Alia Bar

The north-of-the-Yarra, late-night set know Alia as a destination for serious music and quality booze. Resting at the top of a (sometimes) formidable flight of stairs, this bar has catered to Fitzroyales for many years now. A gay-friendly venue, Alia became known in its early days as a haven for girls who like girls who like... but is now simply a casual bar full of punters out for a night of serious beats and dancefloor action. The sleek interior may be dominated by a bar on one side and dancefloor on the other, but the clever arrangement of banquette seating and low tables makes for a very amiable pleasure space. From Wednesday to Sunday, a collection of resident DJs rub shoulders with interstate and overseas guests, creating breakbeat and house-infused landscapes in an atmosphere of dedication to the almighty beat. When you add a simple selection of alcohol - there's a meagre cocktail list and your stand issue beers and spirits - to the mix, you've got one very smooth operator. And sitting right on Gertrude Street, the option to either start or finish your night at this bar of saucy delights is really the only consideration you'll need to make. Although once you sink into a comfy seater, your thoughts will probably only extend to slipping into a nice martini, then onto the dancefloor.