The Ten Best Waterside Bars in Melbourne
Summer calls for spritzes by St Kilda Beach and a few cold ones on the banks of the Yarra.
The Ten Best Waterside Bars in Melbourne
Summer calls for spritzes by St Kilda Beach and a few cold ones on the banks of the Yarra.
After a long, cold winter, spring has sprung, bringing the promise of brighter days with it. And while in winter we may huddle in the cosiest pub corners or in front of the fire at your local wine bar, come spring and summer, Melburnians fight each other for a table at a waterside bar.
It may not have the same reputation as rival state Sydney, which boasts endless harbourside hotspots, but know where to look, and you can find a gorgeous array of waterside bars in Melbourne whether you want a crisp glass of white to watch the sunset while overlooking the glimmering sea, or a refreshing cocktail to kickstart a big night out on the banks of the Yarra. Use our guide to find the ten best waterside bars to grab a cold one and settle in for a splendid summertime session.
Recommended reads:
The Best Cafes in Melbourne
The Best Coffee Shops in Melbourne's CBD
The Best Bakeries in Melbourne
The Best Breakfast in Melbourne
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10
Before the much-loved Yarra River venue Afloat hibernated for winter, the waterfront was looking a little more Rio de Janeiro than usual. Now, for its annual reinvention — its eleventh overall — the ever-changing floating bar and restaurant is adopting ‘Yamas Greece’ as its latest moniker, inspired by Greece’s sun-drenched coastal colours, flavours and vibes.
Of course, the food, drinks and entertainment will embrace the Greek theme with refreshing cocktails, summery flavours and an energetic atmosphere. While certain menu favourites will return, new dishes, inspired by the fresh produce of Greek cuisine, will grace the menu. Once you’ve worked your way through a couple of Greek wines, it’s on to sampling the creative and playful exclusive seasonal cocktails. Start with a Milos Watermelon Spritz for a fresh and fruity bev; cool off with an Ouzo Frozen Coke; try the Mount Olympus Iced Tea with vodka, gin, rum, tequila, mountain tea, lemon, verjuice and cola if you’re in for a big night; and finish with a Baklava Negroni for dessert.
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9
Pipi’s Kiosk is a hidden gem along Melbourne’s generally underutilised foreshore. The picturesque restaurant, which sits unassumingly on the Albert Park waterfront adjacent to Kerferd Road Pier, is changing how Melburnians see seaside dining — for the better. Self-described as a contemporary Australian Kiosk, this refined beachside diner is the work of Jordan Clay and Tom Hunter, both of whom have decades of hospitality experience.
With uninterrupted views of the sparkling sea and the smell of salty ocean wafting by, it’s no surprise seafood features strongly on the menu, making it almost impossible not to order at least a couple of plates to enjoy with your beverages. Sip a Pipi’s Spritz with St Felix Bitter Citrus, rhubarb, salted coconut, and pét-nat, and you might forget you’re not actually on vacation.
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8
The casual sibling to Stokehouse above (where rowdy Pontoon once lived), this laid-back, all-day spot is a go-to for Mediterranean eats and beachside sips. Breezy, coastal-inspired interiors and timber finishes sit against a backdrop of sand and sea, with a strong focus on sustainability throughout the build and in the ongoing offering. Food at Stokehouse Pasta & Bar bears similar DNA to the restaurant upstairs, yet with a much more casual lean; it’s especially primed for seaside snacking sessions with many beverages on rotation. Also out to save you some coin is Stokehouse Pasta & Bar’s wine list, where the lineup trips from Australia to Europe, with pours to suit palates both simple and adventurous; while cocktails span from the classics to signature offerings like the Stokehouse Spritz — a delicate blend of Amaro, orange, white peach and jasmine soda.
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7
Two-storey pontoon bar and eatery Yarra Botanica is more than a pretty face and bustling drinking destination. Yarra Botanica has made it a mission to champion Victorian produce and booze, with its entire drinks list sourced from within the state and a good 90 per cent of the food menu following suit. The bar boasts space for almost 700 across two open levels, decked out with planter boxes, herb gardens, and climbing vines among oversized umbrellas and lattice pergolas.
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6
Spanish restaurant Sebastian Beach Grill & Bar, perched right on Williamstown Beach, is a fabulous place to park yourself on a balmy Melbourne day. The blue-and-white interiors really add to the beach vibes, and the food takes you straight to the coast of Spain. Snack on pinxtos like gildas and chorizo-stuffed dates, and enjoy whole market fish and generous meat dishes cooked over the grill. Crowd-pleasing patatas bravas make an appearance, thankfully, and Spanish wine, vermouth, and sangria will really top off your post-swim feast.
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5
1 Hotel Melbourne’s Crane Bar & Lounge boasts beautiful views of the Yarra, set far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD, to afford patrons some true peace and tranquility. 1 Hotel Melbourne is housed inside (and on top of) the heritage-listed Goods Shed No.5, the last of the unrenovated 1800s goods sheds that once made up Melbourne’s busiest port. The hotel’s industrial elements — bluestone pavers, steel trusses, timber doors salvaged from the original build — are juxtaposed against natural materials used throughout.
Wicker, wood and tactile textiles like bouclé and jute make up the furnishings on the riverfront deck outside and in the Crane Bar & Lounge, From Here by Mike restaurant and Upstairs bar. 4,500 square metres of reclaimed timber is used in the cladding and furnishings. Beyond the interior design choices, living elements breathe a sense of tranquillity into 1 Hotel Melbourne — the vaulted ceilings of the shed allow for indoor trees (already impressive in their infancy), while real moss adorns the frame of each of the hotel’s room doors. There are more than 7,000 plants inside the venue, reinforcing the hotel’s biophilic approach.
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4
If your proximity to water matters for your nighttime enjoyment, Ponyfish Island is your bar. Built directly on the Yarra beneath one of Melbourne’s busiest pedestrian bridges, this recently renovated bar creates an endearing alcove away from the city’s flurry above. With the best view of the city’s skyline, you can also enjoy snacks, tunes, and plenty of bevs.
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The Boatbuilders Yard is always busy because it has some of the best outdoor seating in Melbourne. Tables and deck chairs are cleverly placed along the Yarra and an openair indoor-outdoor seating plan means it’s one of the best places to have a summer tipple. Drinks are a mix of sparkling, whites, reds, spirits and frothies. Peckish drinkers can devour a beer-friendly menu of pizzas, burgers, salads or charcuterie boards.
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2
For the romantic bon vivants amongst us, it doesn’t get much better than slurping seafood spaghetti while looking out across the sea as the sun sets. So it’s surprising, perhaps, that very few places in Melbourne offer stunning floor-to-ceiling vistas; hence, The Baths at Middle Brighton is something of a little-known gem. The Art Deco building and the panoramic bay views it offers have inspired the transformation of the space; the materials and colours were chosen to reflect and complement the beautiful surroundings. Whether it’s brekkie, takeaway coffee on your morning walk, or an unhurried lunch with gorgeous views, this is a great place to make the most of Melbourne’s harbourside.
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1
Sitting along the Maribyrnong River, The Boathouse is a local institution. Unpretentious wooden tables, outdoor chairs and shady hanging trees make The Boathouse one of the best places for a summer drink in Melbourne’s northwest. The menu is simple, filled with pizzas and burgers, and a brief selection of beers and glasses of Victorian wine.
