There was once a very precise definition for bars in the Melbourne style. You know the drill: a gritty city alley with hardly any directional signage that nevertheless manages to seem fresh despite having zero dollars to spare. The word seems to have accomplished its purpose, since our native bar scene has been formed for over two decades, providing the city with a dizzying array of possibilities. Bring back to life; repair.
The best bars in Melbourne are dedicated to quality in every facet, whether you're enjoying the neon and loud music of the Beaufort and Heartbreaker, sipping a perfectly made martini from beautiful, correct stemware at the Everleigh or Romeo Lane, or marvelling at the precise, thought-out wine or whisky lists at bars like Smalls and the Whiskey Room. We locals here in town are quite serious about our pubs.
Maybe we're in the Next Wave now that Victoria's liquor licencing officials have decided we're old enough to handle a few more dive bars.
Melbourne's image as a late-night hotspot is thanks in large part to the city's recent proliferation of supper clubs. Arlequin and the soon-to-open Mayfair aren't just bars; they're also full-service restaurants. Everything about it is sophisticated, well-developed, and relevant.
Meanwhile, wine bars appear to be popping up everywhere. These compact establishments, which update the classic pub aesthetic with community tables and neatly arranged shelves, are inspired by the City Wine Shop and the Gertrude Street Enoteca, two of the first and most influential bar/bottleshops in the United Kingdom.
It's easy to ignore Melbourne's vibrant bar scene because of how seamlessly it fits into the city's established culture. However, please hear me out. Those who have had a hand in developing our bar culture urge us to have fun, explore new things, and pay great attention to our bourbon, scotch, or wine. Doing things in this fashion is the Melbourne norm.
FAQs About Melbourne
For a long time, there were only two places to buy alcohol – hotels and restaurants. The rules stated that restaurants had to serve a meal with alcohol, while hotels had to provide accommodation and have food available.
Liquor licences were so hard to get and rules so restrictive that by 1986, Melbourne only had 571 licenced venues, down from 4900 in 1910.
But slowly, things began to change. In 1986, the State Government made sweeping changes to liquor licences, allowing restaurants to serve beer without food and hotels to serve beer without providing accommodation. And they allowed bars to stay open until midnight.
But the big law change came in 1994 when Premier Jeff Kennett changed a rule that said every bar or pub had to install a kitchen. This rule was designed to help Crown Casino, which was building a massive development in the South Bank.
But this simple change made opening smaller bars much cheaper. That, combined with cheap rents in the CBD, led to the rise of Melbourne’s famed laneway bar culture.
As a result of these changes, Melbourne has 14,423 licensed bars as of 2018. On average, two new liquor licences were granted every day for 20 years from 1986.
It depends on your budget and what you like to drink – a pot of beer will typically cost $5-10, while a cocktail is usually in the $20-$25 range. We pride ourselves on bringing you to a variety of Melbourne hidden bar venues, so you’ll always find something you like. You are welcome to order as much or as little as you like on tour.
Melbourne is renowned for its nightlife, meaning there are many great cocktail bars to check out. The top-rated by review is 1806, which is one of the more unique cocktail bars in the city. Worth a try.
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food such as different types of roast meats and cheese, and (mostly historically) where travelers would receive lodging.
Find a floor for your best moves at Melbourne's most popular nightclubs. Glam up for celeb-laden superclubs or see past sunrise at city stalwarts. Whether it's deep house, electro or RnB that moves you, you'll find regular nights and special events with guest DJs a-plenty to keep you on your feet.
Best Bars in Melbourne
It's not enough to just make a good drink here. There is a bar in every nook and cranny of the city, down alleyways and up stairs, decorated with trash cans and stocked with drinks made with care and attention to detail. Limiting your selections is essential for becoming a Melbourne drinking pro.
We've included a variety of establishments for you to let your hair down, from brewpubs to cocktail lounges to rooftop bars with breathtaking views. Our directory of the finest watering holes in Melbourne will get you safely through any journey.
Heartbreaker
It has neon lighting, a jukebox full of Eagles, Bowie, and Queen recordings, but no place to dance. Still, you can bet that some folks will be booty-shaking in the corner.
To have some good, old-fashioned, rowdy fun, there's no better venue than Heartbreaker. The location of Heartbreaker in the middle of The City belies the fact that the patrons there are true rock and rollers at heart. Not that people don't come here after work; rather, they unbutton their top buttons and take off their ties.
Billiards experts gather every Sunday night for the Ballbreaker competition. Every night except Sunday, when we close at 1 a.m., you can hang out here until 3 a.m.
Gerald's Bar
If there was a Gerald's on every block, nobody would leave their neighbourhood. This is the type of wine bar you wish every city had; it's cosy, full of friendly people, and you'll feel right at home here.
The Carlton North location, with its lace curtains and shelves of curios, isn't going to win any design awards, but it does have a beautiful European vibe, as if transported directly from a little town in Spain or Italy. The wine list features over 200 bottles from all over the world, including both traditional and trendy options like those made with skin contact or orange.
Three reds, three whites, and a sparkling wine are always available by the glass, and if you arrive early enough or as a bottle empties, you get to select the one that will be opened next. Although a variety of spirits, cocktails, and speciality beers are available, wine is by far the most popular choice. You would be doing yourself a disservice if you chose to disregard the menu, which is scrawled on a piece of butcher's paper and hung behind the bar.
Arlequin
Finding Arlechin in its Chinatown laneway, past the fairy lights and Makatron painting, is like discovering a hidden gem. The exclusivity of the venue (just 40 seats) only adds to its attraction. The wine cellar décor includes a cork ceiling, a marble bar top, and wine racks lining the walls.
The bartender can certainly mix you a classic cocktail, and any of those bottles of wine are yours for the taking. But before you order, have a peek at the drink menu. Firebird (rye, apricot brandy, bitters, and Champagne with an orange twist) and Rear Window (bourbon, Aperol, lemon, sweetened ginger, and bitters) will set the mood for a fun night out.
The quality of the cuisine served here is exceptional. Oysters and "midnight spaghetti," a small portion of pasta with a delectable sauce made of canned tomatoes, capers, chilli flakes, oregano, and a dash of colatura di Alici, are both on the limited Italian menu (an anchovy sauce from Campania). The best part is that you can order from the menu all the way up to 3 am.
The Everleigh
The Everleigh, located in Fitzroy, has a classy Roaring Twenties vibe because to its antique furnishings (Chesterfields, crystal chandeliers, bentwood seats around solid tables), as well as its dim lighting. To observe the bartenders at work, choose a seat at the bar, while those seeking a more private environment can settle into a booth in the second room.
In 2017, the pub received an upgrade that allows it to accommodate somewhat larger gatherings while yet maintaining its friendly atmosphere. Tell the staff how you're feeling and they'll come up with something to suit your tastes. If you're looking for something a little different, consider the Debutant, which blends gin, pomegranate, lime, and orange bitters in a coupe and is inspired by the classics but made with modern ingredients.
You can get some appetisers like duck and pistachio terrine, Ortiz sardines, and triple cream brie, but don't plan on staying for dinner.
Cookie
There's always a cool new bar to visit in Melbourne, but if you're tired of vying for a seat with a gaggle of Instagrammers, there's always a large, buzzing Cookie in Chinatown. Combining elements like beer halls, cocktail lounges, and Thai restaurants is a breeze.
The walls are covered in beautiful black and white murals, and the tiny, highly coveted Juliet balconies are clustered next to a row of beer taps. If you want some peace and quiet, you can always duck behind the enlarged bar.
An enormous wine list (70 pages long), international microbrews on tap, and a vast assortment of cocktails may be found on the menus that are posted inside the covers of vintage children's books (ranging from fruity, refreshing tall numbers to chilli-infused martinis).
A Bartender's Handshake is a delicious nightcap that combines Irish whisky, Punt e Mes, Grand Marnier, Fernet-Branca, bitters, and an orange twist.
Bad Frankie
You may find many other bars in Fitzroy with a similar vibe as Frankie. It has a rustic feel, with a wall of hanging rope separating the two half of the space and a collage of historical images covering the walls. However, you're here because, with the exception of a few tequilas, each of the bar's 150 spirits was distilled in Australia.
Spirits, enjoyed neat if that's your thing, or in creative cocktails, are the name of the game here. The Trent From Punchy (named after a made-up YouTube star) is a local twist on the classic Ti' Punch made with unaged Agricole from Husk Distiller and blood limes. For its part, the Pepperberry Fizz combines the best alcohol available from Melbourne Gin Company with soda, egg white, lemon, and pepper berry syrup.
Boilermaker House
This CBD pub is way more hip than it has any right to be, considering that a boilermaker is a beer combined with a shot of whisky. There's nice blues music playing, and the atmosphere is cosy and woodsy. The bar has an impressive amount of bottles stacked up behind it, making the stools the prime viewing spot. The prices for these whiskies, which number in the thousands, start at $12 and go up to $380.
There are ten beer taps, all of which serve rotating selections of craft beer from Australia and beyond. A martini with tequila, vermouth, green chilli liqueur, pear liqueur, and grapefruit oil is just one example of the inventive cocktails available here.
Moon Dog Craft Brewery
Abbotsford's Moon Dog Brewery Bar offers a taste of Melbourne's thriving craft beer sector with its unique concoctions, some of which are made by incorporating unusual ingredients like watermelon or truffles. When we were there before, we ordered a few jugs of the Splice of Heaven pine-lime IPA and a couple of Cake Hole black forest stouts to wash it all down.
There is the Love Tap lager and Old Mate pale ale for the tame, and cocktails, wines, and spirits for the beer-phobic. Don't be shy about asking the bartenders for recommendations or details on the beers on tap; they're all beer enthusiasts just like you. Tours of the brewery are given every Thursday night and Saturday afternoon by one of the bartenders.
Melbourne Supper Club
The stairs leading up to the exclusive Melbourne Supper Club can be found behind a massive, unmarked door in Chinatown. Each type of wine gets its own page on the extensive wine list, and there are roughly 16 different choices to enjoy by the glass.
Beer, liquor, and cocktails are all available in plentiful supply. They have a late night menu with a few hearty options including fried chicken done Japanese style and grilled flatbread pizza with wild mushrooms, parmesan, truffle oil, and honey.
The Lui Bar
The elegance begins with the reception you receive upon entering the building, when your name is proclaimed as the elevator is called for you. Located 55 stories above the Central Business District, Lui Bar provides views of the distant Dandenong Ranges during the day and a panorama of dazzling city lights at night. The artist Mikala Dwyer's cloud-like chandelier adds a touch of elegance to the room, which is otherwise furnished with low, comfortable seats. The list of wines, beers, and spirits is short yet high quality.
Slow-drip mixture of Belvedere vodka and single-estate coffee is included in the Vodka Pour Over, while the Velvet Rotor Macadamia Martini combines macadamia fat-washed vodka with vaporised butter. Get some well-deserved self-care here. The excellent cocktails, stylish atmosphere, and breathtaking scenery make for a perfect evening.
Arbory Bar & Eatery
One of Melbourne's most well-known alfresco drinking establishments, Arbory, is located on the site of a former platform at Flinders Street Railway Station. Tables are spread out around the 500-foot deck, while large umbrellas and heaters keep everyone dry and toasty, all thanks to the clever use of shipping containers as restrooms and beverage stations.
But the best part is the unobstructed vista of the Yarra River. You can have anything you want, but if you want something quick and easy, try the nitro espresso martin or the featured gin drink (which rotates yearly).
Bomba Rooftop
Bomba Rooftop, a trendy bar in Chinatown, has dazzling views of the city's buildings and plane trees when the weather in Melbourne is cooperating. The downstairs tapas restaurant serves as an inspiration for the menu items and drinks here.
The majority of the wines on the list are from Spain, while local craft beer and cider are also big sellers. You can get everything from the tried-and-true (a G&T) to the outlandish (a Naked & Boozy, made with Australian gin, rosé, lychee, grapefruit, and mint).
Lock & Key
Captain Melville is a restaurant located in a bluestone pub in the Central Business District that dates back more than 150 years; behind the bookcase in the restaurant is a staircase leading to Loch & Key, a smaller, cosier bar decorated to evoke a rustic cabin. This hideaway has the ambience of a private gentlemen's club, with its timber-paneled corners, cosy booths, and mounted deer heads.
For those who want to get some fresh air, there is a wonderful balcony. It's obvious that this would be a terrific place to relax after a night out at the clubs, but you can also enjoy it to the fullest in the morning when the venue is less crowded and you have a higher chance of reserving a table on the balcony.
Madame Brussels
Madame Brussels is like the most enjoyable posh garden party you've ever attended in the Central Business District. The approach, via a 1970s elevator, does not inspire confidence. Small groups relax on the artificial turf throughout the day and into the night, sitting on the white, shiny patio furniture.
The bartenders can mix up anything, but the alcoholic punch, available in jugs for two or four, is the house speciality. Made with local vermouth, gin, ginger ale, and lemonade, the Madame's Fruity Double D Cups are a refreshing choice. Cucumber, strawberry, lemon, and mint are added for the final touches.
Bar Liberty
The decor of Bar Liberty in Fitzroy is quite sterile, but the bar quickly becomes a cosy hangout once it's packed with drinkers. The founders' backgrounds include some of Melbourne's finest restaurants, so they set out to make a venue that foodies and casual diners both would love. All eyes are on the wine, particularly those made by independent winemakers or stored in all-natural containers. The drink list is short yet delicious.
The Best Bars in Melbourne Are Located in the Heart of the City, Yet You’d Never Know It.
Although it may not have the same attraction as Sydney or Byron Bay, Melbourne more than makes up for it with its superb cuisine, lively nightlife, inventive arts environment, and excellent music scene.
Much of Melbourne's charm is hidden from plain sight, but it may be found by exploring the trendy streets of Fitzroy or the mazelike alleys of the central business district (Central Business District).
One of the city's sexiest cocktail bars is located in a graffiti-covered attic, and the "can't-miss" restaurant is only accessible via a labyrinth of back lanes.
Pizza Pizza Pizza
Pizza lovers from New York City don't have to go far to get a tasty pie, but if they happen to be in Melbourne, they should definitely check out Pizza Pizza Pizza, a pizza parlour and cocktail bar. The American-style eatery offers both traditional pizzas like the magic mushroom and the triple cheese, and more unique options like the dessert pizza topped with white chocolate, sliced almonds, and vanilla ice cream.
Melted cheese may seem enticing, but it's just a gateway to the wonder that awaits behind the neon sign at 16 Meyers Place, where a velvet black curtain conceals an unidentified cocktail bar. You can look forwards to a superb cocktail menu with items ranging from frozen pia coladas to house milkshakes, plus cosy booths and seating, low lighting, and a DJ. You only need to add bourbon.
Ferdydurke
Ferdydurke is the epitome of Melbourne; it's the kind of place you'd walk right past if you weren't looking for it, and it has the same laid-back vibe as your favourite local watering hole. Travel down Tattersalls Lane and enter the popular alley pub Section 8 via the back entrance.
Find it by following the beats of the bar's regular DJs up two flights of stairs decorated with zany wallpaper and hand-drawn graffiti. Imagine funk, hip hop, or disco playing as you enjoy some hors d'oeuvres and a cocktail in a hot, crowded bar where you can pretend to be whomever you want.
Whisky & Alement
Whisky & Alement has over a thousand different whiskies on the menu and some of the city's most skilled bartenders.
The personnel at this speakeasy, which can be found on the building's upper floor on Russell Street in the Central Business District, are approachable and happy to make recommendations from the virtually encyclopaedic inventory of rare and vintage whiskies.
It comes neat, in cocktails, or as a complement to one of their craft brews. Members of the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society can try whisky straight from the cask.
Conclusion
Melbourne's bar scene has been around for over two decades, providing the city with a dizzying array of possibilities. The best bars in Melbourne are dedicated to quality in every facet, whether you're enjoying the neon and loud music of the Beaufort and Heartbreaker, sipping a perfectly made martini from beautiful, correct stemware at the Everleigh or Romeo Lane, or marveling at the precise, thought-out wine or whisky lists at bars like Smalls and the Whiskey Room. The city's image as a late-night hotspot is due to the proliferation of supper clubs and wine bars, which are inspired by the City Wine Shop and the Gertrude Street Enoteca, two of the first and most influential bar/bottleshops in the United Kingdom. It is important to have fun, explore new things, and pay great attention to our bourbon, scotch, or wine. Limiting your selections is essential for becoming a Melbourne drinking pro.
Heartbreaker is a popular watering hole in Melbourne with neon lighting, a jukebox full of Eagles, Bowie, and Queen recordings, and a billiards competition every Sunday night. Gerald's Bar is the type of wine bar you wish every city had, with over 200 bottles from all over the world. Arlequin is a hidden gem in Chinatown with a cork ceiling, marble bar top, and wine racks. Firebird (rye, apricot brandy, bitters, and Champagne with an orange twist) and Rear Window (bourbon, Aperol, lemon, sweetened ginger, and bitters) will set the mood for a fun night out. The Everleigh, located in Fitzroy, has a classy Roaring Twenties vibe due to its antique furnishings and dim lighting.
Cookie in Chinatown combines elements like beer halls, cocktail lounges, and Thai restaurants. The Debutant, which blends gin, pomegranate, lime, and orange bitters in a coupe, is inspired by the classics but made with modern ingredients. Frankie's bar in Fitzroy has a rustic feel, with a wall of hanging rope separating the two halves of the space and a collage of historical images covering the walls. It serves 150 spirits, including Trent From Punchy, Pepperberry Fizz, and Boilermaker House. Moon Dog Craft Brewery in Abbotsford offers a taste of Melbourne's thriving craft beer sector with its unique concoctions.
Tours of the brewery are available. The Lui Bar, Arbory Bar & Eatery, and Bomba Rooftop are all well-known alfresco drinking establishments in Melbourne. The Lui Bar provides views of the distant Dandenong Ranges during the day and a panorama of dazzling city lights at night. Arbory is located on the site of a former platform at Flinders Street Railway Station and offers 16 different choices to enjoy by the glass. The cocktails, stylish atmosphere, and breathtaking scenery make for a perfect evening.
Captain Melville is a 150-year-old restaurant in the Central Business District, while Loch & Key is a smaller, cosier bar decorated to evoke a rustic cabin. Madame Brussels is a posh garden party with a 1970s elevator, and Bar Liberty in Fitzroy is a cosy hangout. The best bars in Melbourne are located in the heart of the city, yet you'd never know it. Melbourne is known for its superb cuisine, lively nightlife, inventive arts environment, and excellent music scene.
Pizza Pizza Pizza is a pizza parlour and cocktail bar in Melbourne, located in a graffiti-covered attic. It offers both traditional pizzas and more unique options, such as the dessert pizza topped with white chocolate, sliced almonds, and vanilla ice cream. Ferdydurke is the epitome of Melbourne, with cosy booths and seating, low lighting, and a DJ. Whisky & Alement has over a thousand whiskies on the menu and some of the city's most skilled bartenders. Members of the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society can try whisky straight from the cask.
Content Summary
- There was once a very precise definition for bars in the Melbourne style.
- You know the drill: a gritty city alley with hardly any directional signage that nevertheless manages to seem fresh despite having zero dollars to spare.
- The word seems to have accomplished its purpose, since our native bar scene has been formed for over two decades, providing the city with a dizzying array of possibilities.
- Bring back to life; repair.
- The best bars in Melbourne are dedicated to quality in every facet, whether you're enjoying the neon and loud music of the Beaufort and Heartbreaker, sipping a perfectly made martini from beautiful, correct stemware at the Everleigh or Romeo Lane, or marvelling at the precise, thought-out wine or whisky lists at bars like Smalls and the Whiskey Room.
- We locals here in town are quite serious about our pubs.
- Maybe we're in the Next Wave now that Victoria's liquor licencing officials have decided we're old enough to handle a few more dive bars.
- Melbourne's image as a late-night hotspot is thanks in large part to the city's recent proliferation of supper clubs.
- Arlequin and the soon-to-open Mayfair aren't just bars; they're also full-service restaurants.
- Everything about it is sophisticated, well-developed, and relevant.
- Meanwhile, wine bars appear to be popping up everywhere.
- These compact establishments, which update the classic pub aesthetic with community tables and neatly arranged shelves, are inspired by the City Wine Shop and the Gertrude Street Enoteca, two of the first and most influential bar/bottleshops in the United Kingdom.
- It's easy to ignore Melbourne's vibrant bar scene because of how seamlessly it fits into the city's established culture.
- However, please hear me out.
- Those who have had a hand in developing our bar culture urge us to have fun, explore new things, and pay great attention to our bourbon, scotch, or wine.
- Doing things in this fashion is the Melbourne norm.
- Best Bars in Melbourne
- It's not enough to just make a good drink here.
- There is a bar in every nook and cranny of the city, down alleyways and up stairs, decorated with trash cans and stocked with drinks made with care and attention to detail.
- Limiting your selections is essential for becoming a Melbourne drinking pro.
- We've included a variety of establishments for you to let your hair down, from brewpubs to cocktail lounges to rooftop bars with breathtaking views.
- Our directory of the finest watering holes in Melbourne will get you safely through any journey.
- Heartbreaker It has neon lighting, a jukebox full of Eagles, Bowie, and Queen recordings, but no place to dance.
- Still, you can bet that some folks will be booty-shaking in the corner.
- To have some good, old-fashioned, rowdy fun, there's no better venue than Heartbreaker.
- The location of Heartbreaker in the middle of The City belies the fact that the patrons there are true rock and rollers at heart.
- Not that people don't come here after work; rather, they unbutton their top buttons and take off their ties.
- Billiards experts gather every Sunday night for the Ballbreaker competition.
- Every night except Sunday, when we close at 1 a.m., you can hang out here until 3 a.m. Gerald's Bar If there was a Gerald's on every block, nobody would leave their neighbourhood.
- This is the type of wine bar you wish every city had; it's cosy, full of friendly people, and you'll feel right at home here.
- The Carlton North location, with its lace curtains and shelves of curios, isn't going to win any design awards, but it does have a beautiful European vibe, as if transported directly from a little town in Spain or Italy.
- The wine list features over 200 bottles from all over the world, including both traditional and trendy options like those made with skin contact or orange.
- Three reds, three whites, and a sparkling wine are always available by the glass, and if you arrive early enough or as a bottle empties, you get to select the one that will be opened next.
