In January a new venue quietly opened at the end of Croft Alley in Chinatown, in the space that housed legendary bar The Croft Institute from 2001 to 2020. Solace is a three-level music-focused bar founded by James Keogh, Chris Harris, Ollie Strong and Elliot Gooding – four friends with backgrounds in record label management, hospitality, film distribution and event production. Harris and Strong are known in the local scene as co-founders of Static, a series of mid-scale dance events across Melbourne.

The design is raw and minimal, leaning into Bauhaus simplicity. On the ground floor, a moody, low-key bar is lit by a geometric installation and a central DJ booth sets the tone from the moment you walk in. One level up is a more relaxed space with couches and low lighting. The top floor club is compact, dark and fitted with speakers from one of the most legendary names in dance music history: Funktion-One. The company’s distinctive speakers power Berghain in Berlin, Basement in New York and many other world-renowned clubs. Solace uses the brand’s Evo 2 sound system – currently the only one installed in Australia.

“It’s not about volume, it’s about clarity and warmth,” Keogh says. “You can feel it physically, but it’s never overwhelming. That balance was really important to us.”

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The club’s programming leans into local talent, with strong ties to Berlin’s sound, spanning techno, house and progressive styles. René Wise, DJ Life and Kate Miller have all appeared recently, taking full advantage of the 3am licence. The staff enforces a strict no-photos policy on the club floor to reduce distractions and keep guests in the moment.

The drinks list is short, sharp and local. Expect low-intervention wines from producers like Minim, Konpira Maru and Ephemera, alongside beers and seltzers from Wolf of the Willows, Aqua Boogie and Bodriggy. Cocktails rotate regularly, but recent offerings have included a Sichuan Spicy Margarita, a jasmine-infused Martini, and a Pocari Sweat-spiked highball. Most infusions and syrups are made in-house.

Solace isn’t chasing buzz. “We’re not trying to be the next big thing,” Keogh says. “We just wanted to make something real, something we’d be proud to come back to.”

Solace
21–25 Croft Alley, Melbourne
No phone

Hours
Wed & Thu 5pm–1am
Fri & Sat 5pm–3am