NOW EXPERIENCING:Leonard’s House of Love
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Leonard’s House of Love

Friday: 12:00 PM – 2:00 AM
3 Wilson Street, South Yarra, VIC, 3141
Website
leonardshouseoflove.com.au
Instagram
@leonardshouseoflove

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 04 Jul 2023

By
Larissa Dubecki

Beer and burgers are the mainstays here, served with a side of good cheer by engaging bartenders and an ambience of unpretentious good times and rock’n’roll vibes.

Leonard’s House of Love - log cabin honky tonk bar
Why you goWelcome to the log cabin honky tonk bar you didn’t know you needed. As the name might suggest, Leonard’s House of Love is no shy and retiring wallflower. Resembling the result of a ski lodge and dive bar falling in love and having a baby, it’s hiding in plain sight inside a heritage Victorian building in back-street South Yarra (stick with us here) and delivers a straight-up recipe of unpretentious good times and rock’n’roll vibes. Step inside and be whisked to an era when log walls and veneer panelling was all the rage, and wallpaper could never be too gaudy. But the charms of this late-night hang go beyond the superficial. Beer and burgers are the mainstays, both served with a side of good cheer by the kind of bartenders you’d like to make friends with. Add a freewheeling ethos in which anything can happen – and probably will – and it’s the recipe for a bar that has won countless prairie hearts.
Why you stayBehold, a bar wedded to a more-is-more philosophy. Design maximalism is Leonard’s ride or die, an ethos expressed in an eclectic collection of cacti, neon drink company signs, model ships, indoor-bowls ephemera and taxidermied animals. The impressionistic whirl reaches its peak with the pseudo living room, a Brady Bunch-meets-the-Flintstones fantasy where the ’70s never ended and board games await a friendly challenge. Billiards and pinball add another string to the Leonard’s bow, while the music delivers an infectious vibe that keeps the good times rolling.
Leonard’s House of Love - Collection of cacti, neon drink company signs, model ships, indoor-bowls ephemera and taxidermied animals.
Drinks at Leonard’s House of Love
What drink to orderNothing gets too fancy when it comes to imbibing at Leonard’s. Beer is king, with the taps pouring the easy-drinking house Leonard’s Bathtub lager along with a solid representation from the likes of Coopers, Bodriggy and Love Shack. Tinnies are also riding high with their retro-ironic appeal, while the wine list is a tight collection of four whites, three reds and a rosé, none of which will come close to breaking the bank. Cocktails are designed to put hair on your chest – although we do wonder if it’s stretching the definition to call a shot of Jameson whiskey with a pickle-brine chaser a cocktail. Tequila your thing? It certainly is here. There’s a slushie machine churning out Frozen Margaritas, but they won’t shame you for getting fancy and ordering a classic sipper (shaken, strained) in a coupe glass, or an even fancier chilli and watermelon version.
What to pair it withCo-owner Nick Stanton is a properly trained chef who knows how to hit all the pleasure synapses with his elevated fast food. Mainlining the American South with a collection of burgers, fried chicken, mac’n’cheese and poutine wedges, it’s the kind of food that goes frighteningly well with whisky, tequila and beer. The hot chicken burger is a standout thanks to its XXX heat-rated chicken thigh glazed in duck fat, with the sweet alleviating relief of pickles and iceberg lettuce. Even vegans are welcome at this party with eggplant tenders saddling up with plant-based mayo and wedges with bean chilli and cashew sour cream.
Food at Leonard’s House of Love
Leonard’s House of Love - Open until 3:00am on weekends and 1:00am every other night
Why we love itOpen until 3:00am on weekends and 1:00am every other night, Leonard’s is doing the heavy lifting for Melbourne’s late-night reputation (take that, Sydney!). The vibe stays high until the wee hours, and if you’re lucky there’ll be someone spinning vinyl from the disco-era veneer TV turned DJ booth (pro tip: make your own luck by keeping a keen eye on the socials).
Regular’s tipThe heated, fairy-lit courtyard wrapping around Leonard’s on two sides includes a deck built around the multi-limbed wonder of a gnarled old tree. It’s a dog-friendly space, where canines have been known to make lifelong friends along with their owners (and really good doggos are even allowed inside).
Who to takeRock’n’roll cowpokes, anyone with a sense of fun, and late-night lovers will want to join this rodeo.
Leonard’s House of Love - courtyard
Sponsor logo
In partnership with Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
Authour image
Larissa DubeckiLarissa Dubecki has been a journalist for more than 20 years and specialises in reviewing restaurants and bars.
Tags
Drinks DirectoryCasual catch-upBrilliant beer listBarMeal and a bevParty vibesZero% (non-alc)Melbourne – Inner SouthOutdoor areaAfter work drinksVego Food OptionsPet friendlyGreat tunesMelbourneKiller cocktailsGood for groups
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