First look: Canberra speakeasy Molly reopens in the Melbourne building

Almost five months since the heavy door was closed at Molly (and the building subsequently torn down), the speakeasy has reopened in Civic's Melbourne Building.

Just like the first time round and true to her speakeasy fashion, Molly reopened quietly and unexpectedly last weekend, giving out little more than a set of coordinates.

Dimly lit and smelling of freshly cut wood, kerosene and a touch of whisky, the new Molly is true to the original, with a similar design and fixtures.

But she almost never was. When the bar was forced to close due to the original building in Hobart Place being torn down, owners Ant Arena, Lorenzo Focarile and Dean Brown initially didn't plan to reopen.

"We weren't going to do it, because I've never seen a bar move and be successful again as the same concept," said Arena.

"It was the first bar the three of us did together, so there was a bit of an emotional attachment, and we were really keen to do it."

Then they found a space in the Melbourne Building which ticked a lot of boxes, including the somewhat hidden entry off Odgers Lane.

The main difference this time is an inconspicuous stairwell leads you upstairs, not down. Climb the stairs, and the same "Molly" spelt out in black and white tiles greets you at the top.

"We figured the only way another Molly would work would be to kick it up a notch in a few particular areas. So we looked at the feedback we always got and what we'd need to change," said Arena.

"So that was having a better set up for live music, having more space, and we always got function and party requests, and we really couldn't cater to people - we didn't have the space for it. And we needed a building that had the right character."

"When we found this space, we loved the fact that it has a vault, and being in the Melbourne building which is really heritage in its own right. The stairs going in really suited it, and it has the door into the alleyway."

The new venue is just over double the space of its predecessor, making plenty of room for more people, live music, and when the mood strikes, even a bit of dancing. The bar again has its distinctive copper top, but is now longer and wider. A much larger back bar means they have added an additional 300 whiskys to their extensive range, and four beers will now be available on tap.

Seating is a mix of tables in the middle and wooden booths around the perimeter. A 100-year-old grand piano takes pride of place on a stage for live music - the piano had to be craned into the venue when construction had barely begun, before the doors and walls went in. Bands will play from time to time and there is live jazz every Tuesday night.

Staff are the same - they were able to work at Arena, Focarile and Brown's other bars The Highball Express, Black Market and 80s bar 88pmh during the closure. And the venue also again has a charcuterie station, serving up platters of freshly sliced cured meats, cheeses and in-season fruits.

The major addition is the function space - the Molly Vault, which literally sits in an old vault. With its coffered ceiling and chandeliers, the charming and intimate space is decked out with leather armchairs and its own full bar and fits 55 people. It's available for function bookings, and will also mostly be open to the public from 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Molly. 35°16'44.5"S 149°07'42.0"E. Open Mon to Wed 4pm-midnight, Thurs to Sat 4pm-2am. Also open long weekend Sundays from 6pm. molly.bar.