The Ida Bar

Opening for food service soon!

The Ida Bar's long awaited re-opening in the student precinct is nearly here! With a brand new cozy interior, all-day food service, and some of Melbourne's finest coffee, it's set to be your favourite new hangout on campus.

 

What we can tell you now:

  • The Ida will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with affordability as a focus.
  • The Ida Bar will open as a café during the summer break, with bar service opening closer to Semester 1 2025.
  • It'll have an extensive vinyl record collection as a tribute to the old Ida Bar in Union House.
  • The menu caters to vegan and gluten-free dietary requirements.
  • Opening hours during the summer break will be 9am-5pm, Mondays through Fridays.

 

Want a sneak peek? 

The Ida is just about ready to open its doors, but we want to keep up the mystery just a little while longer. For now, check out this timelapse of the construction site from earlier this year. This was filmed over just a few weeks in June and August, so imagine how good it must be looking by now!

 

 

History of the Ida Bar

The Ida is more than just a bar. While yes, its all about serving up good vibes and cheap drinks, it also represents a story of triumph and equality that goes back to the very beginnings of this university.

The Princess Ida Club was established back in 1888, just five years after Bella Guerin became the first woman to graduate university in Australia. Despite this, women were still excluded from men’s societies and spaces on campus, prompting a group of bold students to call for a change. Thus, the Princess Ida Club was born, women on campus had a space they could call their own for the first time and one of the early victories for gender equality at Unimelb was won.

It seems only fitting for us to commemorate their bravery in the name of UMSU’s new bar. It’s a space where everyone is welcome, made for students by students. It’s a place that epitomizes what we set out to achieve for you: a thriving community of students who stand together for respect and equal rights. That, and making sure you have a great time while you’re here.

Drink deep in the esteem of those who came before you, while we reflect on how their legacy has built a better tomorrow for everyone. So sit back, relax and enjoy a space that’s entirely for you!

See you at the Ida!

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UMSU is committed to promoting safe and responsible use and service of alcohol.

UMSU’s Commitment

UMSU is committed to the provision of a healthy, safe and supportive environment in relation to alcohol and aims to:

  • Ensure a safe and inclusive environment, free from harassment and social pressure, for all staff and students
  • Encourage a culture of responsible use, service and consumption of alcohol and reduce alcohol-related harm and its impact on the UMSU and wider communities
  • Promote awareness of personal safety and security
  • Provide support to staff and elected student representatives who wish to address their patterns of alcohol use or other alcohol-related issues
Album cover - The Ida Bar
The Princess Ida Club was established as a women’s space, at a time when we were excluded from men’s societies on campus. How things have changed! Ida Bar is everything you’d want from an on-campus bar – drinks and food at student friendly prices, pool tables and comfy couches. It passes the vibe check. Drink deep in the esteem of those who came before you, while we reflect on how their legacy has built a better tomorrow for everyone!