There are some that would have you believe that Victoria’s club scene is dying. They haven’t been to Lucky Bar. A longtime hangout for local hipsters and band fans and groupies, Lucky Bar has caught the attention of the rest of Victoria’s club-going crowd. From the outside it’s a typical club, a chain keeps the club-fodder cattle-prodded and cordoned off into neat lines and bouncers with bomber jackets check IDs. When you get to the door to pay cover, it’s another story. The cashier may have a hip, yet angular hair cut or a funky style and it’s an indication of what to expect inside – something is just a little bit different.

Lucky has themed nights to choose from, or try them all. On Mondays you can enjoy 90210 where DJs spin 90s hits. Wednesdays are Modified nights and you can expect to hear enough Britpop to fill your weekly quota. Thursdays are lounge nights – movie projection screens and couches are brought out and a laid back DJ vibe is featured. Saturdays are the famed Solid dance parties that garnered the club noteworthy acclaim. DJ Longshanks gets the packed dance floor moving with new and old indie and dance favourites like Daft Punk, Feist, New Order or Interpol. Tuesdays and Fridays are rounded out with live entertainment – whether it be local music, touring acts, burlesque shows or literature readings and spoken word events.

This long, low, cavernous space has a pleasantly grungy feel to it. Owned and operated by the team in charge of next-door Süze, Lucky's DJs spin house and trance on the weekends, with bands often showing up earlier in the week.

The first thing you’ll notice is the three-tiered, wrought-iron, gothic chandelier, or maybe the motorcycle above the entrance, or the enormous moose head watching over the bar. Old two-dollar bills gleam from inside of ubiquitous tip jars and the bar shelves are backlit – turning bottles of alcohol glow-in-the-dark beacons for dancing neophytes.