Restaurant

Black Kite Commune

30 Russell Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

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Find Black Kite Commune

30 Russell Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

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HoursMonday: 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM Thursday: 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM Friday: 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM Saturday: 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM Sunday: 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Black Kite Commune

Tucked down Russell Place, this split-level sanctuary strips cocktail hour back to dark timber, low amber lighting, and rare Australian spirits. Up in the Loft, a lightbox ceiling channels the Black Spur forest at night—booths come fitted with golden call buttons to summon pours without breaking conversation. Insiders bypass standard orders for agave selections and plates from the bush tucker menu, filling low tables with grilled emu, wild boar croquettes, and crocodile fried with saltbush.

  • Native Game Fare: Small plates built around Australian wildlife, including wild boar croquettes, grilled emu, and saltbush-dusted crocodile.
  • Loft Service Buttons: Upstairs booths feature illuminated ceilings and call buttons to summon drinks on demand.
  • Local Spirits Program: A dedicated backbar showcasing domestic whiskies, craft liqueurs, and curated agave pours.

What's On at Black Kite Commune

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

Why Guests Choose Black Kite Commune

From native game tastings and local spirits to private upstairs booths with on-demand service, reserve your table to experience Melbourne's sultry supper club.

  • Low-Lit Sanctuary for Unrushed Conversations

    A two-level sanctuary featuring plush textures, black walls, and warm lighting designed for slow, unhurried evenings.

    I loved the dark, moody décor, intimate lighting and cosy atmosphere overlooking the bar below.

    Rishter
  • Intimate Setting for Solo Drinks or Dates

    Whether perched alone at the counter or seated for date night, the venue balances sultry aesthetics with welcoming warmth.

    Stunning bar with a sexy atmosphere balancing intimacy, low-lit aesthetics, plush textures, and curated details.

    Chloe Clark-Mckeever
  • Table-Side Golden Service Buttons

    Guests in the upstairs loft booths can summon floor service seamlessly at the touch of a button.

    if you sit upstairs, you can press the button for service.

    Mia Goreng
  • Curated Australian Backbar and Whiskies

    A deeply curated spirits program celebrating local distillations, with extensive Australian whisky lineups and custom cocktails.

    An absolutely amazing selection of Australian whisky and beer, fantastic knowledgable staff.

    Sarah Adelaide
  • Quintessentially Australian Gathering Point

    An ideal destination for showing visitors or companions rare native game preparations rarely found in Melbourne cocktail bars.

    I think this is perfect for giving overseas visitors a quintessentially Australian experience as you get dishes that include kangaroo, emu, wallaby, crocodile and wild boar

    Andrew Kay
  • Bush-Tucker Tasting Plates Built to Share

    Small plates centered around wild game provide a culinary adventure designed for sharing across the table.

    tasting a lot of the small plates inspired by Australian bush food - grilled emu steak, crocodile bites, wallaby pie.

    Sergi

Other favorites

Complementary sides and familiar cocktail pours to round out your visit.

  • Hand Cut Chips

    hand cut chips and olives, both delicious and complimented our cocktails very well.

    CoCo Cole
  • Olives

    hand cut chips and olives, both delicious and complimented our cocktails very well.

    CoCo Cole
  • BBQ Prawns

    we had the BBQ prawns (the fave of the order - just simple and delicious)

    Michael Newman
  • Long Island Iced Tea

    The long Island iced tea cocktails were amazing, served by a wonderful mixologist called Adam.

    Leon Barnfield

Beyond the menu

From boothside buzzers to tailored spirit storytelling, reserve your spot for a distinctive late-night Melbourne escape.

  • Loft Booth Call Buttons

    Guests seated in the upstairs loft booths can press dedicated golden service buttons to summon a bartender directly to their table on demand.

  • Story-Driven Spirit Guidance

    Passionate bar staff guide guests through tailored tastings, sharing behind-the-scenes stories on fat-washed spirits, mezcal varieties, and native game pairings.

  • Tailored Off-Menu Concoctions

    Bartenders readily craft bespoke, off-menu drinks tailored on the fly to personal cravings, dietary limits, or non-alcoholic remedy requests.

  • Black Spur Canopy & Customizable Lighting

    The upstairs Loft features a custom lightbox ceiling depicting the forest of the Black Spur at night, paired with booth lighting patrons can adjust to their preference.

Before you head over

Plan your visit to navigate booth ordering, native bush bites, and tailored cocktails seamlessly. Book your table to secure an intimate evening.

  • Use the Loft Booth Call Buttons

    Upstairs seating operates exclusively via table service rather than ordering at the bar. When seated in the loft booths, press the golden service button to summon your server directly to your table without needing to walk downstairs.

  • Balance Adventurous Meats with Familiar Bites

    The kitchen specializes in native Australian game such as wild boar croquettes, crocodile bites, and wallaby pie, but diners seeking milder options can comfortably order familiar staples like prawns, hand-cut chips, and marinated olives.

  • Request Bespoke and Off-Menu Concoctions

    Bartenders regularly build drinks tailored to personal flavor profiles, including custom non-alcoholic creations and bespoke cocktails not listed on the printed menu—just let your server know what you enjoy.

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