Bird’s Basement

Bird's Basement is a jazz club and dinner show venue at 11 Singers Lane in the Melbourne CBD. It was founded by the musician and entrepreneur Albare, who is also its artistic director, and it launched in March 2016 with the support of the saxophonist Ravi Coltrane. The venue describes itself as Melbourne's pre-eminent jazz destination, and its programme is built around regular, intimate shows.

The format combines music and a meal. Shows are presented as dinner shows, so dining is part of the experience. Menus are published on the website, and there is a pre-order option for special occasions.

Upstairs, at 352 William Street, the Jazz Corner Hotel bar is the place for a pre-dinner cocktail before heading down to the basement. That makes it easy to turn a show into a complete evening without leaving the building.

The programme changes constantly, with shows listed on most days from Monday to Saturday. Each listing on the website includes a short description of the act and a Book Tickets link to the venue's booking system, so check the line-up and book ahead, particularly for weekend performances or well-known names. Gift vouchers are available, and regular visitors can join the Jazz Miles Club. If you lose your tickets, the website can resend upcoming bookings to the mobile number or email address used to book, and musicians who want to perform can apply through a submissions form, with artist management handled at [email protected].

Bird's Basement suits couples, music lovers and anyone looking for a special night out that is different from a standard restaurant meal or bar crawl. It is also a good choice for visitors travelling alone, since the focus is on the music. Prices reflect the dinner-show format, so think of it as a combined dinner and concert rather than a casual bar.

The building has two addresses, Singers Lane for the basement and William Street for the bar above, so check which entrance your booking refers to when you arrive.

The venue's phone line is for text messages only, so text +61 403 454 152 with questions, or use the contact page on the website. Check the website for current show times and dining details before you go.