Escape Venue

Head down to Adelaide Place and you'll find Escape tucked away in what used to be an actual school building — which explains why the acoustics are genuinely decent, unlike half the sweaty boxes around town. The crowd here actually cares about what's on stage rather than just using it as background noise for their night out. You'll catch everything from local acts to touring bands, and there's a real sense that the venue's owner has thought about the experience rather than just maximising bar takings. It's got character without trying too hard, the kind of place where you bump into people you know and end up staying longer than planned.