Overview
Winter is over, which means you don't have any excuses for sitting at home and watch Netflix every night. Instead, set your sights on one of Melbourne's rooftops. We know, given the nights are still a little chilly, that this suggestion might sound like a death wish, but there are a few Melbourne rooftop bars that have upped their game to keep you especially cosy when the temperature drops. We're talking warming drinks, blankets and some supremely decadent hot snacks.
If you're still hesitant to leave your blanket cave, make it easy for yourself and order a ride to get you there and back. Affordable ridesharing platform DiDi will help you out — and you'll probably still have some spare cash for something delicious at the bar. So, lap up the nicer nights — these four awesome rooftop bars will have you making the most of spring.
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Ready your wand and hit the Imperial Hotel’s rooftop this winter. With the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage production taking place just around the corner at the Princess Theatre, the Imperial is a great spot to get into the spirit of things and sip down a few magic potions before catching the show or in the break between part one and two.
Head to the rooftop to soak up the daylight before you retreat back into the darkness of the theatre and enjoy an expertly made (and named) cocktail — there’s the Hello-peño, with tequila, lime, watermelon and jalapeños, and the You Wanna Peach of Me, featuring spiced rum, peach schnapps, ginger liquor, lime and mint. Meanwhile, black beef sliders, pumpkin pasties and Korean-fried chicken wings are just some of the food items on the menu.
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This spring, it’s time to break out the bikini. No, not that kind — we’re talking about the delicious Catalan toasted sandwich kind, which has become a favourite amongst visitors to Bomba’s much-loved rooftop. While a bikini is essentially what we would call a toastie in Australia, at Bomba you’ll have a choice of five steaming hot varieties, including three-cheese with pickles, smoked ham hock with buffalo mozzarella and Joselito bacon with black truffle.
If that’s not enough, there’s also some spring-inspired cocktails to enjoy, like the tropical Pina La Bomba, served with pineapple, coconut, apricot and rum.
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Put yourself in a cosy spot this spring and pay a visit to Goldilocks. Located near the corner of Swanston and Lonsdale streets, it’s a little bit of a journey to reach the rooftop as you make your way through a bustling Chinese restaurant and past another bar or two to find the right place. But this slight inconvenience is worth the trouble as you step out onto one of Melbourne’s best rooftops.
If the temp is still a little too low for your liking, the crew at Goldilocks serves up mulled cider throughout the night. Plus, if you really want to ramp things up, they’ll even add a fortifying shot of rum just to keep things extra toasty.
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If it’s comfort food you’re after, it’s comfort food you’ll find at South Yarra rooftop The Emerson. The crew behind Collingwood burger joint Easey’s has taken over the kitchen at the venue — meaning you can keep warm with seafood rolls, oozy mac and cheese croquettes and those signature burgers.
The best time to try it all is at its brunch series, which features bottomless cocktails and unlimited bites up on the Astroturfed terrace for $59. It runs 12–3pm every Saturday and Sunday. These are the kind of long, lazy feasting sessions worth getting out of bed for.