Bars
Experience Melbourne's eclectic spirit with a night out exploring the wonderful nightspots peppering the city's streets and laneways.
Go your own way
Up a flight of stairs, down a laneway, on a rooftop or in an orchestra pit, Melbourne sure knows how to hide a bar. You never know where the next great drinking spot is going to pop up, so let us help.
Tall tales and cocktails
Whether you're after a colourful cocktail with a million dollar view or a few quiet pots in a student dive, you're bound to find something that suits your mood and budget. Bar-hop like a local, dance to world class DJs, be baffled and challenged by installation art, or chow down on a late night snack, the city at night is awash with possibilities.
A stylish yet understated Italian cafe-diner, Bond Street is a narrow haven with a wide range of unpretentious fare. Tucked away from the bustle of...
Read more
Sometimes, when a bar gets everything just right, people are weirdly reluctant to spread the word. Many a beloved hangout has been lost to...
Read more
Old bones have been given a modern facelift at the refurbished Prince Alfred. Part of the new wave of Melbourne gastro pubs, 'PA's' features a long...
Read more
A simple red door in a laneway is your first clue to this atmospheric two-storey bar, formerly a tailor's shop. Cocktail connoisseurs are spoilt for...
Read more
We're not 100% sure whether Sweatshop sells West Coast Cooler because it's ironic, or because it cools you down. Either way we have this basement bar...
Read more
The Red Hummingbird reinforces Melbourne's love of hard-to-find rooftop bars and killer cocktails. Tips: When you see the little red birdcage hanging...
Read more
With Chinese decor, Korean propaganda and Japanese bar snacks, Double Happiness is much better value than a Contiki tour. It's small, cosy and...
Read more
With a name like Biero, it's not surprising that this laneway bar's tipple of choice is beer. With over 100 amazing beer varieties available 'on...
Read more
With its ultra-modern design, The Collection Bar is the place to pretend you're at your own apartment drinking cocktails, eating tapas, and sitting...
Read more
This dedicated jazz venue off Little Lonsdale is one of the pre-eminent sound dens in Melbourne. Bennetts Lane hosts 450 gigs a year in both the...
Read more
This isn't your typical microbrewery. For starters, it's positioned on the water's edge and features spectacular harbour views. Also, it hosts a...
Read more
Beer lovers find nirvana at St Kilda's hip yet unpretentious Local Taphouse. There's a wide range of rare brews to be supped from armchairs,...
Read more
Serving up delicious Venezuelan cuisine, in an uber hip environment, Cruzao Arepa Bar is known for their delicious grilled cornmeal pockets known as...
Read more
Cam and Dave's success story would make many home-brewers green. Now set in a brick Richmond warehouse, this independent microbrewery opens its doors...
Read more
The Order's hunting club ambience exudes a sense of occasion rarely found, well, anywhere these days. The ceilings are so high you could hang a...
Read more