What an awesome little bar. An absolutely amazing selection of Australian whisky and beer, fantastic knowledgable staff. Will definitely be back next time I'm in Melbourne.

Black Kite Commune is a sophisticated late-night sanctuary in Russell Place. It manages to blend a '70s-inspired retro vibe with the refined elegance of a modern supper club, making it a standout destination in Melbourne's cocktail scene. The long Island iced tea cocktails were amazing, served by a wonderful mixologist called Adam. ​Immersive Atmosphere: The venue is split across two levels, featuring dark wood paneling, black walls, and a golden-tiled backbar. A highlight is the "Loft" upstairs, which features a lightbox ceiling depicting the forest of the Black Spur at night. ​Unique Service: For those seated in the intimate upstairs booths, "golden service buttons" allow you to summon a bartender with a press, providing a seamless and high-end experience. ​Local Spirits Focus: The bar boasts one of Melbourne's largest collections of Australian whiskies and spirits, alongside a cocktail menu that favors conceptual creations over standard seasonal trends. ​Bush-Food Menu: The food menu is specifically designed to highlight native Australian ingredients, with unique snacks like fried crocodile with saltbush, emu, wallaby, and wild boar croquettes. ​Versatile Spaces: Beyond the moody interior, there is a leafy, heated terrace available for open-air drinks regardless of the season. ​Overall, it is an excellent choice for those seeking a "hidden gem" vibe that feels intimate without being pretentious. It is particularly well-suited for late-night dates or solo visits.

Had a great time here after work with my friends. I ordered a cocktail called The Arrival and it was really nice. The atmosphere was amazing and made it a perfect, relaxed start to our after-work gathering. Would definitely come back!

This place is a 10/10, a must go. The all Aussie concept is awesome & the decor & vibes are so cool. We sat at the bar for hours & the bartender was amazing! He happily had a chat while serving up some custom creations & killing it! From the menu I had an Arrival which was freaking delicious. We also had the wallaby pies & wild boar croquettes. They were both delicious but the croquettes were so good we had to order them twice!

I can’t believe the high reviews for this place, my friends and I were all appalled! The service was so rude and shocking! When we walked in, we were asked to wait for the bartender to finish her drinks. We couldn’t find our own seats. We also have to order at the table and absolutely couldn’t order at the bar. The thing about being upstairs was that we had to go down to the bar anytime we wanted a drink to ask her to come upstairs and take our order. The food menu was different for snacks things and if you want to try random Australian drinks at very high prices some were nice, but we’ll never be back with that service!