Overview
A night out doesn't always have to cost half a paycheque. If you pick the right spot, you can get discounts and bonuses as a reward for well-planned reveries. Take The Pass, a mobile app that pays you back for purchases with credit that can be redeemed at partner venues. Which means you can enjoy savings in the long run.
The app is free to download, and if you do, you will score $10 credit. Even better, it is running a spend-and-save offer during the month of October. Between Monday and Thursday each week, you can earn a $10 bonus credit when you spend $20 at select venues — which means you could earn up to $50 bonus credit this month.
If you need a little inspiration on where to start spending to earn more credit? Here are our top picks. 
Hotel Esplanade
Where better to start than an institute like The Espy? This multi-level St Kilda pub recently got a facelift that took it to new heights. The main feature is Espy Main Bar, a bustling space dedicated to casual eats and drinks, but there's also a low-key neon-lit Louey's Bar & Kitchen. Head upstairs to find Mya Tiger, a Cantonese restaurant and beyond that lies The Ghost of Alfred Felton, a lush cocktail bar dedicated to a late historic regular.
There's no shortage of picks for your hard-earned credit here. Food ranges from full-plate pub classics to elegant charcuterie picks in the Main Bar to boozy yumchas at Mya Tiger. Our pick? A cocktail in the Ghost of Alfred Felton, all of which are themed on the menu in accordance with how he lived his extravagant life — as an international voyager, art collector and pharmacist.
Garden State Hotel
Another multi-level venue, Garden State Hotel, might have fewer years under its hat, but it occupies a space that has seen its fair share of owners and residents. In its current form, Garden State sits hundreds of people, centred around a beer garden that brings a bit of outdoors indoors thanks to greenery and a ficus tree tower.
It is, at its core, a pub, but the menu also hosts a mix of produce-focused concoctions that veer a little further off the beaten pub-classic path. There are also two bars located on the premises, the basement space Rose Garden and the intimate Italian-style Tippy Tay. For The Pass users, Garden State Hotel is one of the exclusive vendors for Four Pillars Sticky Carpet Gin. App users who log on and order the spirit in shot or G&T form will get 250 points of credit added to their account.
Morris House
Once home to one of Melbourne's most beloved comedy clubs, Morris House is a CBD restaurant with it all. It stands as a seasonal-produce-led restaurant with terrace and rooftop bars and a historic basement comedy club that's been drawing crowds for years.
The food is in the vein of European share plates in the main venue. But to reap the rewards of The Pass, we'd recommend heading upstairs to the rooftop bar. Described as an inner-city oasis, it's got its fair share of shareplates, too, but the real fun is on the drinks menu. As well as its fair share of classic cocktails, there are the likes of the frozen iced vovo margarita with blue agave tequila, curacao, coconut, lime and raspberry.
Richmond Club Hotel
If you're looking for a quintessentially Melbourne experience, you should check out the Richmond Club Hotel. Having stood for over a century, this pub is an institution in its own right. Don't be fooled by the historic facade — inside, you'll find a modern kit-out sprawled across three levels, including a beer garden and rooftop bar. The menu sports old-school pub classics with modern Australian fare, ranging from juicy burgers to crispy schnitties and succulent roasts.
You can spend your The Pass credit on the wide range of brews on offer, including many from local and regional breweries. But if hops aren't your thing, don't worry — the bar also boasts an impressive wine list and a creative cocktail menu that's sure to please.
Studley Park Boathouse
Tucked away on the shores of the Yarra, this 160-year-old public boathouse has been in service for some time, but she still packs plenty of new tricks. Divided across three indoor spaces and a large outdoor area, visitors can take in some sunshine and waterfront serenity in front of a cracking meal during breakfast, lunch or dinner.
On the food front, tuck into pub feeds and snack plates for lunch and dinner or even a spot of seafood, with local salt and pepper calamari alongside a 500g bucket of prawns. When it comes to using The Pass, ordering on the app during October means you can score an ice-cold Balter Cerveza for $10.
The Duke of Wellington
This list makes a strong argument that you can actually teach old dogs new tricks because The Duke of Wellington is Melbourne's oldest licensed pub, and you'll find it on The Pass all the same. The 160+-year-old two-storey city pub offers everything you need from your local, be it a hearty roast beef roll or a lighter serving of gin-cured salmon.
The drinks menu is appropriately lengthy, with many brews available on tap and a good selection of wines across the spectrum. Cocktails are well-regarded at The Duke, so a great pick for The Pass would be a house specialty, such as the lemon meringue with vanilla vodka, Frangelico, Licor 43, lemon and sugar.
Yarra Botanica
Also found on the banks of the Yarra but closer to the heart of town than Studley Park, this floating bar is an exceedingly scenic spot that not only boasts multimillion-dollar views but also heroes Victorian produce and talent whenever possible. Take the pizzas. All use Aussie stoneground flour, Mount Zero pink river salt, cheese from Amore Cheese and locally sourced meats and veggies.
Drinks are varied and crafty, with standout picks for The Pass users once again being cocktails. We'd recommend the Spiced Gin Bramble with Four Pillars Spiced Negroni gin, Marionette Mure, blackberry jam, honey and cinnamon. It puts credit back in your account and a dollar for every sale to protect the Yarra.
Harlow
Formerly The Great Britain Hotel, Harlow took the Church Street space and revamped it into an approachable, all-occasion kind of venue with a ground-floor bar and dining space, a sprawling beer garden and a basement bar. With room for 250, the dog-friendly courtyard comes decked out in festoon lighting and lively street art, with a separate entrance for those with four-legged mates in tow.
The menu requires more than an empty stomach. You're bound to have a hard time choosing between heirloom schnitties, carbonara croquettes, tuna poke bowls and okonomiyaki burgers. You guessed it, keep The Pass ready, an ideal source of funds for an extra side or a cheeky cocktail like the Japanese Slipper with Midori, Cointreau, lemon and cherry.
For more information on any of these venues, download The Pass app to start exploring and claim exclusive rewards across these venues.