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Monastery Nightclub

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Launched in the late ??90s, Monastery was one of the first custom-built nightclubs to set up shop in Fortitude Valley. While its 500 capacity size has long since been eclipsed by other venues, Monastery has remained one of the area's most popular clubs, largely due to its forward thinking music policy and iconic interior design. Walk inside the venue and you're greeted with imposing religious imagery, stained glass windows behind the bar and suitably gothic lighting. It certainly sets the tone for the venue and helps give Monastery a unique visual appeal.

If all the religious symbolism by the entrance is a bit much, it's offset nicely by the venue's private booths. These run alongside one half of the main room and overlook the dancefloor. Furnished with chesterfield couches and small palm trees, they provide both an interesting interior design contrast and a comfortable place to kick back and enjoy some cocktails. But, while the cocktail list is extensive, Monastery isn't really known for its Pimms Classic or Singapore Slings. The weekend crowd (the place is only open Fridays and Saturdays) tend to be young and the bar does a brisk trade in imported beers, premixed drinks and basic spirits.

Music is usually some variation on house - usually, and almost inevitably, electro-house. Still, there's a constant roster of international DJs through the doors and you can be assured of seeing a worldclass talent on most weekends. The monthly Coo Coo KaChoo night is especially well known for booking some of the best underground DJs around who usually run the gamut of styles - Baltimore Beats to minimal tech.

Almost 10 years on, the Monastery is one of Fortitude Valley's success stories. The venue helped revitalise the area when it was first launched and it's become a standard bearer for the area since then. Although clearly aimed at a younger demographic, Monastery knows its market and keeps the patrons coming back week after week. You can't argue with that.
Mikolai, December 2007