An international lineup of bars and cafés is landing in Melbourne this week as Behind the Lanes turns a CBD laneway into a four-day pop-up dedicated to coffee, aperitivo and cocktails.
Running from 18–21 March, the event brings baristas and bartenders from across Asia-Pacific into the same space, creating a rotating program that moves from morning coffee service through to late-night cocktails. Cities including Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Taipei and Jakarta will be represented alongside Melbourne venues, with visiting teams collaborating across both café and bar formats.
The program shifts with the day. Mornings are dedicated to coffee, while afternoons lean into aperitivo culture, with low-ABV cocktails and spritz-style drinks designed as a bridge between café and bar. At night, visiting bars take over the laneway with guest shifts and limited-edition cocktail menus.
The broader event also extends into Fitzroy. On Wednesday 18 March, the Behind the Lanes team will bring two of Asia’s leading bars to Moondrop for a one-night guest shift. Seoul speakeasy Sookhee and Shanghai cocktail bar EPIC – a regular on the World’s Best Bars list – will take over the Gertrude Street venue for a night focused on collaboration and experimentation.
Moondrop will also host the event’s closing party on Saturday 21 March, welcoming all six visiting bars for one final service. Alongside Sookhee and EPIC, the lineup includes Ace Four Club (Seoul), Carrots (Jakarta), Laut (Singapore) and Pine (Taiwan).
Earlier that morning, the laneway will shift gears with MP3 Social’s “morning rave,” running from 8:30am to 11:30am. The session pairs DJ sets and dancefloor energy with a matcha-led drinks menu, turning the space into a daytime party before the final night of cocktails begins.
