1806 hosts corporate functions, client drinks, birthdays and milestone celebrations for up to 60 guests in three private spaces, from a hidden basement bar for around 35 to the whole Main Bar. The cocktail bar stands at 169 Exhibition Street in the east end of Melbourne's central business district and serves history-inspired cocktails, whisky and small plates in an old-world, speakeasy-style room.
Seminars and company events
The venue suits after-work drinks, team celebrations, client entertaining and product evenings rather than daytime seminars. Each private space comes with a projector screen, which allows a short presentation, a video or a toast with slides before the bar opens. Furniture is adjustable to the format, lighting can be dimmed or raised, and the bar team tailors service to the group, from table service to drinks at the counter. A cocktail menu can be written for the event, and in the Understudy the drinks can even carry names chosen by the host.
Rooms and capacities
The Main Bar is the venue's principal room, with plush seating and a lively feel, for 40 to 60 guests. The Dress Circle sits on the top floor and looks down over the main bar, with its own private bar and a grazing table, for about 35 to 50 guests. The Understudy is a basement speakeasy below the main stage, reached through a hidden doorway, with a fully equipped bar, a dedicated bartender and a personal Spotify playlist, for up to about 35 guests. All three spaces have a large grazing table and customizable bar service.
Catering
Event menus usually feature four to six cocktails alongside wine, beer and spirits. Canapés and small bites, designed to echo the cocktails, are pre-ordered with at least seven days' notice. Outside catering is allowed for a corkage fee per person, which helps a host who wants a specific caterer or a celebration cake.
History and setting
The bar takes its name and its style from the early history of the cocktail, and its menu draws on recipes and drinking customs of past centuries. Exhibition Street runs through Melbourne's theater district at the eastern edge of the city grid, close to Chinatown, Parliament House and the Treasury Gardens, so a group can move easily from a show or a dinner in the area to a private room at the bar.
Getting there
Parliament station is a few minutes on foot, and trams run along Bourke and Collins Streets nearby. Melbourne Airport is about 30 minutes by car or by the SkyBus to Southern Cross station. The bar opens Tuesday to Sunday from late afternoon and closes on Mondays.
