Bimbo - CLOSED

Overview

After a fire forced beloved Fitzroy institution Bimbo Deluxe to close its doors in May, 2018, there was a cheap pizza-shaped hole in the hearts of many northside locals. Thankfully, a year later, the home of cheap pizzas and late-night dance floor sessions has returned in a blaze of glory.

The reborn Brunswick Street venue has dropped Deluxe from its name, and is now simply known as Bimbo. Wallet-friendly $5 pizza deals are graciously included on the new menu (all day, every day), which has been revamped alongside a brand new program of music, drinks and after-hours shenanigans.

A makeover from designer Rabindra Naidoo — including new booth seating — makes the place feel refreshed, as does a swag of new large-scale artworks featured throughout. Pieces from the likes of Elliot Routledge and L.A.'s Kristen Liu Wong feature on the walls, as well as a big mural from Celeste Mountjoy (aka Filthy Ratbag), whose work graced the walls of the OG Bimbo.

Colonial Leisure Group – which owns the venue along with sister venue Lucky Coq, Brunswick's Penny Black and Half Moon in Brighton — has also hit refresh on the weekly events calendar, with an offering that includes a bunch of drink specials, acoustic sessions each Tuesday, Wednesday night trivia and an all-local gig lineup on Fridays. Legendary queer club Poof Doof is also coming to play, with weekly collaboration Queer Deluxe flipping the humble Sunday session on its head with a colourful program of DJ sets and performances from some of the city's top queer talent.

Images: Kate Shanasy. Updated: December 4, 2019.