The 86

Cabaret bar · Melbourne Fitzroy

Drag, boylesque and burlesque, a long list of house cocktails and dancing until 3 am afterwards: The 86 is the small boutique cabaret bar on Smith Street.

• ★ 4.2 on Google (117)
• Cabaret shows
• House cocktails
• Fri and Sat until 3 am

Address

185 Smith Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065, Melbourne

Opening hours

Fri 5.30 pm–3 am
Sat 7 pm–3 am
Sun–Thu closed

Crowd

mixed queer, 25–45, lots of groups of friends and show fans

Flirt factor

medium, on the dance floor after the shows

Programme

Drag, boylesque and burlesque shows on Fridays and Saturdays, followed by a DJ and dance floor

What makes The 86 special

Smith Street, on the border between Fitzroy and Collingwood, is Melbourne’s queer nightlife strip, and The 86 is its cabaret stage. At weekends the programme features drag, boylesque and burlesque shows, plus a long menu of house cocktails. Tables can be booked via the website.

After the shows the room turns into a dance floor that stays full until 3 am.

Atmosphere and crowd

The crowd is mixed and exuberant; people sing along and cheer. Guests praise the shows, the elaborate costumes and the friendly bar team. The bar is small, so booking is a good idea on show nights.

Contact

Editorially researched, as of October 2026. Sources: the86.com.au, Google reviews (4.2 stars, 117 reviews). Opening hours, prices and programme may change, please check before visiting.