Update: I see the angry little man has responded! Wow! Just to clarify - none of us were disobeying your tiny little sign which is placed on a table at waist height! WE SIMPLY DID NOT SEE IT! Pathetic response from “management” of this awful little bar. Not surprised at all reading some of the 1 star reviews this place has received. On Wednesday 6th April my friends and I were very rudely told to “go and wait beside the sign that says wait here to be seated.” We immediately left, shocked and appalled by the way we were “greeted.” I would have been so embarrassed if I had been with people from another city or country. There are far too many excellent places in Melbourne - why would anyone put up with being spoken to in such a manner in a HOSPITALITY venue? Beggars belief this place has survived with the service offered. Just disgusting. Naturally the management won’t respond to this, because they obviously couldn’t care less.

Let’s be honest. This is a go too when in Melbourne. The short stubby man with the mad hat is extremely knowledgeable, kind and friendly with exceptional customer service skills. The choice of spirits is out of this world and they all know absinthe like Mormans know the bible. The staff are a dedicated friendly bunch. For all the one star reviews here it’s time to pull the shot glass out of your arse’s and come back to reality. No point writing a review of a venue or a staff member when clearly someone isn’t on top of there game. What happened to R U OK

Absinthe and aperitifs are the specialty at this hidden tripped out joint but don’t think that doesn’t mean you can’t find a healthy selection of gins and other spirits. Also known for their signature cocktails, tasty small bites and late hours, this place is the bomb. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and love a chat about anything awesome service, we had the killer absinthe which was the ultimate trip highly suggest you check it out. This place is so lit

After leaving a nearby downstairs venue early due to service issues, we tried this place on a whim. Wow. First class service from the wait staff, very knowledgeable on all drinks on offer. Stayed for a few rounds and had a lovely time. Will recommend, and will be back for certain. Amazing place for the full absinthe experience too, full water dispensers and sugar spoons. The wait staff will step you through the process if unfamiliar, but are also wise enough to spot a patron who knows what they are doing ;) Lovely way to spend an evening.

Went there for some drinks with friends. Staff EXTREMELY RUDE AND AGGRESSIVE. The guy at the front yelled at us for sitting down saying he has to assign us seats, we then had the rest of our party arrive and he yelled at them before they sat down then accused us of having more people then we had! We also saw the waiter having numerous shots at the bar while he was working. Not a good look. It’s a nice looking venue but unfortunately will never go back due to the horrible service.

Arrived here last night around 11, to a very unpleasant waiter (one could only assume the same as the previous review.) We were sat out the front in a group of 6 and had our order taken at the table and waited around 10 minutes for 4 beers and 2 cocktails to be delivered to our table. After this we had 2 other friends arrive, much to the displeasure of the wait staff. We ushered out the back onto a larger table after much discussion over how many people we had. During our walk to the back we were all very strongly reminded that there is absolutely no smoking out the back (the same rule that applied to our previous table out the front.) as we all went to leave and pay our bill, I politely asked if we were able to split our bill. The man behind the bar (same that had been unpleasant and argued about how many people we had) snapped back telling me they don’t split bills. Something that I felt would’ve been necessary to have been told at the beginning of our drinks as we would’ve moved on elsewhere. We were told to oh our bill and that we could sort it amongst ourselves. If you would like to go somewhere with nice service and fair drink prices, I would avoid this bar at all costs. Very much a shame as the bar could have been so pleasant. My suggestion would be to find some new staff.

The venue is within the Melbourne CBD. The venue is accessible by trams and is within the free tram zone. It is a few minutes walk from the nearest tram stop. The venue is open till late (till 3 am) on Sundays. Super friendly staff and good range of drinks to pick from. The atmosphere is good with the music not too loud which makes it great for catching up with friends. There is limited parking availability. There is paid car park nearby.

Great little bar, we hit it up last night for a drink before a show, lovely service ensured that we also ate some food😀 I had the kransky sando (the sandwich you didn’t know you need!) and Stacey had the burger 🍔 😋

It's an Absinthe Bar that also does every other cocktail / drink extremely well. I was extremely surprised by the selection of Absinthe (I love Absinthe) and the knowledge of the staff on absinthe. The staff especially the host in front was probably the most friendly guy I have met in a very, very long time. Bar Ampere is a great place to hang out with friends. I will be coming back again. It is a little tucked away so just look for a place with a patio out front with art work on the walls and ceiling.

Beautiful and friendly staff working in this hidden bar. You will feel that you have been there few times. They will mix some of great flavors and drinks for you, just tell them what would like (taste). Thanks 🙏

Very friendly service. Nice selection of artwork.

Horrible customer service.. avoid at all cost

Honestly just disappointed that such a great venue for drinks comes hand-in-hand with staff that are just there to collect their pay checks and get home - clearly not there to make the customers feel welcome. Shoutout to the guy with the long-black curly hair, you’ve ruined a venue and the name of a place I’ve been coming to for years - in fact I have been telling everyone I know how this bar treats it’s customers, especially how they treated my wife and I…in the end, we just left. I’ll be surprised if management even bothers to respond to feedback like this! Stay away folks!

That angry little gnome who waits on tables needs to learn some customer service. What a great bar ruined by a disrespectful guy clearly with little man syndrome. I see google is scattered with the same narrative…”Rude angry little man treating customers like shit”. He needs to get a grip on reality and treat people with some kindness if he wants returning customers. Get a grip mate, you’re a waiter, not a world leader.

Ryan was incredibly rude and inconsiderate, he failed to accommodate a disabled person in the venue. Genuinely upset and disgusted at the treatment we received. Stay away

An amazing bar. The drinks are just out of this world and the bar tender is so knowledgeable. Would recommend this to anyone.

Absinthe bar with an interior Fritz Lang would be happy with.

I’d been wanting to go here for so long! Finally did and wasn’t disappointed. Awesome ambience, lovely staff and delicious food.

I always find myself ending the night at Bar Ampere. The atmosphere of this establishment is unmatched. I always feel welcome and safe here with the staff always being inviting and offering up the best cocktail selection. P.s Nate is a G

Little bit disappointed of their signature drinks, but that's a personal taste. super super super super friendly staff! Great location with all the murals. If you are into absinthe. Definitely a place to go there. As I said: matter of taste- unfortunately not mine

Known for making their own vermouth and for selling absinthe. Had a really strong margarita and absinthe that was diluted with drops of water over a spoon of sugar. Delicious to both. Interesting experience. Knowledgeable bartender. Interesting graffiti on the walls.

Such a unique and discreet gem. The vibe is restful yet playful in a very mature manner. The barmanship and level of service is bespoke and casual making it the perfect place to unwind. A massive shoutout to the barman, James, who treated and engaged with me with profound warmth, friendliness, and hospitality, him alone enhanced the experience 10 fold.

Excellent place that was found via Google suggestions in the city. Loved the atmosphere as well as the amazing service by the bar staff. Explained the Absinthe concoctions perfectly along with the history and how to handle everything. Loved the experience even though not a regular Absinthe drinker. Must try bar in Melbourne, open till late, so one of the best places to end up at and would never leave disappointed. Special shout out to the artists behind the great art work on the walls!

Quite disappointed. Our bartender, Red, recommended a cocktail he was working on and assured me that if it wasn't right for me, he would happily drink it himself if I grabbed something else. As lovely as the bartender seemed, when we guiltily told him the cocktail wasn't quite right and have it back to him to drink for himself, he didn't offer another drink still charged us for it. His offer was effectively rescinded without comment, despite seeing that I was very disappointed/deflated. Shame but guess the money is more important for them.

the servers and bartenders are super friendly and made us feel rlly welcome and comfortable. the atmosphere is very nice and cozy but also fun. the drinks are VERY boozy. had the steak tartare (came with bread drizzled with olive oil) and croquettes (with the most delicious mayo). the price is definitely a lil bit on the expensive side. but we had the most wonderful time there.

Such a cool place. Service exceptional. The raclette was delicious and well presented. Loved the graffiti in the outdoor ‘grotto’ feel space. I am going back for the raclette!

Great atmosphere, comfortable seating, friendly staff who helped us pick drinks. The fries were absolutely divine and the highlight of our visit was the absinthe fountain (complete with an ice water drip tower, very neat). Beginner absinthe tasters should give this a try. Definitely worth a visit if you're looking for a unique experience or a fun night out!

Just got an amazing education in absinthe. Super friendly staff and incredible drinks. Opened my eyes to absinthe with the ritual. Highly recommend giving it a go

It was great experience .. and so kindly staff! absolutely I will be back soon:)

I would like the manager to train their staff to ask politely the clients to wear a mask when required. Every time I come here I feel the way they communicate is aggressive. Put posters on the wall, improve the way you communicate. Thanks!

Easily one of my favourite bars in Melbourne. Great staff, awesome drinks, cool location.

Found this bar almost by accident, but so glad we did! Great atmosphere and waitstaff were personable and helpful (Barney, we're talking about you!). Loved it so much we came back the next night with friends.

The food and drinks were good. But why is the server with orange striped shirt angry? We waited around 30 mins to order the other drinks. We can’t get table service even though we raised our hands and called the server. And when we called the man to order, He just said “ I’m talking with someone” with a loud, irritating voice. I was surprised and flustered. So we came out the bar. The other blue clothes server was nice but I'm not gonna go again.

Super cool and casual vibe. Love it!! The staff are incredible knowledgeable and give such good advices and explanations. I had the Absinthe which was a great experience, full of flavour. I do recommend this place!

One of the best rum old fashioneds in town! John is amazing, incredibly intuitive and makes awesome recommendations for green and seasoned drinkers alike. Thank you for an awesome end to a great day!

Cannot flaw this place, been coming here frequently for the actually well made cocktails. Make sure you get the chicken burger too cause it slaps. Love that the kitchen is open so late and everything is fairly priced

Another one of Melbourne’s hidden gems! When other places are shut, you can count on these guys to be ready to find you a perfect drink to take away your cares for a while. Give their steak tartare a go, you won’t regret it!

John S (John A 😉) was the best bartender and gave us the best service! He knew his alcohol and was so lovely. He was even so on board for shots!! There was a heater already on for us to sit down so it was super warm too. He also made sure we always had drinks. Best service and decently priced drinks!! Super cozy modern bar atmosphere. Nothing for food because we didn't eat 🤪

Much better than Sydney bartenders Just ask them what you like, They will make instant cocktails that are not on the menu! I think he has 10,000 cocktail recipes in his head lol I don't know his name, but he looked pretty cute and had ginger hair thanks hun! You made the highlight of my trip to Melbourne cheersss

Cozy restaurant just off Bourke Street next to Gin Palace. I saw it and I had to stop. Graffiti style art covers the walls and ceilings. Excellent music. Just a great young vibe. Full bar and interesting drink menu.

Tiny off-beat place. Absolutely loved the staff and the drinks. The food menu is a little restrictive but overall a good experience

This bar always feels a bit special, has a certain romance. Lovely staff who walked us through the the absinthe, apart from one barman who asked us to buy “high profit items” because it was a Sunday night when we considered getting some nonalcoholic drinks. Never encountered anything like that in Aus, came across as gross and greedy. Made us feel unwelcome. And we’d just had $25 shots of absinthe.

My boy alec went above and beyond to help us with seating and insuring that we got our orders through on a busy night. Also not just saying this but the food was actually great especially since we ordered at midnight. Again alec couldn't be any more hospitable and helpful. 10/10 joint, go here.

5 stars. guy with the beard was super helpful and kind. way better than mid palace next door. service was superior and infinitely faster

Don't go . Poor side dishes.. worst services . Not worth for money. Based on Google review went there, after that realized all reviews given by management may be possible. Complete money waste.

Me and my sister came across this bar by chance when having a weekend in Melbourne and the staff was amazing. Including giving us a range of places to go whilst visiting Melbourne. We actually had an issue with a drunk table next to us drinking absinthe who was shouting slurs about us and the food we had ordered. The staff handled this amazingly, moved us tables and dealt with the issue perfectly with the table. Could not speak more highly about the staff here! Will visit again on our next trip to Melbourne.

Nice place! Good for 3~4 people staff in there was kind and working hard! Cheers for you

(Translated by Google) Veridus (Original) Veridus

The bartender complained that the bar was understaffed. Used this as an excuse for delivering poor service to guests. He demanded guests to bring back empty glasses before serving more drinks, and ensured guests that he wasn't responsibie for lacking appropriate glassware. Genuinely feel sorry for the bartender, and hope he seeks professional help for his mental wellbeing.

Well I have to say that every time I'm at this establishment I have an amazing time!

Stunning little off street bar. Perfect spot to kick off or end the night

Third time in Melbourne third time in Ampere the place to be. What more to say.

Wow, I was absolutely blown away by the cocktails here. You give the bartenders your go to spirit and palette and they will deliver in more ways than you can imagine!! I have never drank that many DELICIOUS spicy concoctions in one place! Bar Ampere has my vote as one of the best cocktail bars in Melbourne. Oh and did you know they have a beautiful hidden room in the back with fairy lights and a piano that turns into a bar?! ? Couldn’t be more impressed by this place! Thank you for blessing our taste buds and showing us a good time!!

As a Negroni die-hard, a drinks list with 5 different varieties of Negroni is enough for 5 stars. Only wish I could add a couple more for the delicious bar food and excellent service ?

Good service, love the graffiti art, nice laneway bar.

Staff are always so nice. Their cocktail is awesome at the same time, their selection of wines and beers are also amazing.

This place is pretty cool, the service is excellent and friendly. We ordered a special negroni each called a Rosetto which was absolutely delicious. It was made so well, and it went down a treat. Happy days! Previous email review July 2016 I love this little bar. It used to be my favourite place in the city and it still holds really fond memories for me. The service is always spot on, really personable, friendly and efficient. I've tried many drinks here but this is the first time that. I've tried a coffee. I was feeling a little weary after shopping and the coffee here was perfect. My strong latte was creamy, good froth and warm, so I could drink it straight away! Ahh my perfect coffee haha This is always a great place to visit when you are up this end of town. And I'm so happy that the service and the atmosphere hasn't changed.

Always a lively vibe, have frequented Bar ampere for a few years now and have not had a bad cocktail or expirenece. The staff have gone out of there way a many times. The chef has hooked me up with a cheese tomato toasty off menu just because I was craving one. They've got a good selection of spirits and the absinthe fountains are a nice little novelty to share with your mates. Don't know anywhere else in Melbourne that takes it to that level. Would definatly reccomend to any looking for a life night tipple, some snacks and a decent cocktail

Great little bar tucked away in a lane. Staff was friendly and willing to make cocktails not listed on the menu. If you are peckish there are small bites available. Funky, industrial interior with an outside area.

The staff were rude and judgemental. I would avoid this bar, there are so many better bars in Melbourne city

The selection of Absinthe is just incredible. The staff is very nice, and kindly, they will give you an explanation of how to drink it for a better experience. They also have another options of liquors and spirits.

Great cosy bar with amazing atmosphere, friendly staff and excellent drinks at a good price. Highly recommended...

A cosy place with good atmosphere and good rinks. There is food available even later in the evening; I was happy with what I got. I would recommend

Beautiful Laneway bar with great staff and an incredible atmosphere. 10/10 would recommend

Had dinner and absinthe at this place and it was great! We went there as a group of 4 and each of us ordered different things from the menu and we enjoyed all of the food. We got wine and absinthe and it was a very cool experience. The staff was wonderful at explaining how we ought to drink the absinthe, he have us a short demonstration. I would have given this place five stars if not for the price. It's still a great place and i would recommend this place.

A cosy mid-century inspired bar with some rough industrial edges. Been here a few times and loved the service, cocktails and the atmosphere. Will definitely come again.

A very trendy bar. We went there when it just open. The bartender said it gets busy late at night. Nice murals. A good range of beverages and nice nibbles.

Great little central cocktail bar tucked off a side street. Tasty food.

Have the Buster Keaton. It's a great cocktail.

Great Bar, an old favourite from last year. Do a micro bar crawl through the Swamp into Gin Palace. Friendly staff great cocktails! Each place has a speciality (Absinthe, Whiskey/Moonshine, Gin). Lose an evening to pleasure!

Amazing cocktails at reasonable prices!

Nice place for a drink and a nibble, but understaffed. Took forever to get our order taken, didn't get a menu, and then waited ages to order again, to the point where it was too late and we left. But drinks were good, and staff were good, but does need more staffing on busy weekend nights.

OMG other bars should be ashamed! We have enjoyed cocktails in other joints but, this is a whole new level. These drinks were potent and so much better value for money. Felt like I was in Paris or Budapest. Always loved Absinthe but never knew you could do so much with it.

Nice little cozy place with awesome staff and wonderful collection of drinks

Tiny but groovy cocktail corner - been here for years and always reliable, if a little expensive these days

i have visited this place 2 times. i love the beer, its very special. i recommend this to all my friend as the best beer everr. staff also quite friendly. i will surely give another 100x visits.

Quality wine + friendly service, def returning

Amazing bartender mr Barney Good Service and a lovely drinks He is legend

Went for a few drinks with my friends. I will surely come back!

Loved it. Great atmosphere.

Nice atmosphere and drinks. Also connects through to the swamp and gin palace. It’s like three different cities in one place!

Fun place, lovely cocktails, friendly service

Lovely staff.

An amazing ambience!

Cozy place with a great Absinthe selection. The staff is very friendly, helpful and honest if you have any questions regarding all their liquors.

(Translated by Google) Large selection of schnapps (Original) Grosse Auswahl an Schnaps

Great place to unwind and maybe try something you haven't tried before! Excellent service!