Melbourne is home to Australia’s ultimate bar scene. You could live here your whole life and not even know about every spot, let alone visit them. With that in mind, we would hate for you to miss out on the good ones simply because you were not aware of them, so we’re here to help.
Below, in no particular order, you’ll find 15 of Melbourne’s finest watering holes. We’ve accounted for all tastes and strongly recommend working through these options to find your favourite – a very good time will be had in the process. The best bars in Melbourne have been compiled below for your ultimate enjoyment.
We’ll kick things off with one for the beer lovers at the European Bier Cafe. Conveniently located on the east side of the CBD, the European Bier Cafe is a three-level bar that features over 40 local and international beers.
If you are a non-beer drinker, the cocktail list is just as impressive. The rooftop is capable of handling any kind of weather, and there is always some form of entertainment, from comedy nights to trivia comps and live sports on the TV. Head to Parliament Station, take the short walk to the venue, and then sample the drinks list until your heart is content!
Fargo & Co exists inside the heritage Swan Street State Bank in Richmond, a two-storey Edwardian building that maintains its vintage vault doors, stained glass windows and chandeliers. Along with the main ground floor area, there is an upstairs function space and an alfresco courtyard that looks out over the rooftops of Richmond.
The menu focuses on the expansive cocktail list that includes options like the Loomis Fargo (Hakushu 12-year-old whiskey, lemon, ginger liqueur, Laphroaig, honey and smoke). These cocktails pair nicely with gourmet bar snacks like Cornflake fried, sticky baked beef cheek steam buns and salt and pepper calamari rolls.
The bottomless brunch that occurs every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm will cost you $50 and offer bottomless mimosas and prosecco with a dish from the brunch menu (bargain!). Bottomless Bites also runs every Monday to Wednesday from 4 pm to 9 pm, providing a chef’s selection for $30 paired with a drinks happy hour that includes $10 espresso martinis.
Who would have thought such a stylish venue could also be very affordable? That’s the vibe at Fargo & Co.
Formerly The Great Britain Hotel, Harlow is a cocktail bar with a dive bar secret in the basement. The juxtaposition is the split-level courtyard that makes for a confusing yet awesome little venue. What is the vibe? No one knows or cares.
The menu throws a spanner into the pub classic works with duck and bacon sausage rolls, crab doughnuts and more. People flock in for the steak sandwich with maple bacon and Swiss cheese, but it’s the vegan burger that steals the show and is an absolute must-have.
Harlow’s cocktail, beer, cider, and wine options will keep everyone very happy, and you’ll be choosing your cocktail selection from three categories; hip-hop, pop, and metal. What is a metal cocktail, you may ask? The Voodoo People’s mix of white and spiced rum, orgeat and fruit juice is your answer. Couple all of this with DJs every Friday and Saturday night, and you’ll soon see why Harlow is such a good time.
The menu at Hopscotch is beyond mouth-watering with burgers, bao buns, cheeseburger spring rolls, and the pièce de résistance, a nitro ice-cream bar. Obviously, with options like this, you’ll get thirsty, so there are 52 beers on tap that can be ordered in the form of mini-kegs for efficiency.
If beer is a little too boring for you, the spiked slushies or DIY espresso martinis will have you covered. Located right by the water in Southbank, the leafy beer garden is very pleasant, making Hopscotch the perfect spot for a chat and something genuinely delicious. Be prepared to go a few rounds.
The Imperial South Yarra features modern decor, classic pub meals and plenty of beers on tap. When the sun is out, this spot has a cafe-like feel where you can sit on the street and people watch with ease, however, when the sun goes down, things get a little wilder. Dance to the DJs into the night and make your way through the cocktail list.
The menu offers small dishes for sharing, larger pub meals, pizzas and burgers with specialty cocktails that are served in fishbowls for group enjoyment. While all of this sounds expensive, it’s not, as the Imperial is always running specials like bottomless brunches and a $16 parmas every Wednesday! Decision made easy.
If you’ve spent any time in Melbourne, you are likely familiar with Bimbo, a much-loved venue that was, unfortunately, victim to a fire that closed the doors for quite some time. Like a phoenix rising out of the ashes, however, Bimbo was reborn as Kewpie, a new spot that maintains the grungey charm of the old.
The pizzas are still cheap, most nights still feature DJ-led parties, and the rooftop is still as charming as ever. So Kewpie is still Bimbos, you may be asking? Basically, yes. And that is a very good thing. We recommend swinging down for a Sunday session where the DJs a slanging some smooth vinyl, perfect.
The Prince Alfred Hotel is a Richmond favourite, thanks in part to the impressive beer garden that makes a summer drinks session complete. With a traditional pub-style menu that features spaghetti and housemade meatballs, loads of small plates, pizza, burgers and all of the regular inclusions, there is no better spot in Richmond for alfresco drinking and dining.
We’re a big fan of this pub’s ‘Hair of the Dog Sundays’ from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm, which features a range of drink specials, most notably, $12 Bloody Marys. This very dog-friendly venue provides free pup snacks and is busy on a Monday thanks to the ‘Monday Local’s Night’ that serves main meals for just $15. Trivia night is Tuesday, which means you just need to get past hump day, then start your weekend early on Thursday night. If we could move into the Prince Alfred Hotel, we would.
It can be hard to choose which bar in Brunswick to visit, but the Sarah Sands Hotel on Sydney Road, originally opened in 1854, is on the list. Well and truly updated since then with a modernised pub classics menu that leans towards a vegetarian lifestyle with a contender for the finest eggplant parma in Melbourne as a standout.
Along with this, the Sarah Sands Hotel keeps it simple with everything you need from a classic pub in a very convenient location. So pop in, enjoy the ambience and feel the history of Melbourne coming through the walls while you sip a froth or something more exciting (like the Davidson Plum Sour featuring Four Pillars Shiraz Gin).
State of Grace is a quirky venue with a secret cellar bar called Fall From Grace on King Street that is truly adored by the locals. The decor features a lot of mirrors, chandeliers and a mish-mash of art, and you can access the hidden drinking den through a bookshelf. Melbourne enough for you?
The menu offers modern Australian treats with a European tinge, such as gnocchi with sage and black garlic purée, freshly shucked oysters and a chicken liver pâté. All of the classic cocktails are available, albeit with their own twists, such as the Charged Negroni, which mixes dark rum and coffee to keep you powering through your evening.
The rooftop section offers city views where you can sit and enjoy some unique but delicious pizzas as you chat about life in one of Melbourne’s coolest locales.
After a temporary closure, the Hawthorn Hotel on Burwood Road came back bigger and better with a modern new interior, an all-weather beer garden, and plenty of huge TV screens for all the sport you can handle.
The affordable menu, regular specials and friendly still remain, however, and you can still take part in their famous Tightarse Tuesdays for a fun night that won’t break the bank.
The kitchen is still full of pub staples like fish ‘n’ chips, pies with mushy peas and gravy and plenty of burgers. The beer taps are always cold, and you’ll love their $15 cocktails. When it comes to some classic pub hangs, the Hawthorn Hotel has you covered.
We’re unsure which is more famous, The Provincial or its rooftop. However, you may not find a finer spot for a cocktail on high in the heart of Fitzroy than the Provincial Rooftop.
The classic Provincial Hotel is another iconic Brunswick Street venue that is often packed on Friday and Saturday nights but with an epic rooftop that is as stylish as it is comfortable. The extensive wine list is stocked primarily with Australian brands, and the cocktail menu will end up on your Instagram feed.
When it comes to something to nibble on, the burger list is the be-all and end-all. So head to the Provincial, whether you feel like a night of partying or a relaxed Sunday sesh in the sun.
The Smith on High Street in Prahran offers a casual dining and drinking spot where you can enjoy contemporary cuisine. Think tuna sashimi, tempura soft-shelled crab, a Flinders Island lamb shoulder, or our favourite, the spiced eggplant and tahini tofu (an absolute must).
The dessert menu, which includes a chocolate dulce de leche, is just as exciting as the large cocktail list. While the vibe is relaxed, the crowd always looks their best, so get ready to hang at one of Melbourne’s ‘it’ spots with The Smith.
If you need an uber-stylish city bar that also lets you have bottomless pizza via two-hour packages, you need to go to Trinket. Pop over to Flinders Lane and soak in the art deco charm that also has a hidden cocktail lounge and secret basement bar.
The bottomless pizzas can be paired with bottomless cocktails for a bottomless evening of delicious treats. The piña colada daiquiri with pineapple-infused white rum is a standout, and you’ll find DJs or live music on-hand to set the vibe on Friday and Saturday nights. Special mention goes to the vegan pizzas, which are some of the finest in the CBD!
The Village Belle Hotel features an atrium and beer garden with a retractable glass ceiling so you can enjoy some outdoor drinks all year round. It also features an upstairs cocktail lounge and DJ floor amongst its multi-levels to cater to all crowds and all types of events.
The menu is simple with euro-style fine dining turned pub meal concoctions such as grilled scampi with roquette fennel or steamed buns stuffed with crispy pork belly. The pizzas have the super thick dough to soak up your cocktails, and the drinks menu features every type of alcohol we know.
Dance the night away to DJs on a Friday or Saturday night, or chill out in the garden area for a Sunday session. Whichever vibe you want, the Village Belle will supply it.
There’s nothing better than a bar by the river; even better if it is on the river! Yarra Botanica ticks this box and sits right on the Yarra River. It features a two-storey glasshouse and a 100% Victorian drink menu (with a special focus on gins and gin-based concoctions).
Located in the heart of Southbank, this is the spot to try the best of the best from seasonal Victorian producers, inclusive of artisan cheeses, sustainable seafood, and some of the freshest fruit and vegetables you’ve ever had, picked straight from the farm.
There is live music over the weekends and often a special cocktail or beer tasting event that will expose you to some new flavours. As a bonus, winter isn’t an issue in the glasshouse structure of Yarra Botanica, so pop by any time.
Phew! We know it’s a big list, but when you have a city that loves its bars like Melbourne, even the shortlist is a little long. Still, you’ve shortened the options significantly by reading this article. There’s something for everyone all over Melbourne thanks to Australia Venue Co, so get out there and find your favourite!
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