A whole suburban house off Chapel Street done up as a 70s ski lodge, with timber walls, a roaring fireplace, cheeseburgers and jugs in the backyard.
Published Feb 28, 2026 Last reviewed May 12, 2026 · How we pick bars Location 3 Wilson Street, South Yarra Off Chapel Street, near South Yarra station Price $$ Lagers and jugs at neighborhood prices Hours Wed–Sun Afternoon until late Booking Walk in only, no reservations Garden Backyard, first come Fireplace Roaring in winter Drinks Specialty Easy lagers and cocktail jugs Cheeseburgers and a quirky wine list Dive Bar South Yarra Beer Garden Burgers 4.4 None aggregate across Google and Time Out reviews Visit Leonard's House of Love Reserve a table Ask the editors Listings are editorial. Tell us if hours or details have changed and our editors will verify and update.
Leonard's House of Love takes over an entire house at 3 Wilson Street, a step off the Chapel Street strip in South Yarra. Guy Bentley and Mark Catsburg opened it in 2015 and dressed every room as a 1970s ski lodge.
Timber paneled walls, a roaring fireplace and psychedelic wallpaper set the tone, and Time Out's review leans on the same word everyone uses, house party. The Urban List files it among South Yarra's good vibes essentials, with the backyard running as a year round beer garden.
The drinks keep it loose, easy drinking lagers, fruity cocktail jugs built for tables, and a short wine list that The City Lane calls deliberately quirky. The kitchen earns its own trip, with the cheeseburger sitting among Melbourne's most recommended.
The room runs walk in only, no bookings, and the crowd skews local groups settling in for whole evenings. Heaps Normal's interview with the bar team captures the brief, a dive bar with genuine warmth rather than studied grime.
Go early on a Friday, claim a fireside table in winter or the backyard in summer. For more rooms like it, see our Melbourne hidden gems guide, the best bars in Melbourne, and the near me dive bar finder.
Winter evenings by the fireplace are the signature Leonard's experience, arrive before 6pm on weekends to claim the front room.