One morning two mates sat at The St Kilda Dispensary drinking coffee and chatting about nothing particularly life changing. One a photographer, one a videographer, they wanted to develop something exceptional that would solve a problem in a creative way. The caffeine gave them clarity, their hearts began to race.

Melbourne, a city brimming with bars of every kind and lots of thirsty people wanting to try them. But how to bring them together? They needed a concept to engage the public in a way without boring reviews or staged photos. If they could produce concise yet effective video features and allow users to access them on their mobile devices, the boys could bring them the hottest bars around the city and beyond.

Finally patrons would see the real venue, their drinks and food, their unique style, the people who go there, all in less than a minute. This was about telling stories, not playing one bar off against the other, it was to be a community, a hub of intimate experiences and a vehicle to celebrate local and international craft producers.

Suddenly it was happening, organically taking shape, the concept becoming reality. The boys needed a name. Something sharp and catchy that expressed their passion and desire to stimulate the viewers and get them to pay attention to what was around them. The bars were excited, they were excited. It was perfectly simple and a bit cheeky just like them. They were BAR/D UP. There was no going back.

If you’re new to the city, looking for somewhere to indulge, or a seasoned sipper on the hunt for your next hit, you’ve come to the right place. This is Melbourne in a martini glass, wet or dry, however you like it….get excited, get BAR/D UP!