Bar of the Year Award
On 24 May 2024 we were awarded “Restaurant & Bar of the Year in Australia” by Travel & Hospitality Awards. The award is based on a review against our competitors of our menu dishes and drinks, style, branding, ratings and reviews we’ve received. We couldn’t be more chuffed to receive this award.
Jazz, EVERY Thurs in 2024
From February 2024 right through to December we’ll be hosting LIVE JAZZ at Life’s Too Short every Thursday night.
- MARK MORAND (Paris Cat) plays Reinterpretations of Jazz Classics
- ADAM RUSSO (Paris Cat) plays Jazz Manouche (Gypsy Jazz)
- CINDY & PAOLO sing Jazz-Blues fusion
Full program will be published in January 2024.
MEANWHILE … due to broadcasting laws our regular (and very popular) play list at the bar has been replaced with JAZZ RADIO from Jamendo. You can still get a copy of our SPOTIFY PLAYLIST to play at home via the link below.
Competition Results
Heard about our competitions yet?
MONTHLY $100 GIVEAWAY
Each month we draw one lucky diner to receive a $100 gift certificate. The winners are listed below:
- OCT24 $100 David Reeves; $10 Blessie Rosete; $10 Daniel Narbett
- SEP24 Layne & Mark
- AUG24 Tony Keeling
- JUL24: Eva So
- JUN24: Patricia Lauria
- MAY24: Richard Slee
- APR 24: Neville Steer
- MAR 24: Katrina Beams
- FEB 24: Prue & Graham
- JAN 24: Jo Buckley
GOLDEN TICKETS:
Each week in June, then monthly from July to September, we’ll randomly draw 5 competition entrants and sending them a GOLDEN TICKET for unlimited discounts for the month to say “thanks” for being part of our family.
- AUG/SEP 24: GOLDEN TICKETS – Daniel Mawson, Karl Anderson, Chelsea Perry, Mark Hobart, and Mark X
- JUL 24: GOLDEN TICKETS – Mark, Shelley & Alex, Lesley Clementson, Natasha Charing, and Susan Tonks.
- JUN 24: GOLDEN TICKETS – WEEK 1: Heidi Culbard, Jaya, Elizabeth Langton, Ali Steer, and Tom, WEEK 2: Phil Brierley, Jesse Dorsett, Richard Goldsmith, Cameron Reid, and Chris Rutledge WEEK3: Harrison Mulkear, Guy Ayres, Mark, Simon Linskill and Peter Wilson
To enter our these competitions simply spend over $100 in a single transaction and pop your full name, mobile number and email address on the back of the bill and we’ll pop you in the draw. The more times you dine with us, the more chances you have!
- The winner is chosen at random by lucky draw
- Entrants must be active members of our email database
- Entries that do not meet the conditions and illegible entries are disqualified
- Ticketed events and First Table are excluded from entry.
- Winners will be contacted directly and published in our weekly email
- Prizes must be used within 12 months or are voided
- Prizes cannot be converted to cash but may be transferred to another person
- The decision of Life’s Too Short Bar is final and no correspondence will be entered into
Questions? See Sig.
Toy Adoption Program
Since our beloved two pooches went over the rainbow in 2023 the toy adoption program has brought so much joy to us, and to the pooches who have enjoyed (and in some cases destroyed) the toys.
When you bring your well-behaved pooch into visit us (and we love cuddles) they can select a toy to take home. There are still plenty of toys left and it gives us joy to know that their good quality toys go to new homes and provide joy to others.
Kimba Biggles
(RIP 29-08-2023)
& Willow Bear
(RIP 10-06-2023)
Better than 9 shots of espresso
WE NOW HAVE STOCKS of Dodge available … you know there’s nothing worse, than a crappy hangover right? So after that big night out, when you can’t quite reach for the Fernet Branca or Underberg, come and get a Dodge. With their slogan “Enjoy tonight, and dodge tomorrow”, this very tasty brew was developed in conjunction with Monash University and contains Asian Pear Juice, Ginger Extract, Korean Ginseng, Milk Thistle, Turmeric Extract, Vine Tea Extract, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C. And there’s no caffeine or added sugar, which is a healthier option than grabbing a triple espresso!
Occupations That Save!
Did you know since the day we opened we’ve offered a Frontline Discount?
The discount, 10% off an individual’s bill, is available to all medical, hospital ambulance, police, and fire workers who helped (and continue to help) to keep us safe during the COVID-19 Pandemic. All you need to do is ask for the discount prior to paying the bill and show us your proof of employment (e.g. your ID tag). We’ll then apply the discount to your bill.
It’s our way of paying it forward and saying “Thanks”.
HOW YOU CAN HELP? If you work in one of these organisations nearby, we’d love you to pop a flyer up in your staff room where it’s appropriate. Just ask us for a copy!
Melbourne Bar Dogs
You may already know that well-behaved leashed pooches are welcome in our outside area as well as the first 3 inside tables during quiet nights in less favourable weather, and that we welcome them with special grain-free treats (if you allow). But now we have some more exciting things in store ….
We’d like to invite your pooch to be part of our Melbourne Bar Dog family. As the weather warms up we’ll be introducing our new Dogtinis, Puppagatos & Pooch Tapas Cups for your pet’s dining pleasure in our promenade area. But wait … there’s more!
We’d also like to invite your loved one to participate in our Melbourne Bar Dogs Book. You need to consent to have his/her picture published, and bring them along on the photo shoot day to be photographed by a professional photographer. You’ll also need to answer some questions for content so readers can get to know your pet, plus questions like “If I was a Life’s Too Short Signature Cocktail, I’d be a …”
If you’re interested in taking part in the Melbourne Bar Dogs Book project please get in touch with Sig on 0416 088 000 by SMS.
For the Love of Wine
We were thrilled to be interviewed by Jenny Denton for the Inner East Review recently. It was a little hard drinking red wine at 10 am in the morning (and in case you’re wondering it was the GD Vajra Dolcetto D’Alba). If you missed the article or didn’t get the newspaper in your letterbox, you can read the article here.
Like Cheers, butt without Norm!
For those who have visited us, you’ll already be aware we’re a little different from other venues. Small, bespoke, sure. Hand-crafted, a Chef and Somm-inspired offering. Yup. Personal and not transactional … definitely. We’re a bit like Cheers, but without Norm sitting on the bar stool. But did you know that there’s a few other things that make us different from the average hospitality venue?
No sittings or time limits. We hate those 2hr booking slots, so we don’t impose them. That means you could start at 3pm and graze right through until 1am (and you’d beat the current record of 8 hours). As long as you keep ordering and enjoying yourself, the table (or couch) is yours. Exceptions? Pre-booked tables, scheduled functions and closing. That’s it. But we do have one ask … 85% of our trade is walk-in which makes it hard to judge nightly numbers. So please book by SMS 0416 088 000 in advance if you know you’re coming so we can staff up appropriately to ensure consistency of service for you and our other patrons.
You can split the bill any way you like. The only condition is everyone has to pay simultaneously and you need to tell us how you want the bill split BEFORE you start paying. Advance bill payments are also possible, but we’ll need to transfer your items onto a separate tab prior to your payment.
No weekend or credit card surcharges because we are a “cashless” bar so we take all cards with a chip without imposing a surcharge … it’d be unfair of us to charge any nasty extras, even on a weekend!
No public holiday surcharges because we don’t agree with them. Usually it’s just Antony and me working as we like to give our staff the holiday off too, so pop in and say hello!
Optional tipping. We don’t expect tips or make them mandatory for any reason … ever. But tips are like warm hugs without the awkward body contact and are gratefully received. So if you’ve had a good time, or if we’ve gone above and beyond, or if you just want to say an extra thanks via a tip, please leave cash or let us know before making your credit card payment so we can add it to your transaction total.
