Stay Gold — Restaurant in Melbourne

A fantastic little bandroom, with exceptional sound, but staffing issues let the venue down. Firstly, the doormen/bouncers/security. On a power trip, and lacking any form of common decency, this group bullied and intimidated the patrons outside the venue. One of them literally, physically tried to sit down on my chair - while I was sitting on it. He sat down, and slid back, pushing me off of it. All the while, his colleagues were intimidating the patrons lining up for the bandroom, yelling about made-up laws regarding ID requirements, and telling people with makeup on that they don't look like their picture so he doesn't have to let them in. "I don't have to let you in. Not everyone is as nice as me" he said, in the most unfriendly tone I could imagine. People with these mannerisms could possibly be forgiven if they were good at their jobs. But that was not the case here; these people appeared to be genuinely struggling with dealing with a busy night, a sold out gig. Painstakingly checking, rechecking, questioning, probing, each and every patrons ID, caused the room to fill and the line to move extraordinarily slowly. Perhaps this was just a tactic to try to incite unrest or impatience among the customers in hopes of a confrontation and a chance to exercise their rights to forcibly remove patrons, which after seeing, and hearing, their disdain for customers wouldn't be a surprise. Secondly, an oversight for a sold out show, one of the two bars inside the venue at numerous times had only one staff member, which caused painfully slow service during the 20-minute gaps between bands as everyone tried to grab a drink before the headliner. There's a high level of potential here, as the sound, lighting, decor and alcohol selection is top-notch, but there undoubtedly needs to be a change or some retraining before this is a fan-favorite venue for live music, as no one likes having a night out in a hostile...

Tried to attend last night and were met with a terrible experience by the security team. One of my friends(female) was wearing open toed shoes with leggings on underneath as part of her Halloween costume. The lead security guard was extremely rude to her, publicly yelling at her for being a nuisance with her shoes and humiliating her in front of everyone. We tried to explain that the event poster or club policy on the website does not mention anything prohibiting open toed shoes and saw other people with open toed/heels. He continued to scream and remove us from the line. My friend was willing to go home and change her shoes so we asked him if that would be alright and he said we were causing too much “aggro” so he wouldn’t allow any of us back in even with other shoes. This was really upsetting as my friend would have gone back home to change her shoes so we were not aware what the problem was and it seemed like the security really just wanted to publicly ridicule us.

It was a completely unnecessary escalation of a small situation by your security team and was a very unpleasant experience for us. The security guard was very aggressive and demeaning to my friend, publicly yelling at her for no reason at multiple times during the night. Other people in the queue and in the area were confused why he was being so aggressive and rude and shocked by his behaviour. We were all unable to use our tickets and had a horrible experience which completely ruined our evening.

Waste of $90 dollars.

I suggest updating your entry policy on your website to actually include something prohibiting open toed shoes so other people do not waste their...

Stay Gold, located in the heart of Melbourne’s vibrant Brunswick area, is a venue that has it all—great music, an inviting atmosphere, and a killer selection of drinks. It’s the kind of place you’ll walk into feeling instantly at ease, thanks to its warm, relaxed vibe and friendly crowd.

What sets Stay Gold apart is its fantastic programming. It’s a go-to for both local and touring bands, offering a mix of indie, rock, punk, and everything in between. The intimate size of the venue means you're always up close to the action, making the live shows feel personal and energetic. The acoustics are top-notch, ensuring that every riff, beat, and lyric comes through clear and crisp.

The venue itself has a bit of a retro charm with modern touches. Think neon lights, cozy seating, and a cool bar area where you can grab a drink between sets. The drinks menu is extensive, offering everything from craft beers to creative cocktails, all reasonably priced.

Another plus? The staff is super chill and welcoming, which adds to the relaxed, no-pressure vibe. You’ll also find a few food options to snack on during shows—nothing too fancy, but it hits the spot when you're in the mood for something casual.

Whether you're there to catch a live band, have a few drinks, or just soak up the atmosphere, Stay Gold is a great choice. It’s got the perfect balance of energy and laid-back charm, making it one of Melbourne’s best venues for...