Revolver Upstairs

I visited Revolver Upstairs for the first time in October 2025 after walking past it countless times and hearing all the stories about it being one of Melbourne’s most iconic club spots. It’s right on the main street in Prahran and super easy to get to, with plenty of trams running nearby. My friend dropped us off out the front, and since it was around 3.30am, the line was short and we got in quickly. Security were friendly and let us through without any trouble. The stairs up to the venue are long and lead to a small cage style entry where we paid for tickets and checked our jackets and bags. I didn’t pay for myself, but the entry was apparently around $50. Once inside, we headed right into the busiest side of the club, people were everywhere, dancing on and around the couches and tables. The DJ was up in a cage spinning house tracks that filled the room, and while it was loud and hard to chat, everyone was clearly having an amazing time. The toilets were tucked away near the entrance, and a bar stretched along the far end of the room, fully stocked with plenty of drink options. From the bar area, stairs led down to the small outdoor smokers’ section. It was already busy when we arrived and got packed as the night went on, with only a few spots to sit. I ended up spending hours down there chatting with new people and watching the sky light up into the morning. Later, we checked out the other side of Revs, which had another dance space, another DJ up in a cage, and a long bar running along one wall. That side was a bit less crowded, which made it a more relaxed area to dance and hang out. I headed home around 7am, and the staff and security made sure I got into my Uber safely. They are strict about re-entry though, so once you leave, you can’t come back in, even if it’s just to walk someone home. Overall, I liked Revs for the experience and the energy, but it really is a classic musky Melbourne club with a big reputation that comes mostly from the history of events and artists who’ve passed through. It’s always open, always buzzing, and definitely a staple for a big night out but it’s a bit rough around the edges. The staff clearly do their best to keep things clean despite how busy it gets. I’ve heard it’s changing ownership soon, but I don’t think Revs is going anywhere anytime soon.

Fantastic night at the Revolver Upstairs trivia night. Host and co-host were excellent. Bounced off each other wonderfully. Food was great quality. Highly recommend. Be prepared for a little audience participation! Give it a go.

Great venue, waited at times for the bathroom or bar service, but the place was so packed that I was very impressed with what the staff could handle. Impeccable beats, got hot and gloriously sweaty on dancefloor #1, then just when I thought I'd had enough, a second stage had appeared on the way out with different flavour. Only reason this is not 5 stars is that I heard a good friend of mine was spiked here. Was extremely careful with my own drinks and had a good time, just good to have that awareness. Would come again x

Dropped in at 6pm on a Sunday (solo, at the end of a work trip from UK) and the dancefloor was very alive and continued to build from then on. I was wondering how many had arrived the eve before. Good vibes, DJ diversity. Also lots of sofas around so you can rest your wary legs for a bit before getting going again. Recommended. Bring photo ID - it’s scanned on the door.

Great music and vibe. I always feel safe and comfortable even if I'm separated from my friends and most importantly, security are professional and reasonable in their interactions which, when not the case, can really take a place downhill fast when everything else aligns. It's my favourite way to end the night and I always pop in when I'm in Melbourne. Definitely worth a visit if you are looking to continue the evening, listen to some good music or have some company while having a smoke/drink.

exquisite establishment with a multitude of fine dining options. i would recommend your most formal attire, as this venue can be very dressy. perfect for a quiet night out, or just to grab dinner with the family. highchairs available, and staff were lovely enough to assist me in changing my childs nappy right there on the table. oh, and the security is very very very polite, never ever ever pushes people, and this place is totally not sticky and smelly and loud. (please like)

Saw Eight Count, Pleasers ADHD, Grim Reality, Grave Risk, and GUTTA here. Was a good performance. Didn't get to order food before the kitchen closed at 10pm but looking forward to it the next time I go.

The security guard with grey hair/pony tail was homophobic toward me without provocation. We were peacefully lining up at the time. When I calmly confronted him - and explained that what he said was inappropriate, he walked off, and the two men behind him became confrontational. One security guard approached me, got very close to my face, and attempted to intimidate me before telling me to leave. This all happened while I was sober, well behaved and dressed appropriately. Seeing grown men power trip in this way really diminishes what should plainly be a safe space. For people to enjoy music, without discrimination. I hope he doesn’t work there anymore, as it’s been a little since this happened. But to this day, it’s disappointing to think about.

NOTES: ~ They regularly put on events and host local bands. You can probably get a lot of updates on what is going on via their website and/or Facebook. ~ There are several rooms to this place you can walk in and out of so it might look tiny when you first walk in but it actually isn't! ~ They have a furry wall! "Get Him to the Greek" anyone? LOL. If I could describe this place in one word, it would definitely be "trendy". They put on an event for a launch party and it was pretty awesome (served free drinks early on in the event!). Like I said, definitely look at the schedule to see what is going on because you'll probably find something that interests you. The venue itself is pretty cool. They have arcade games such as Street Fighter and Pinball, live-art shows, and a really hip and trendy atmosphere! I would probably come back again to check out what is going on. It is definitely worth a shot if you find something cool here. Things they can improve on: ~ The bar is very short on hands. I asked my friend to grab me a glass of water and it probably took around 7 minutes before the barman even got to him. The barman was not being rude, but it was just ultimately one man working a busy bar. Poor guy.

Revolver may be a multi purpose venue, but I'll always remember it for what it is in the early hours of Sunday morning: an iconic underground club that plays really loud and bass heavy techno. I have found myself at Revolver one too many times on a weekend after a night out, as it is open until midday on Saturday and pretty much all day Sunday for all those dedicated partiers who aren't ready to call it a night. Revolver is decked out with comfy couches, funky patterned walls and is split up into 3 different rooms. You can often find live acts and bands in the front room, while the main room is where the dj cage (yes that's right cage) is located, with an ad hoc dance floor to boogie the night away. The bar at Revolver does tend to get very busy, and often you are waiting quite awhile for a drink, but being a bit of a mixed bag in terms of the crowd that Revolver attracts, you can often find someone new to chat to while you wait in line to be served.

AVOID IF YOU ARE AMERICAN! They will NOT let you in! Don't waste your time. GO ELSEWHERE! Was told that we needed our passports to get in (first time in all of Australia OR any foreign country for that matter) but went back to get them. Waited in line again to have the other two people let in and then wouldn't even look at my passport. Told me better luck next time. Way to treat visitors. Left a salty taste in our mouths for the final night out in Australia.

Welcome to one of the most famous places in Prahran -at least to me- I know it might not be for everyone, but I like this place with the right people around me. It's good if you wanna spend some time dancing and drinking and be with your friends. They have a weird drug policy like you CANT do it but you CAN do it and you know it. Let's face it, everyone is doing it. I love that it's open all weekend and you can go whenever you want. I had fun here and never seemed dull to me but yeah sometimes it can be like "where the heck am I?" Other than that, I liked it.

I'm always waiting for the police to raid Revolver whenever I find myself there (which is only when I'm there for the specific purpose of seeing a live act). It is such a drug den, and no one even remotely tries to hide it. It never feels unsafe, and the vibe is always quite cheery (rather than sinister), but that's because everyone inside seems to be chewing their faces off on Ecstacy. It's really funny to watch actually. The fact that it's open 24 hours over the weekend is definitely a significant contributor to this fact. Several times, when I've been walking down Chapel street in the bright daylight of morning, I've seen cabs full of wasted bogans pull up at Revolver, looking seriously off their heads, and apparently not having any problem getting inside. It also isn't helped by the fact that the red-lit entrance stairway looks and feels so much like "that scene" from Irreversible. Heebie Jeebies much? Having said that, the band room is a great space and they often program some pretty awesome bands, so they're definitely doing something right.

Ah this review. How to articulate it. There is a time and a place for Revolver. I've been on both sides, watching the wasted come out and being one of them going in. Needless to say, I appreciate their grimy couches and the DJs that spin a few tunes while I chat away and occasionally micro nap. And if you are out when the sun comes up then Rev's fixes the question of where to go next.

Even though you might be here to rave to the best music in town, I acknowledge that you are a human being so you might want to chill out and listen to yourself - For those, Revolver is the best and safest place to be. Surrounded by like minded people, you can have a chat with a total stranger, make friends for the night or a lifetime while enjoying stencils by one of the most famous artists in the world. You know it. If you are not there to party, Revolver's second life - Colonel Tans will feed you with great Thai fusion cuisine until late. Just make sure to leave some spacey space to people who are looking for some peace and fun.

Let's just say that Revolver has a reputation...and it's that it is interesting. This multi-purpose venue on Chapel Street has an interesting feel to it. It is the place to go to when nowhere else is open. For this fact, a lot of people go there but the qualities of the customers that come out at that time of night are indifferent to say the least. To be honest, I have attended many little live music gigs there and they run a good show. They know what they are doing and are prepared to deal with the types of people they get. For this, I can give them some kudos. On the other hand, a place like this is a necessity and because the place has a few different levels it is never as bad as you think. I do like the big bar and lounge area where at the early hours of the morning it is great for a little dance where the DJ's don't play the ear-bursting techno all night, which is a relief, but if that's your thing there's a room for you too. You can't expect too much from the staff that has the collective face of someone who's "seen too much" but they remain cool and have an up beat attitude for people that clearly don't sleep. One upside for them is that everyone knows what to expect and it's kind of comforting to know that if all else fails you can go there and expect to have a good time whether you want to see a band, chill in the lounge or really get your groove on. No doubt, I will be back there again.

Great place, has high hygiene standards, one of the girls had a bathroom issue where it was more than her mascara running and so the toilet in particular require the dedicated attention of someone who's hands were acquainted with a mop. Rev's had the perfect response for that - With staff member named Holden - as in Holding the bucket for which he can mop with. Thank you for your services mate - real life saver there at 3am in the bathroom! This unsung hero ensured that the bathroom was secure, clean and highly functional all the while working with the pressure of 6 young lady's jeering and cheering. Brilliant work mate - if you didn't work at a club, I'd shout you a drink

Revolver (also cleverly known as Revolting) is the place that you go when everywhere else has closed. It is also the place that you walk past on a Sunday morning to see bleary-eyed club zombies squinting at the sun, dignity most likely in tatters. Always a fun spectacle to observe. However, Revolver does have it's charms. It's a nice spacious venue with soft comfy couches that are perfect to sink into when you've had one too many or you're sick of wasted revelers stepping on your toes mid dance move. Revolver holds a fond spot in the hearts of many a Melburnian, and rightly so.

I came here many years ago & had a wonderful time. I suggested it to friends the other night only to be treated very poorly by the security guards who tried to over charge us on entry, were incredibly rude & appeared to be homophobic towards the other members in my party (who were all gay men). They refused entry to those wearing thongs (which I don't have a problem with, that's standard) but the attitudes of the bouncers were atrocious. None of my party were rude or intoxicated. I only had the chance to say "hello" to the bouncer & answer how many people were in our party "7" before they began being belligerent. I will never return to this venue with my business or recommend it to anyone. I've worked in bars for over 7 years & there is no excuse for treating potential clientele this way.

Visiting from NYC, heard good things was excited to come here. Bouncer told me to get lost outright cause I was a guy. Was really rude about it. Seems like it's a policy shared by every club in the city... couldn't get into anywhere after 1am (at least not without paying a $40 bribe). Thought Melbourne would be a cool place, but apparently I'm not cool enough for Melbourne (or, at least, my tits aren't big enough I guess).

Revolver is rarely planned but a few nights have ended here. Pretty big venue but does get super crowded (I hope you don't need to use the toilet). It has a weird vibe that it prides itself on which is what makes the venue. Best times at revolver are Sunday morning from 7am until the afternoon. Holds a lot of cool events with thick as thieves and novel. Summer series events on Sunday nights are great. Have only ever been knocked back twice but I probably wasn't in the finest form at the time.

What else is there to say? Revolver is an institution and my favourite club in the world! They also have an amazing restaurant that has really great food! I always go after 8am on Saturday or Sunday to dance! This is the best time as the music is at its peak and it's not too busy so it's easy to get a drink and lots of room to shake your body! What time is Boogs on? SAME TIME EVERY WEEK!!

Currently at Revolver, lack of seating out the back. Tunes are good, great dancefloor and the water icy, refreshing and readily available. All in all a fabulous night out!

I was looking forward to my night out here, heard mixed stories. I spent till 6am in Revolver on a VERY crowded Sunday morning, I honestly felt let down after paying $20. Not because of the door charge amount but there was no room anywhere, Do you really wanna trip with people in your face pushing you out of the way. I enjoyed the music but there was no space to move to the beat, security where rude and door staff even more so. A guy I was witnessing holding back a girl from leaving sofa, I informed security and they told me after speaking to her briefly (she knows him) you could tell she was petrified of him wanted to get away, I don't think its an unsafe place but I wouldn't be chucking back pingers in plain sight or railing infront or 10 other people waiting to go toilet. Lack of toilet facility's meant guys where sharing cubical together (constantly) while 3 where at the urinal 8 where waiting, often some girls over flowed into mens to. Impossible to get to the bar for water let alone a beer, whole idea when doing pills is to stay hydrated. I kinda felt the place was outdated and maybe was cool 10 years ago, but what ever underground culture vibe this place has going on went straight over my head.