Chapel's notoriously soulless Commercial-to-Toorak stretch has finally received a well considered, bohemian slap to the face – and it's lust at first sight.

By Adam Baidawi January 29th, 2010 for X & Y Magazine.

Pitched as an art deco haven for live showcasing, Red Bennies has a brashly eclectic blend of acts on show: from soul, funk, disco and jazz to circus tropes and lustful cabaret.

After attending the venue's soft launch, we discovered that there's a helluva cocktail menu too. The interior is authentic, head to toe: crimson red stage curtains, raised booths, and a fittingly secluded mezzanine.

Red Bennies is the sort of cocktail we didn't even know we were craving: the burlesque, the jazz, the eccentric-the ecstatic.

Not a bad way to channel the roaring twenties and brew up some (strictly dapper) mayhem.

Launch events are on throughout next week.

Red Bennies
Level 1, 371 Chapel Street
South Yarra, Vic 3141

Thursday, 4th Feb (Bitches Brew Launch)
Time: 9pm to 3am
Live music: Thief & Wolfgramm (live) / DJs: Prequel / Edd FIsher / Dannan 
Performers: Monkey Brigade (Etoile Marley and Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore) / James Kingsford-Smith / Malia Walsh
Genres: Music: HipHop, Soul, Funk, Disco, Rare Groove. Performance: Dance, Acrobatics, Circus
Price: $15


Friday, 5th Feb
Time: 9pm to 3am
Live Music: The Melodics // DJs: Kano / Prequel / Edd Fisher
Performers: Zoe Robbins / James Kingsford-Smith / Steven Williams / Kelly Anne Doll
Genres: Music: Soul, Funk, Hiphop, Rare Groove. Performance: Circus, Acrobatics, Burlesque
Price: $15

Saturday, 6th Feb
Time: 9pm to 3am
Live Music: Cookin on Three Burners + Kylie Auldist // DJs: Emma Peel / JPS / Kano
Performers: Zoe Robbins / Steven Williams /Kelly Anne Doll / Tank
Genres: Music: Soul, Funk, Disco, GoGo. Performance: Circus, Burlesque
Price: $15