Finding a great cocktail isn't hard in Melbourne, but between Monday, April 12–Sunday, April 18, it'll become a little easier. For seven booze-filled days, the returning Melbourne Cocktail Festival is taking over the city. If you're eager to mosey between venues, sip plenty of drinks and taste the best creative tipples that this town has to offer, then you'll want a ticket.

The aforementioned roam around the city forms part of MCF's Bar Safari, which is a pay-as-you-drink event with free registration. You'll hand over cash for your cocktail at 22 different Melbourne venues, and you'll receive something special for $15 a pop, with each of the participating watering holes whipping up a unique concoction. You can rove at your own pace, and you'll also score a digital recipe book outlining the method behind every drink. Plus, if you're one of the first 1000 people to register on March 12, you'll also get shouted a drink during your wandering.

Organised by hospitality-focused co-working space Worksmith, the fest will also span a range of events, including sneak peeks, gimlet-fuelled get-togethers and tropical shindigs. At the first, you'll head to Byrdi to hear about yet-to-open Sydney bar 'Re and its sustainable mission, with tickets costing $120. As for the second, that involves journeying through different types of gimlets for $45 at Gimlet at Cavendish House. And, at the third, you'll pay $20 to party in the attic at Black Pearl, which includes one wine-based cocktail by the venue's Felix Woods and Bar Liberty's Nick Tesar.

More events are set to be added between now and the festival dates, with the lineup due to be updated weekly.

There's also an at-home option this year, where you can get bottled cocktails delivered to your door. Yes, that's a very 2021 inclusion on the program.