Five Winter-Appropriate Rooftop Bars to Visit in Melbourne
These rooftops are well-equipped for chilly afternoons and nights, with heaters, bottomless waffles and boozy potions.
Five Winter-Appropriate Rooftop Bars to Visit in Melbourne
These rooftops are well-equipped for chilly afternoons and nights, with heaters, bottomless waffles and boozy potions.
If you thought rooftop bars were only for warm summers of spritzes and sunshine, think again. Melbourne has provided the goods with a bunch of winter-friendly venues for you to frequent over the chilly months.
It won't matter if it's blowing a gail outside, because these spots have retractable roofs, in-built heated seating, warming snacks and plenty of booze to keep you warm. With bars home to bottomless waffles and cocktails fit for a wizard, there's no excuse not to soak up that city skyline this winter.
Rain, hail or shine, these are the top bars in Melbourne that have got you covered.
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Fitzroy’s Provincial Hotel is putting forth a pretty convincing argument as to why you should get outside. It’s embracing the chill with a rooftop filled with plenty of boozy winter warmers.
On top of the pub, you’ll find a heated marquee filled with warming cocktails and a whole heap of sweet and savoury dishes, such as burgers, pizzas and pulled pork-topped nachos.
Plus, on every Saturday and Sunday throughout winter, from 11am–1pm, the Provincial is hosting a special $60 bottomless waffle brunch. The waffles you’ll be able to build yourself, and pile high with charcuterie, bacon, smoked salmon, stewed fruits, crushed meringue and and more (just maybe not all together). For drinks, you can enjoy two hours of unlimited bubbles, wine and beer — and a lineup of wintry cocktails, which include hot toddies and boozy iced teas.
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On the top floor of a CBD pub a magical wizarding rooftop awaits. Located atop Bourke Street’s Imperial, the themed bar is filled with alcoholic potions, magical wintry booths, an owlery and a supernatural sweet store.
Climb to the top level of the pub to peruse magical books — on everything from herbology to werewolves — or perhaps find yourself a fancy new robe at a magical fashion shop, practise with wands and drink, of course, many boozy concoctions. Get comfy in sheltered booths (newly installed for winter), practice saying “accio cocktail!” and enjoy an all-round boozy celebration of the Boy Who Lived.
The potions include the Chuckle Juice (gin, rosemary and grapefruit), FireWhiskey (Fireball, lemon and honey), Imperial Tattletale (Fernet Branca, rum, cream and honey) and True Love Potion (pomegranate, gin, sparkling wine and lime), while the food range spans black beef sliders, pumpkin pasties and Korean fried chicken wings.
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The perfect place to brighten up your winter blues is Peaches: an 80-person rooftop located high up on Swanson Street. If the blush furnishings aren’t keeping you warm enough the retractable roof and heated concrete bench seating will certainly to do the job.
What will also help is, what we believe to be, one of the most enticing and best value bar snacks in town. It’s the classic chicken sanga, available ‘hot’ with Sichuan-spiced fried chicken or ‘cold’ with yuzu mayo and pickles, both served in a soft bun. It’s a steal at $7 a pop during happy hour (although it’s normally $10).
On Sundays, the peachy bar is also offering two hours bottomless mimosas for just $45. Available from 12–2pm, the endless boozy orange juice drinks also come with complimentary fruit and pastries. You can also kick on with happy hour running from 2–6pm.
Image: Kate Shanasy.
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After its 2018 makeover, Bomba still boasts one of Melbourne’s best rooftops for winter, with its gin-inflected drinks list and a standout Spanish jaffle. The rooftop now has an all-weather retractable roof and a second terrace space, complete with a central copper bar, lots of high tables and a projector screening 70s Spanish flicks onto the building opposite.
To drink, it has a six local beers on tap, a heap of wine and a long list of cocktails, including a classic sangria and a spiced wintery blend of tea, whisky, lemon and sherry, dubbed Bagpiper’s Breakfast.
Meanwhile, the food situation leans to the snacky, featuring a covetable selection of Spanish cured meats, and the legendary bikinis: a Catalan riff on the toastie, stuffed with fillings like jamón ibérico and truffle, or smoked ham hock, mahón cheese and mozzarella.
Image: Visit Victoria.
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The centrepiece of Melbourne’s alcohol-filled skyline, Rooftop Bar retains its position as one of the city’s most popular — you’ll just need to climb up seven lights of stairs to find it. If the momentous trek doesn’t warm you up, a retractable roof over the bar and heaters will definitely do the trick.
As will the food and drink. Pair one of seven Burger Shack burgers — which include a fried chicken and veggie option — cheesy poutine and an espresso martini. Not your jam? There’s a long list of classic and signature cocktails to pick from, as well as many local and international beers and wines.
Images: Giulia Morlando.
Top image: Provincial Hotel.
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