Loch And Key

This bar is above a restaurant and seems like a strange location but as you walk up the stairs the overall ambience sets in and the aesthetic upstairs is very cool…
the balcony is nice and breezy and the bar has a great range of liquors. Unfortunately there is no cocktail list whatsoever which is strange considering it is a small pricey bar. You kind of just have to make up drinks with the bartenders. The booths opposite the bar are tiny and not good for groups and the back rooms are quite hot and stuffy.
The bar staff were lovely and the décor ticked all the ‘dark and sexy’ boxes but due to a strange location, no menu and awkward rooms it just fell short.

This is a fun spot for a drink and to people watch, as the bar sits atop the Captain Melville restaurant. You need to go inside and up hidden stairs to find it. Seems like an old house transformed into a quaint hipster bar.
The bar is well stocked with all the essentials and felt like a throwback to old times with the décor. Bartenders were both on point, taking time to serve up classic cocktails done right.
There is a small area inside to mingle or better yet, go on the deck for some fresh air. It’s not a big place so I can see it getting crowded on a summer afternoon. It’s casual and fun atmosphere is worth stopping in with a date or a couple of mates.
Note: There is only one unisex bathroom upstairs!

No longer in business :(
Tried visiting at 11pm on 1^st Nov 2014 and no response from door bell after 30min, tried ringing phone number but was disconnected.

I really liked Loch and Key from the moment I walked in.
It’s got Melbourne cool bar written all over it. It’s hidden away above another bar, full of private little cubicles to sit in and has obscure pictures and graphics on the walls. There is also an outdoor veranda area for the summer months.
Alcohol is slightly on the expensive side, but you pay for the cool factor. The bar staff were also a little on the rude side I found. They sort of had that I’m cooler than you thing because I’m a bar person working in a hipster Melbourne bar. When I first came across this sort of person in my early Melbourne days, they used to really bother me, but now I just accept it’s part of the territory in places like these. Hopefully one day this will change.
That said, this place is awesome. They have a good selection of cocktails, beers and wine and it’s definitely my kind of place. I will be back here for sure.

Hidden above Captain Melville, this secret bar has experienced bartenders, comfortable couches and an old school feel that is often paired with a snazzy DJ.
Check this place out for like-​minded people who enjoy drinks and some good company!

Such a relaxing space and just what the city needed, professional drinks, private booths and I loved the bar menu.

Loch and Key is Pretty ace. Even more Ace when it isn’t crammed and overflowing with hordes of just finished work office workers. This is a good thing. Unless they start to come here, which will be a bad thing. Very old building, Loch and key is located upstairs with some fantastic wooden paneling, giving you that very old saloon/​cabin in the woods type feeling. The balcony is charming and roomy and probably of the better places to sit. They specialize in their own cocktails here; The last chance and high society are both excellent. of course One can go for the cocktail classics, or sit down with a trumpeter’s iced tea which is pretty tasty. I think there’s something here for everyone.

5 stars. A rarity in my world but Loch and Key have well and truly earned each and every little star.
Star 1– for the great décor. Simple, old grandpa style saloon. Lots of warm, dark wood paneling, tree like ceiling lights and an impressive bar.
Star 2– An interesting little menu which packs a punch. Beer, wine, cider, alcoholic tea and some crazy good cocktails.
Star 3– Having a bathroom that’s close by, clean and appropriately lit. No one wants to be fluro light blinded when trying to wash your hands, after relaxing in a visually pleasing bar. Yes we all wash the hands after visiting the bathroom. Not negotiable.
Star 4– Cocktails. Delicious, smooth, sexy cocktails. All shaken, stirred and whipped up in some pretty dapper bar ware. And served in some serious granny inspired glass ware. I respect and enjoyed this. If your drink of choice wasn’t on the menu, no fear. The exceptionally knowledgeable staff can help fulfill your cocktail fantasy.
Star 5– The cherry on the top here is the staff. Despite the extreme hipster bar tending outfits they are beyond superb! Patrick was not only easy on the eye, nifty with a bottle opener and happy to pour out the bubbles, he was perhaps one of the nicest bar tenders I have ever met in Melbourne. An occupational therapist by trade he happily explained bits about the body while pouring us many drinks. Good staff make a good impression but great staff leave a happy feeling in your heart.

«To your right, turn left and left again, then follow the stairs behind the bookcase» says the bartender at downstairs Captain Melville as we attempted to locate the entrance. Yep, Loch & Key is a secret cocktail bar for those in the know.
Passing dimly lit rooms with big comfy couches, we made our way to the main bar. The bar is small, with room for just two bartenders, but there’s plenty of booze to choose from and these guys know their stuff. The main area has bar seating and leads to a lovely balcony courtyard outside — a great place to enjoy a drink on a mild evening.
This place is so intimate and lovely. It was a quiet night, so our group pretty much took up the place and we didn’t stray far from the bar. The lovely staff kept us entertained with their concoctions and helpful picks. Everyone was happy with their cocktail choices, especially the ones that let the guys behind the bar guide them.
Before we knew it, hours had passed and no one was in any hurry to leave. A great spot for drinks and conversation.

Opened fairly recently, you’ll find Loch and Key on Franklin Street. Head to Captain Melville, walk a few flights of stairs and you’re there. We went there after grabbing a burger downstairs.
The place is pretty cool with wooden floorboards and really dim lights. The bartenders are very nice, knowledgeable and can whip you up a nice cocktail. They have a balcony which is perfect for a warm summer night. There is also an air of exclusivity and privacy about the place with their indoor seating area in a different room from the bar and the balcony. Now, this is the first time that I’ve seen this in any bar which is a bit strange but anyway; they have private booths as well.
To give you a clearer picture of the place, you walk up the stairs, you come to a hallway and that hallways leads to the private booths, the seating area, the bar and the balcony.
I really like the private booths, it provides an intimate ambience which is perfect if you’re on a date.
Check it out…

The refit of this Franklin St property is good looking. Main deck is Captain Melville, but head up to enjoy the Loch & Key bar. There’s the main bar, some banquette seating, and the balcony.
There is a small bar menu, which we didn’t try. The bartenders are friendly, capable, and suggestive in all the right ways. Bar is open til 5am on Friday and Saturday, yippeekayay.
It’s intimate but relaxed — perfect date material — and the open air section is sensational on balmy Melbourne summer nights.