A Melbourne man has sparked debate after claiming he and a friend were denied entry to a popular Prahran nightclub and cocktail bar because of their footwear, while women wearing similar shoes were allowed inside.
The post, shared on Reddit, shows a photo of two men’s feet in Birkenstocks – a German brand of orthopaedic-focused sandals – alongside a woman entering the venue in thong-style open-toed shoes.
The incident allegedly occurred at Pawn & Co, a well-known Greville Street venue themed as a pawn shop.
“Got rejected from a bar for my shoes, as two girls wearing the same walk through …” the man wrote in the caption, adding that he was “completely sober.”
The post quickly amassed 3,000 ‘upvotes’ and over 600 comments, with many lamenting the often-frustrating reality of Australian nightlife and the unofficial ‘gender ratio’ many clubs follow.
Pawn & Co’s official dress code is listed as Smart Casual – specifically banning hats, hoodies and sportswear.
There’s no mention of footwear or shoes that are unacceptable inside the venue.
Generally, dress codes have been an acceptable requirement when entering venues across Australia, but the often strict rules have been called into question in recent years.
Some argue that in 2026, dress codes are no longer relevant, while others believe “standards have dropped.”
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
Thanks for signing up!
Pawn & Co insisted that its entry requirements are rooted in safety rather than outdated notions.
“Pawn & Co maintains a dress code policy that applies to all guests regardless of gender,” a spokesperson told news.com.au.
“Open-toed sandals and thongs are discouraged for safety reasons, including the risk of broken glass on the venue floor.”
While the Reddit user noted that women entered in similarly open-toed shoes, the bar admitted that enforcement isn’t always perfect.
“On busy nights, our door team does their best to apply this consistently, but we acknowledge that sometimes people are missed,” they added.
“We’re sorry these gentlemen felt unwelcome – that’s never our intention.”
Despite the venue’s safety-first explanation, others in the comments were simply shocked at the man’s choice of shoe and offered him a harsh reality check.
“What dude wears Birkenstocks to a nightclub? It’s not Bali,” one person wrote.
“No self-respecting male should wear those to a bar. You could be Brad Pitt and get rejected on cringe level alone,” a second critic replied.
Under Australian law, private businesses – including bars, clubs and restaurants – generally have a “right of refusal” to decide who can enter their venue.
However, refusal is illegal if it is based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age or religion.
