Cocoon Bar

The Cocoon Bar is a relaxed, unpretentious little bar attached via staircase to the lobby of the Grand Mercure on Swanston. I have had pre dinner drinks here several times with a parental who sometimes stays in the hotel.
Its certainly not the «hippest» of bars and its proximity to the lobby means that during the week the majority of clientele is out of towners and mature couples on group tours. There is usually only one bar staff member on which can be annoying when six people are queuing to order a drink. Actually I don’t know why we keep coming here to drink. I think because of its convenience and central location.
Theres the usual selection of bar/​alcohol treats, a few decent Marlborough whites by the glass around $ 8. The bar food is decent actually, the chilli/​coriander pork spare ribs are sticky goodness.
Seating is overstuffed armchairs and a few shared/​group lounges, soft lighting, thick carpet and bland tones equals a rather pedestrian hotel vibe but decent for a quick central drink.

The greatest place to go after work on a Friday night, particularly when the boss is shouting!, has to be the Cocoon Bar situated upstairs from the Soul Café in the Grand Mercure complex.
Perfectly located in the midst of all the nightlife action in Swanston street, by 6.00pm this bar is well and truly buzzing with the hype of city suits ready to let their hair down, loosen their ties and forget the week’s troubles so it’s best to get here, or get an office colleague to get here before 5.30 to hold one of the tables or comfy couch seating areas.
I’ve had plenty a good time here on a Friday afternoon after work, of course we all go there with every intention of one, two drinks at the max before we begin on our weekends task lists, but I’d say 80% of the time we’re all frantically running either south toward Flinders st, or north to Melbourne Central to catch the last of the trains leaving the city for the night at about 1am. Once you’re here and the city crowd really get kicking the atmosphere is so catchy, music dancy and upbeat, drinks flowing, room warm that you’ll feel heady and giddy from the experience and if you get one of the luxury spots (and they don’t scrimp on relaxation here) you really won’t want or need to go anywhere else to get your party started.
I just love the sweet, fruity house wine accompanied by halved fresh strawberries, it makes the wine taste even better which is my excuse for why I can’t leave without getting completely shitfaced!
Note: The Cocoon Bar is unsigned out front, so go into the Soul Café/​Black Opal Tabaret and go upstairs to the Mezzanine Level of The Swanston Hotel (Grand Mercure).