt into the layers, merging and intertwining with the cushions.
This bar is a prime example of why Melbourne’s nightlife is famous for its romantic secrecy and seduction. Tucked away in one of Fitzroy’s many nooks and crannies, Rust is protected from wild mobs and is rarely accidentally bumped into. Located on Brunswick Street near the corner of Johnston Street, streetcars run frequently from downtown, making navigation fairly easy. It’s best to keep an eye out for the vertically painted sign on the door frame though, as the narrow passageway to this wonderful bar is easily overlooked.
Loud and bubbling chatter gradually transforms into a low hum of laughter and gossip beneath popular hip-hop remixes. The music is loud and upbeat enough to maintain a sense of excitement despite the overwhelming drowsiness created by the warm glow of low, dim lamps. The deep shades of red and orange radiating from the softened lamps reproduce a candlelit atmosphere, helping to set an intimate setting.
The bar is tucked away in the far corner of the venue, however the friendly and helpful service is efficient and sure the drinks are plentiful. Thick red curtains cover a doorway that leads to a smaller room, which is entirely made up of much-loved layers that are occupied by groups of 20-somethings and teens. Casual clothing is common, though the fancier girls come and go early in the evening before moving on to populate a more dance-oriented venue.
Open from 8:30 pm, Thursday through Saturday, Rust is the bar to go to for extreme sedation. With its 2-4-1 drink specials and endless layers scattered throughout the club, relaxation is beyond temptation; a peaceful rest is guaranteed.