We have a new neighbour at Section 8, a new friend, an ally. After so many years standing alone in one of Melbourne’s infamous stark alleys, our backs pressed up against the sweaty walls of the city’s shadiest dumpling dispensaries, we now have a true friend to stand tall with and face the future together.

And stand tall she does. Standing 2 floors above and looking down upon us like an Imperial turret, Ferdydurke offers an elevated and slightly more sophisticated experience than the carpark plebs beneath her.

However, like all good neighbours, she is willing to share her wares, and her full Vietnamese inspired menu including Spicy Pho, Papaya Salads and Rice Paper Rolls will be available to all those drinking up around the pallets at Section 8.

We’ll have more details on that full menu coming very soon, but before we get to that we want to answer the question: What is Ferdydurke?

Ferdydurke can be called home to the most alternative and normal extremes of Melbourne drinking society, an art-orientated imbibing experience for both the city’s cultural elite and its anti-establishmentarians.

Their attitude is formed from the arts and music: from punk to dada, street-art to hiphop, techno to sculpture; we’re creating a comfortable space to stir, and whet, creative appetites.  

Standing somewhere between the drunken Surrealism of Charles Bukowski and the sobering rationalism of Ingmar Bergman, Ferdydurke most of all is a place for fun times, good tunes and questionable behaviour. 

They will be featuring some of Melbourne’s finest and most eclectic DJs, live artists, musicians, performers, VJs and also some of the city’s most successfully functioning alcoholics! 

Starting off the circus is regular Friday night joint Audrey*, an exploration of micro-house, minimal techno and the clicks and pops of glitch music, kicking off every week from 7pm to 1am.

Check the Facebook page for upcoming event details…