Creative cocktail bars, cosy wine dens, suburban speakeasies, inner-city rooftops, and neighbourhood pubs—when it comes to revelling, party-happy Melbourne has some stellar options to choose from. Whether you’re after a romantic destination for an intimate date night or a group hangout spot for fresh pints and shareable snacks, the best bars in Melbourne await.
A modern bistro bar in Brunswick features worldwide labels of natural wines alongside fire-cooked shareable plates. An adored tavern in Abbotsford recently added a Cali-inspired rock-and-roll rooftop space. In the CBD, an Art Deco-style spot lures serious cocktail connoisseurs with avant-garde concoctions.
These top-notch spots deliver the city’s most memorable drinking experiences. Read on for a guide to the best bars in Melbourne to visit right now and book your spot on OpenTable today.
The best bars in Melbourne for great drinks and food – read on for a guide
For sexy cocktails and Asian tapas – visit Kiss & Tell in Melbourne CBD
Vietnamese fusion spot Hochi Mama has a must-visit sibling venue in the CBD: Kiss & Tell exudes New York City-style speakeasy vibes with moody low lighting and sprawling velvet booths. Grab a seat and graze on Asian fusion tapas such as Peking duck bao, lobster tempura bánh mì sliders with spicy mayo, green curry with chicken or tofu, and vegan duck salad with mango and spicy dressing. Other must-try include Vietnamese braised pork belly in sweet soy sauce, pork and prawn handmade dumplings and a top-notch steamed barramundi marinated in soy and ginger and served with shitake sauce. All the dishes pair well with creative cocktails including the Tokyo Drift (St. Germain, midori, sake, rhubarb bitters and cucumber) and the Love Child (vodka, pineapple and Aperol). Sip, snack, and groove to Kiss and Tell’s vibrant R&B soundtrack and you’ll quickly see why it’s one of the sexiest lairs in town.
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For one of the best cocktail bars in Melbourne – visit Lily Blacks in Melbourne CBD
Cocktail connoisseurs are all about this inventive inner-city bar. Lily Blacks is tucked in an illustrious laneway in Melbourne’s Paris end, which explains the French Art Deco vibes inside. Come for post-work drinks on a Friday, or land up on a Saturday for a late-night fuelled by pre-Prohibition era drinks. The bar serves all the classics, but it’s the creative concoctions such as the Petit Peche whisky sour with peach, white chocolate and meringue or the Toulouse Goose spritz with vodka, apple, rhubarb and prosecco that keep the crowds filling this venue on a nightly basis. If hard liquor isn’t your thing, there are beers, ciders on tap, an ever-changing wine list, and alcohol-free drinks made with creative ingredients such as cranberry, pomegranate, passionfruit and rhubarb, and more that cater to all palates. Pair your drink of choice with some globally inspired snacks such as artisanal chorizo or spiced black sausage, roasted potatoes with salsa gaucha, beef or cheese empanadas and fried greens.
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For a group hangout spot with rock’n’roll vibes and live music – don’t miss Lulie Tavern in Abbotsford
Lulie Tavern in Abbotsford just got better, thanks to the addition of a cool Cali-inspired rooftop bar. At Full Moon Fever, you can soak up golden hour amongst the cacti or from the comfort of a timber booth or daybed. Sip on drinks such as the Death Proof (jalapeño and cucumber-infused tequila, amaretto, fresh lemon juice and agave) or the Rhubarbella spritz (Zucca Rabarbaro, prosecco and rosemary) from the refreshing cocktail lineup. Beer lovers, don’t miss Lulie’s own lager beer or go for a draught Guinness or a local pale ale. The American vibes stretch into the food—expect burgers, Southern-fried buffalo wing buckets, vegan tenders with jalapeño mayo, and hot chips loaded with gravy, spring onion and Lulie’s secret sauce. The retractable roof and wood fire heater make this new hotspot a versatile all-weather hangout.
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For one of the best French wine bars in Melbourne – book at Clover in Richmond
Clover is a relatively new entrant to Richmond’s bar scene, but the charming 48-seat modern bistro and wine bar is already a local favourite. Crowds come for the extensive wine list featuring natural orange and pink wines by the glass or the bottle, sweet wines and fizz teeming with rare local and global options from locales such as the Czech Republic and Hungary. Pop in on a weekday for a quick drink and bite, or linger on the weekend over a shareable seasonally driven menu. Chef Charley Snadden-Wilson, formerly at the Brunswick East wine bar Etta, stirs up innovative fire-cooked dishes such as smoked steak with mustard and market fish, plus heartier options including grilled peppers with cheese and anchovies, kingfish carpaccio with salted onion and a signature cheeseburger. Pair your wine with oysters, charcuterie boards and honey bread with herb de Provence butter and you’re in for the perfect cosy date night with a special someone.
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For one of the best wine bars and bottle shops in Melbourne – try The Moon in Collingwood
This minimalist wine bar doubles as a locally loved bottle shop. The Moon‘s wine list spotlights minimal intervention varieties, featuring over 300 bottles available for purchase—and nearly 20 enticing by-the-glass options. Drop in here for a quick drink, or stay a while and pair your drink with small plates such as oysters, pig terrine, fried chicken with hot honey, beef tartare on toast and steak sandwiches, or heartier options such as venison lasagne, glazed lamb neck, roasted pumpkin with stracciatella cheese, beef tacos and burgers. Enjoy it all against a rustic-chic backdrop rich with concrete, stone, and stained-wood accents, plus wall lights that resemble solar eclipses—subtle tributes to the bar’s name.
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For one of the best rooftop bars in Melbourne – don’t miss Marquis of Lorne in Fitzroy
Marquis of Lorne has presided over Fitzroy since 1873 and remains a hotspot for its large selection of wine, beer, and hearty pub fare. Spanning three floors, the pub offers a little bit for everyone. Come here for an after-work drink at one of the street-side tables, or bring a group of friends for a celebration at the rooftop bar. Snack on starters such as spiced lamb dumplings or pan-fried halloumi, pumpkin and tapioca croquettes with cashew cream or merguez spiced calamari. For a full-fledged meal, grab a seat in the dining room and pair one of the several local beers on tap with chicken schnitzel, broccoli and goat’s cheese orecchiette pasta or a roasted duck breast with garlic potatoes and mulled wine sauce.
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For one of the best hidden bars in Melbourne – explore Lay Low Bar in Seddon
For top-notch cocktails in a speakeasy setting, head to Lay Low Bar in Seddon. Enter through a hidden door and you’ll discover a dimly lit space with polished terrazzo floors. Standout cocktails include the Sgroppino Mexicano, featuring mezcal, prosecco, sorbet, citrus, and salt, a variety of old fashioneds and negronis, beers and wines plus spirit-free riffs—enlist the welcoming staff to help if you’re stumped by the extensive menu. If you’re looking for a bite to pair with your drinks, Lay Low serves Greek dip platters, meze boards featuring housemade pita bread, charcoal grilled chicken and lamb, zucchini fritters and hot chips, alongside wraps, souvlakis and loaded potatoes from The Brotherhood Yiros + Grill next door. Finish off on a sweet note with the hazelnut chocolate spread on pita bread.
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For one of the best whisky and sake bars in Melbourne – try Ichi Ni Izakaya in Fitzroy and St Kilda
For a wide selection of Japanese beers, sakes, whiskies, and cocktails, look no further than Ichi Ni Izakaya in Fitzroy and St Kilda. Signature drinks feature Japanese ingredients such as yuzu and shiso syrup and include non-alcoholic options such as the Tokyo Bay Breeze (non-alcoholic Italian spritz liqueur, agave, blood orange, lemon, and soda). If you’re here for a full-on meal, consider the $75 per person banquet-style menu with pork gyoza, baos, beef tataki, and more. To all that, add a bright art-filled space, roomy booths, and a constant buzz and you’ve got a winning formula for a world-class izakaya.
📍 Fitzroy — Check Availability
📍 St Kilda — Check Availability
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For a funky local brewery – visit Nice Guys Brewery & Bar in Richmond
This brewery is one of Richmond’s hippest drinking destinations. Nice Guys Brewery & Bar has 25 beers on tap—including New England IPAs, American pale ales, and Kiwi lagers—along with cocktails, wine, and the option of ordering food from nearby Vietnamese-Chinese restaurant Loi Loi (or your own favourite spot). Calling all beer lovers, try the brewery tour and guided beer tasting to learn about the brewing process and taste a range of Nice Guys beers. Grab a sidewalk seat or a perch in the lush, 70’s-inspired plant-filled interiors and you’re in for a stylish night out.
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For one of the best outdoor bars in Melbourne CBD – try Time Out Fed Square in Melbourne CBD
This massive CBD stalwart on the banks of the Yarra River is a favourite among locals and tourists alike. Claim a spot under one of the yellow umbrellas at Time Out Fed Square and enjoy a glass of spritz made with blood orange syrup, and vodka, a frozen margarita or a Pimm’s cup as you soak in the enchanting river views. For chilly days, order one of the hot cocktails such as a Baileys latte or a spiced Frangelico chai. The bar serves meals all day, starting with hearty breakfasts such as buttermilk pancakes, bacon chilli scrambled eggs, and plates featuring chorizo and hash browns or smoked salmon and rosti, available until 2pm every day. Lunch favourites include crispy Korean chicken tenders, cheese pastries with honey quince jam and sandwiches filled with slow-cooked pulled pork, chicken breast with mayo, or mushrooms and spinach with feta and cheddar cheese. Gather a group and share one of the creative pizzas such as the zaatar lamb strips, red onion and mozzarella pie, or order a main such as warm honey glazed roasted sweet potato salad, chicken parma with chips, prawn and crab pasta and more.
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For one of the best jazz bars in Melbourne – don’t miss Valhalla Bar in Melbourne CBD
For creative cocktails with a Nordic twist, head to the basement of the iconic Olderfleet building on Collins Street. Valhalla Bar serves drinks including the Huginn, with cardamom-infused tequila, schnapps, cranberry bitters, grapefruit and sweet quandong plums, and a variety of world-class Australian, Scandinavian and international spirits. For snacking, there’s a menu of creative hot dogs featuring prawns, octopus with lemon mayo, duck and crispy potato or classic sausage and fried onion, as well as a rotating selection of locally produced cheese and charcuterie boards, all coming straight from the Freyja kitchen. Valhalla is an after-work haven (coworking empire, Work Club, is right upstairs) and is also known for a roster of special events, including crash courses on Scandi spirits. Expect live jazz music every Friday, and live DJ sets every Saturday.
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Get ready for a night to remember at the best bars in Melbourne and book your spot on OpenTable today.
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