Wesley Anne

Popped in for a sneaky dinner last night and the food was simply sensational! Honestly a strong recommend from me. One of the most surprising parts was a non-alcoholic Amaretto Sour which was simply incredible!!!

The Wesley Anne is one of Melbourne’s most charming live music venues. Housed in a former 1850s Wesleyan church, this beautifully preserved bluestone building offers a unique and atmospheric setting for performances. From the moment you step inside, you’re struck by the venue’s character—high timber ceilings, stained-glass windows, and thick stone walls that have stood for over 170 years. Originally a place of worship and community gatherings, the space has been thoughtfully converted into a bar and performance venue without losing its soulful, historic charm. I had the pleasure of seeing Demie Bagnato perform her latest release on Spotify here recently, and it was nothing short of magical. The acoustics are warm and clear, creating a sound that pulled the audience into every note. The candlelit tables and wrought iron chandeliers add to its allure, as well as the attentive staff. Only had drinks, hence the 4 stars (can’t judge the food). Next time we’ll grab a bite before a show.

The atmosphere of the place is historical, with an old medieval vibe. I really enjoyed the food; it was excellent, and the service was both friendly and professional. However, there were some downsides. It was quite loud, making it difficult to hear, and the bar got very busy, which made ordering food challenging. I would recommend having more staff to improve the experience.

Love the atmosphere of the place. Good selection of beers on tap as well good food and lovely atmosphere. Caters for a big group too.

Came here last night (Tuesday) for dinner & was a really great experience. Had the ‘2 for 1’ deal (see pic). Mushroom risotto was delicious as was the cheesy garlic bread! It’s such a thoughtful & chilled atmosphere- perfect background music & real candles everywhere- very romantic on a freezing winter night! Staff were super friendly too. Highly recommend & will be back soon.

I had a wonderful experience...the warm and friendly atmosphere made for a very enjoyable afternoon/evening of music. Each order was brought to my table in good time, with no hassles. The chicken ribs were delicious!! A great time.

It is one of those places which has stood by the changing times. The moody design almost gave me a Goth vibe from outside. However, it was a different story when I stepped in. It almost felt like I stepped into a piece of history. Located opposite the St Anglican Church, this place is nostalgia for those who've been seeing it from childhood! They do have a beer garden, but I decided to sit inside and enjoy the live music paired with a drink and salted cashews. The place was thriving with laughter and conversations, and I couldn't stop swaying.

Love the Gothic atmosphere here and the bands playing in the background. I often bring a group of friends here. The food is less sophisticated than all other options in that area and could use some elevation, but I go for the ambiance.

I've mostly visited the Wesley Anne to attend the monthly variety show, the Moulin Beige. This is lots of fun with different acts all the time. Tix are only $25 including a meal which is fantastic value considering mains at the Anne are usually $22+ on their own. Generally I find the Anne is too expensive. For instance, they don't have a bottle of wine for under $35 and most other drinks are North of $10. The food is good enough though and they have many weekly specials but I haven't been there when they are on. Also worth a mention is the fabulous sunny courtyard out the back. It's spacious and nice to relax in on a summer afternoon.

Dropped by on a whim as I'm rarely in the area, and I'm glad I did. I'm sure an old church being converted into a bar is not a new concept, but can't think of any others in Melbourne so the novelty of it piqued my curiosity. I had a glass of vino and sat around chatting for ages. Nobody cared that we weren't ordering more drinks. There was no band playing, so not sure how different the atmosphere would be if there was. But for an easy-going night in a cool venue, it's worth checking this place out. Just don't forget to say your prayers!

This is one of the reasons that I love Northcote, though I have to admit that I don't get down this way anywhere near as much as I used to (despite the fact that it is pretty close to the railway line). I've been here before, but a group of friends wanted to come to the quiz night one Wednesday, so we all piled into the place, and ordered our meal, and promptly lost (namely because we weren't up to speed on our Canadian artists). They have a pretty awesome beer garden out the back, and some decent selection of beers on tap. However the menu wasn't as huge as it could have been. Still it's a pretty decent place to come for a night out.

The Wesley Anne is Northcote in a nutshell: cool, edgy and just a little bit alienating. Playing host to some pretty awesome gigs and serving a modern menu of largely unpronounceable Italian inspired food, The Wesley Anne is definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in Northcote and have a soft spot for service that errs on the side of sadism rather than service with a smile. The bar's interior itself is big and beautifully designed, while its beer garden - a feature that seems to be a Melbourne bar requisite - is spacious, beautiful and a real treat in the summer. The only downside to what is arguably Northcote's trendiest bar is the aforementioned brusqueness of its staff. That said, The Wesley Anne's $10 jugs of cider on a hot sunny Sunday certainly make up for a little iciness.

They have a great stone-walled beer garden out the back but I really like the Wesley Anne in colder weather when the wonderful cosy front room and next door band room is cosy, dark and comforting. This building used to be an old church and there are charming details of its religious roots throughout the pub, including the confessionals! Delicious local beers on tap, a fine wine selection and the pub food with a changing specials board is of a good standard. The bands that play in the side room are never too raucous or rowdy and an evening spent listening to good live music whilst nibbling on a antipasto platter with some Little Creatures beer is almost divine.

Love the place, been there a few time but this time was really disappointed at what I got on my plate for $12 . The dip serve is a bit of a joke , few toasted piece of bread, with 1 spoon of olive oil, 1 spoon of spices and 1 spoon of 2 different dips. Should I cry or laugh about?

Rarely have I been so enamoured of such a place only to find that it just doesn't quite live up to the hype. As you walk in the front door, the Wesley Anne is amazing. Set in an old Church building there is a charm and charisma about the setting that makes you feel like you may just be a little bit in love. It also has top quality live music on almost every night and an awesome back yard. The menu is pretty good, in terms of both food and drink. But then it starts dawning on you, much like the gorgeous model you spotted across the room and sauntered over to to get to know as quickly and intimately as possible, only to realise she has nothing between her ears but a nose job and a lot of make-up, there is something not right about this place. Something quite specific. It is the staff. In fact the only thing you can count on with ALL staff at the Wesley Anne is being fucking rude to you. It is almost like management has demanded this kind of attitude. So much so that I have at times briefly charmed a staff member with my funny jokes and good humour, until they suddenly get a dark look across their face as if they have realised they have just committed the sin of smiling and then they turn and growl at you and refuse to serve you for the rest of the evening. They do do two for one meals on Tuesday's however. And you know what? I sometimes go there for the sole purpose of taunting the staff members with my honey dripped smiles and cheesey come ons - just for kicks you know.

The Wesley Anne has a cosy atmosphere with dim lighting and a nice little courtyard beer garden which is great in the warmer months. I like that the venue is different as it has been converted to a bar/restaurant from a church, and it still holds some of the memorabilia from the church days. They serve mulled wine which is a nice drink for the colder months. It is a great little bar to go with a couple of friends for a quiet drink and a nibble, or even a date, but one big downfall is the food. For the quantity and the quality of the food, I find it is very overpriced. Recently I ordered a scotch fillet steak for $33.00 which was accompanied by a small amount of potato gratin, half a grilled tomato and an abundance of wilted spinach. The steak was so fatty that I had to cut around the fat to get to the steak but gave up in the end. I was still hungry but was reluctant to order something else from the menu. When I expressed my disappointment to the waiter, I was not offered a new meal or reimbursement. All in all, good for a drink but not recommended for dining.

Quirky bar with two sides to it I only tried the right hand bar but had a really nice evening listening to some original acoustic music & devouring a bowl of mussels washed down with refreshing cider. Almost makes me wish it was my local bar. Nice friendly staff & prompt service. The food was flavoursome & a good choice of beer on tap & bottled.

I'd been here a few times before I discovered they had quite a good beer garden out back. Very good in fact. Spacious, with lots of different features to found in different parts of the garden. Wesley Anne is usually reliable for a very decent range of good tap beers. Their menu is pretty good too, ranging from snack/Tapas to sharing and mains. The downside is that it is commonly frequented by large group gatherings, which inevitably slows down the ordering and receiving process. On a day day, hanging out the back is absolutely fantastic; pleasant views with pleasant views. Like other reviews have mentioned, I've only ever been on the right hand side of the venue, (when entering from high street) All in all a pretty solid pub/drinks/ food venue.

Dear Julie, Here are a few things you could have said: * "Hey, I'm so sorry, I know the server said you could sit out here, but we do have to close the beer garden. Thanks for understanding." * "Hey, normally we have to close this section, but if you keep your voices down, you can finish your $45 bottle of wine in peace." * "Hey, thanks for letting me know that our 'OPEN - Beer Garden Through Back' sign is false advertising. Sorry you bought a $45 bottle of wine, then found out that our beer garden was closed." * "Hey, sorry I grabbed the sign out of your hands. I shouldn't have been so violent." * "Hey, thanks for trying to make a human connection, sorry I was sarcastic and defensive." * "Hey, my name is Julie, thanks for asking. What's your story? It looks like you're having a hard day. Please don't write anything nasty about me on Yelp." The wine was good. The server was nice. Julie, less delightful. Love, American Husky

Good food and vibe, the staff are really nice and has been a local for me for almost 2 years

I've had a few experiences with Wesley Anne before tonight, unfortunately none of them have been amazing. But I'll focus on the most recent one. They have a two main meals for the price of one AND $12 jugs of either cider or Boags weekdays before 6pm, which is pretty amazing and the reason that I was there tonight at all. The menu is interesting. Most people would enjoy going to a "pub" and being able to enjoy some fare other than the norm, usually I am too. I got the Confit Pork Risotto, my companions got the Lamb and Rosemary Sausages, the Seafood Linguine and the Pan fried Prawn and Kipfler Potatoe Salad. Because we're the sharing caring types I tried them all!! Alas, my risotto was pretty bland. Salt and pepper helped but the reality is that it wasn't even really a risotto, it had none of that gooey deliciousness of a real risotto and was, all in all extremely disappointing. The Lamb sausages were as advertised - nice, enjoyable, tasty. Definitely a solid choice. The Seafood linguine was also pretty alright. Lots of mussels, they seemed to be basically the only seafood there, but a bit sub-par all in all. The salad was freaking incredible. It tasted amazing and there was a good amount of prawns, stupidly enjoyable and I was really jealous that I hadn't picked that meal. The staff seem to be a brisk, bordering on rude every-time I visit and that's the real turn off. If there was any jovial conversation, or just a pleasant word or even a rare smile this place probably would have gone up a star, even with the mostly under-whelming food. Honestly. I know I haven't given this the greatest review BUT check it out. The before 6pm weekdays mean that even if the food isn't 5 star and the service is a little lame it's still worth the visit and I had a pretty good time - plus there are board games!

On a darn hot Thursday afternoon I met a friend at Wesley Anne. It's in mutually convenient Northcote and offered the perfect place for conversation over a bevvie. It's quite dark inside but it was also a relief from the heat. Service was average, drink prices were average, and the venue itself is quite nice. I'd go back again and explore the outdoor area etc a little more.

Set in an old church, and maintaining the rustic charm of days long gone, the Wesley Anne is the perfect blend of Northcote cool and old world vibes. Small but not confined, the front bar spills out on to the street, where you'll find upper middle class punters dining on good wine and some of the snazziest pub food around. Did I just use the word snazzy?? Sorry. Anyhow, follow the bar down and out the back door to a beer garden that is almost the size of the interior. Complete with trees, undercover and open areas, plus a fire that is seasonally tended by the bar staff, it's one of the nicer beer gardens that also manages to retain it's backyard feel. The band room is in a separate room next to the bar area, and has a nice little stage and plenty of room for people to sit and enjoy the tunes on offer. With some really, really, tragically annoying neighbours nearby who moved to the area and then complained it was too noisy, The Wesley Anne has had to muzzle it's live music with one of the most irritating inventions known to mankind. "The Noise Limiter". This little box cuts power to the stage every time the noise in the room exceeds a certain level. With staffs best tip at avoiding this being "Don't play too loud" its almost as if live music is more of an irritation to some of the staff than a drawcard to the venue itself. Due to this little monster of an invention, most acts playing here are acoustic, solo or bands who are daring enough to battle the limiter, which at times goes off a handful of times in any set. This aside, if you're after pub food and a few wines in a pub that's 'A little bit fancy" head to The Wesley Anne and soak it up.

I can't judge this place on a normal day but during the Northcote Street Festival it was bouncing and people were being bounced. It was tough to get in, but it was well worth it especially once the band started up. Most of the interior furniture had given way to empty space to fit as many revellers as possible and the glorious sunshine made the front outdoor section and back beer garden the places to be. I'm told the Wesley Anne is renowned for its live music, which on this day was really a great indie group. This JUST made up for the fact that a can of Melbourne Bitter, one of the worst beers going, was being spruiked for $8. Criminal. Especially as The Peacock Hotel down the road was selling tap booze at more than reasonable prices.

Their light menu always has something to interest me as do their tap beers. The best thing is that the Wesley Anne attracts relaxed happy and friendly patrons.

I keep going to Moulin Beige and I keep ordering the sausages. I've had them four times now. They're seriously mighty. The sausages are really nicely flavoured, perched on a tasty mash with a lovely gravy plus sauerkraut with bacon pieces. The chef's a visionary. I'm going to saddle up for these again ext time. Bravo.

There have been a lot of reviews made from the perspective of an audience member, or from someone popping down for dinner at the end of a long day. So let me talk about how it feels to actually play at the Wesley Anne. This is important, because how the performer feels can (unfortunately) really impact on the performance. I mean, we do our best, but if the stage is too small for the band or the sound absolutely terrible, there's only so much that can be done to save the gig. It's beautiful, both looking at and from the stage. Playing in a converted chapel is definitely a treat. However the band room (well, corridor) behind the stage is tiny so don't come in with truckloads of gear unless you plan to leave it in the truck. Sound wise it's pretty good. The engineers have their heads screwed on for the standard range of instruments and I would say that the venue is best geared towards spoken word or simple singer/songwriter performances. Intimate, peaceful, and soulful. My jazz folk electronic fusion band struggled a little bit to get a decent balance despite our sound being controlled as much as possible by us. Sound restrictions are also an issue, when the call to shut up happens, it HAPPENS. Midsong sometimes.

despite being a homely, handsome and really warm space, the band room has been frustrating for me as an audience member and as a performer. the lay-out always seems geared towards chatter and meal-time, rather than music. the PA restrictions always made sound feel frustratingly inadequate, though this may have changed in recent times. i remember the food and drink range was ok, if a little overpriced. the vibe of the venue kind of encapsulates that annoyingly nu-boho/semi-aspirational thing that northcote has going on. you'll probably like it, though.