The Best Bars with Snacks to Track Down When You're Just a Little Bit Hungry
For when you don't want to eat a full meal, but could definitely down a fried chicken slider, a taco or two or some cheese and charcuterie.
It's 8pm on a Thursday. You've had a few beers. You're a bit hungry. But not too hungry. Where do you go? One of Melbourne's best snack-swilling bars. These days, the food served at bars is as good as what you'd find in a restaurant — and it's less commitment that a sit-down meal (in both time and cash). All of these bars serve top-notch bar food and should be on your list for an afternoon bite, light dinner or supper snack.
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Bar
The Recreation
162-170 Queens Parade, Fitzroy North
A Fitzroy North wine bar, bottle shop and bistro doing considered comfort food.
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Restaurant
Neptune
212 High Street, Windsor
The Windsor restaurant has gone back to its roots, serving up stacks of seafood and Mediterranean eats.
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Bar
Bomba Rooftop
103 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
The Spanish restaurant's rooftop serves up Catalan toasties and gin cocktails under the CBD stars.
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Bar
The Corner Hotel
57 Swan Street, Richmond
A Richmond live music institution with a banging rooftop.
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Bar
Milton Wine Shop
1427 Malvern Road, Malvern
The best spot in Malvern to buy a bottle to take away or enjoy a glass with a plate of cheese.
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Bar
Hampton Wine Co.
444 Hampton Street, Hampton
Great bar food and take away wines on a sleepy strip in Hampton.
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Bar
Neighbourhood Wine
1 Reid Street, Fitzroy North
With a history steeped in Melbourne Mafia, this wine bar brings a cosy, speakeasy-style space to Fitzroy North.
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Bar
Bar Ampere
16 Russell Place, Melbourne
End your night with French aperitifs and raclettes at this Parisian-style bar.
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Restaurant
Marquis of Lorne
411 George Street, Fitzroy
Drink down on the street, dine at the second floor restaurant or soak up some rays on the rooftop.
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Bar
Leonard's House of Love
3 Wilson Street, South Yarra
Drink tinnies, down burgers, dance and play pool in Leonard's lounge room-like bar.
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Bar
Builders Arms Hotel
211 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Andrew McConnell's refined pub offers British-inflected fare, a strong wine selection and a lovely little courtyard.
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Bar
Terminus Hotel
605 Victoria Street, Abbotsford
The Abbotsford pub sports a classy revamp but maintains the things that matter most: beer, bingo and counter meals.
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Bar
The Standard Hotel
293 Fitzroy Street, Fitzroy
The bar offers a comforting retro vibe while huge beer garden is a breezy little oasis that's well worth the search.
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Bar
Bar Lourinha
37 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Packed to the brim, this little gem offers a trip to Spain sans the passport.
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Bar
Heartbreaker
234A Russell Street, Melbourne
This wild-child American-style dive bar is a rock 'n' roll dream.
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Bar
The Everleigh
Upstairs, 150-156 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Experience the hedonistic pleasures of the 1920s in Fitzroy's hidden cocktail den.
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Bar
Carwyn Cellars
877 High Street, Thornbury
This Thornbury stalwart has been sating northside thirsts for over a decade.
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Bar
Ponyfish Island
Southgate Pedestrian Bridge, Melbourne
The long-standing bar now has a Miami-inspired fit-out, summery cocktails and, for the first time ever, tap beers.
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Bar
Portsea Hotel
3746 Point Nepean Road, Portsea
The Mornington Peninsula spot boasts new bars, a pizza menu and killer views over the bay.
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Bar
Willows & Wine
315 Victoria Street, West Melbourne
This cosy little wine bar is stocked with second-hand books and board games to keep you entertained while you quaff.
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Bar
St Andrews Beach Brewery
160 Sandy Road, Fingal
A 92-acre craft brewery in the Mornington Peninsula inside a former racehorse training facility
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Bar
Luton Lane Wine Bar
8 Luton Lane, Hawthorn
A sleek haven of wine and Spanish bar snacks in Hawthorn.
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Bar
St Giles - CLOSED
Shop 115A, Camberwell Place, 793 Burke Road, Camberwell
An elegant wine bar, cellar and restaurant hidden up above a Camberwell shopping centre.
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Bar
Little Creatures Geelong Brewery
Corner Fyans And Swanston Streets, Geelong
This Fremantle-born brewery's east coast home features three bars and lots of booze.
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Bar
Union Electric
13 Heffernan Lane, Melbourne
This Chinatown bar boasts an ever-changing cocktail offering and a rooftop gin garden.
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Bar
The George on Collins
Basement, Georges Building, 168 Collins Street, Melbourne
This basement CBD venue has a Vietnamese-inspired food and drinks menu by MasterChef Khanh Ong.
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Bar
Hotel Esplanade
11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
The revamped Melbourne music institution sports 12 bars, two restaurants and three live music stages across its six levels.
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Bar
Lulie Tavern
225 Johnston Street, Abbotsford
Abbotsford's no-frills neighbourhood warehouse bar.
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Bar
The Lame Duck
247 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
A retro disco dive bar with a vintage purple pool table, hot pink palm trees and a shrine to Cher.
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Bar
The Vale Bar & Eatery
169 Union Road, Ascot Vale
A cosy Ascot Vale local with a strong selection of pizzas and 150 wines.
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Bar
Twobays Brewing Co
2 Trewhitt Court, Dromana
A brewery on the Mornington Peninsula where all the beer (and the pizza) is gluten free.
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Bar
Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq
440 Docklands Drive, Docklands
A circus-themed arcade bar from the Holey Moley crew complete with bowling, dodgems and colourful cocktails.
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Bar
State of Grace
27 King Street, Melbourne
The CBD venue has reopened in a new and improved location complete with a hidden drinking den.
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Bar
The Beach Hotel - CLOSED
97 Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park
This Albert Park boozer has scored a new look and revamped offering of refined pub classics and lots of wines.
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Bar
Bodega Underground
55 Lt Bourke Street, Melbourne
This CBD taqueria is completely gluten-free, very vegan and open till 3am every night.
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Bar
Red Piggy - CLOSED
Level 3, 263 Little Bourke Street , Melbourne
An affordable Southeast Asian eatery and bar with a covetable CBD rooftop.
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Bar
Bar Oussou
653 Sydney Road, Victoria
With regular live music, a rollicking dance floor, a leafy courtyard and French Senegalese food, this is one of Sydney Road's best local haunts.
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Bar
Amelia Shaw
280 Sydney Road, Brunswick
A sleek weekend-only cocktail bar above the Retreat Hotel.
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Bar
Sig. Enzo Aperitivo Bar
1D Michael Street, Brunswick
An aperitivo bar perfect for a spritz, some snacks and some solo time.
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Bar
Atticus Finch
129 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
A Lygon Street spot with cosy nooks, DJs on Fridays, a cute courtyard and the best cheese plate in Brunswick.
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Bar
Bar Romantica
54 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
A Lygon Street institution has been transformed into a sleek late-night Italian bar and eatery.
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Bar
Lazerpig - CLOSED
9–11 Peel Street, Collingwood
Standout slices and great wine matched with DJs and a mesmerising disco ball.
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Bar
Citrico - CLOSED
376 Queens Parade, Fitzroy North
A lively new Chilean spot in Fitzroy North with an ex-Rockpool chef.
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Bar
Brogan's Way
61 North Street, Richmond
A gin distillery and bar hidden in the backstreets of Richmond.
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Bar
Future Future
191 Swan Street, Richmond
This little Richmond eatery is slinging meatball katsu-sandos, donburi bowls, cocktails and rare Japanese sake.
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Bar
B. Lucky & Sons
Level 3, Melbourne Central, 211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne
An adults-only arcade bar offering vintage games, prizes and alcoholic bubble tea until 3am.
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Bar
Golden Monkey
Basement, 389 Lonsdale Street (enter Via Hardware Lane), Melbourne
A Shanghai-style basement bar harbouring custard buns and punch bowl cocktails.
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Bar
Royal Saxon
545 Church Street, Richmond
This bar-bistro hybrid has a little something for everyone.
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Bar
East China Trading Company
Hardware Lane, Melbourne
A dumpling, cocktail and 200-strong rum bar tucked down a CBD laneway.
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Bar
European Bier Cafe
120 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
A triple-level bar boasting a broad spectrum of local and international beers.
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Bar
Transport Hotel
Federation Square, Melbourne
A multifaceted venue located in Federation Square — whatever you're after, it has you covered.
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Bar
Waterfront Port Melbourne
1 Station Pier, Port Melbourne
Situated on Station Pier, this sleek establishment offers waterside views, fresh seafood and fine wines.
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Bar
Newmarket Hotel
34 Inkerman Street, St Kilda
Great pub fare, exciting architecture and a dedicated gig space — the Newmarket is a triple threat.
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Bar
Perseverance
196 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Get a big dose of 90s nostalgia at this hip and happening Brunswick Street hang-out.
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Bar
Whaler - CLOSED
71 High Street, Prahran
This sophisticated Prahran bar offers a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Chapel Street.
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Bar
Promise Bar - CLOSED
173 High Street, Prahran
Prahran's hidden speakeasy doesn't have a cocktail menu — or a front door, for that matter.
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Restaurant
Lobby Coffee & Wine - CLOSED
52 Albert Road, South Melbourne
A 35-seat cafe and wine bar on the site of what was Seven Nightclub.
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Bar
Flatiron Side Door
72 Willsmere Road, Kew
This charming wine bar and garden is a home away from home for Kew locals.
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Bar
Green Light Diner
Shop 17, The Concourse, Flinders Street Station, Melbourne
A 1920s-style late-night diner in that bar at Flinders Street Station.
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Bar
Red Hill Brewery
88 Shoreham Road, Red Hill South
The Mornington Peninsula's home of beer and barbecue.
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Bar
Bridge Road Brewers
50 Ford Street, Beechworth
This award-winning brewery is worth the road trip to Beechworth — for both its beer and its pretzels.
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Bar
Bright Brewery
121 Great Alpine Road, Bright
This out of town brewery has a 24-tap selection and a big outdoor terrace nestled in the mountains.
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Bar
Little Andorra
555 Nicholson Street, Carlton North
A charming Carlton North wine bar where you pull up a stool for a drink and a snack every day from 2pm.
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Restaurant
Montalto
33 Shoreham Road, Red Hill South
This Mornington Peninsula institution has a winery cellar door, cafe and fine dining restaurant.
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Bar
Dunning Kruger - CLOSED
436 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
Pair cocktails and slices of house-made pie at this Brunswick bar.
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Bar
Joanie's Baretto
832A High Street, Thornbury
Thornbury's cute neighbourhood Italian bar serving spritzes, cicchetti and gluten-free pasta.
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Restaurant
Green Man's Arms
418 Lygon Street, Carlton
A vegan pub with house-made falafel, halva ice cream and sparkling kombucha on tap.
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Bar
Innocent Bystander
316-334 Maroondah Highway, Healesville
The Yarra Valley winemaker's Healesville venue is part cellar door, part pumping wine bar.
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Bar
The Roy - CLOSED
Rear, 401 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
The space behind Polly is now a laidback beer-toting sports bar.
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Bar
Beneath Driver Lane
Shop 3, Driver Lane, Melbourne
Blues and bourbon in a moody underground space.
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Restaurant
Arlechin
Mornane Place, Melbourne
Grossi Florentino's basement bar is serving snacks and cocktails until 3am every night.
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Bar
Father's Office
249 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Overlooking the State Library, this CBD bar serves up burgers, wings and a generous happy hour.
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Bar
Bridge Hotel
642 Bridge Road, Richmond
This huge Richmond pub with a laneway running through the middle.
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Bar
Bosozoku - CLOSED
34A Bray Street, South Yarra
A Japanese biker gang-themed joint with Mario Kart battles, karaoke rooms and a dry ice spa.
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Bar
The Fitzroy Pinnacle
251-255 Saint Georges Road, Fitzroy North
Fitzroy North's oddly-shaped corner pub.
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Bar
Osteria Ilaria
367 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
A CBD wine bar and Italian eatery from the pasta kings next door at Tipo 00.
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Bar
Paradise Alley
25 Easey Street, Collingwood
A casual Collingwood warehouse bar connected to Backwoods Gallery.
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Bar
Wine 1160 - CLOSED
1160 High Street, Armadale
A house-like Armadale wine bar you'll wish was your home.
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Bar
The Silverlake Social
198 Chapel Street, Prahran
A Prahran bar sporting a pool table, Buffalo wings and an extensive back bar of hard-to-find American booze.
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Bar
Bang Bang at the Rifle Club
294 Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick
An all-day Asian fusion eatery at the old Caulfield Rifle Club.
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Bar
House of Correction
264 Swanston Street, Melbourne
An upstairs CBD cocktail bar at the old site of Melbourne's longest-running porn cinema.
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Bar
Napier Quarter
359 Napier Street, Fitzroy
A small all-day cafe and wine bar winning locals over in the backstreets of Fitzroy.
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Bar
Town Hall Hotel
33 Errol Street, North Melbourne
A classic neighbourhood pub with a secret beer garden hidden out back.
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Bar
Colonial Brewing Co.
89 Bertie Street, Port Melbourne
This Port Melbourne brewpub serves up tap beer, tinnies and pizza.
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Bar
Good Heavens
Level 2, 79 Bourke Street, Melbourne
A CBD Palm Springs-inspired rooftop bar above Fancy Hank's.
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Bar
Comptoir Cellar & Bar - CLOSED
58 Stanley Street, Collingwood
A boutique bottle shop and wine bar beneath a Collingwood apartment building.
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Bar
Stomping Ground Brewery & Beer Hall
100 Gipps Street, Collingwood
Collingwood's expansive brewpub.
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Bar
Vaporetto Bar & Eatery
681 Glenferrie Road (enter Via Grace Street), Hawthorn
An enchanting Venetian bar that nails all the best bits of Venice.
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Bar
Grub Food Van - CLOSED
87-89 Moor Street, Fitzroy
Laid-back backyard in summer, cosy comfort cafe in winter.
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Bar
The Rose Fitzroy
406 Napier Street, Fitzroy
The Fitzroy mainstay has a new lick of paint and an upstairs wine bar.
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Bar
Sagra - CLOSED
256-258 Glenferrie Road, Malvern
A Malvern restaurant with all-day Italian dining, a rooftop bar and even a gallery.
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Bar
Bird's Basement
11 Singers Lane, Melbourne
You'll get dinner and a show at Melbourne's newest jazz bar.
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Bar
Bar Liberty
234 Johnston Street, Fitzroy
This Fitzroy wine bar has quite the sense of adventure.
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Bar
Sake Flinders Lane - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
121 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Australia’s own masters of contemporary Japanese dining have welcomed a new culinary hotspot to their growing brood.
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Bar
The Craft & Co.
390 Smith Street, Collingwood
A Fitzroy cafe that's also a brewery, a roastery and a deli.
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Bar
The Wharf Hotel
18-38 Siddeley Street, Melbourne
Berth at this Yarra-side bar for a beer and the best view.
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Bar
The Ugly Duckling
238 Swan Street, Richmond
Don’t let the name fool you – Richmond’s newest wine bar is no ugly duckling.
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Bar
Lamaro's Bodega
273 Cecil Street, South Melbourne
This classic family pub has ditched the schnitzels for Spanish-style tapas.
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Bar
The Rainbow Hotel
27 Saint David Street, Fitzroy
Toast your outsides by the fireplace, while warming your insides with any of 100 different beers.
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Bar
The Mill House - CLOSED
277-279 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Channel the Prohibition era and sip moonshine below street level.
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Bar
Waterslide Bar
26 Southgate Avenue, Southbank
A bar standing in the spot of a waterslide has big expectations to fill.
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Bar
Northcote Social Club
301 High Street, Northcote
Some things never change at NSC, but the menu is not one of them.
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Bar
Stray Neighbour
463 - 467 Plenty Road, Preston
The new neighbour set to elevate the dining scene of Preston.
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Bar
The Stone Hotel
298‒300 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
A brand new pub for Fitzroy's busiest intersection.
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Bar
Underwood Wine Bar
181 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North
Venture north of the main Fitzroy drag for a no-nonsense glass of red.
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Bar
Boilermaker House
209-211 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
The perfect combo of whisky, beer, cheese and charcuterie.
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Bar
Harley House
71 Collins Street, Melbourne
Picanteria-style Peruvian fare is the new face of this subterranean city space.
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Bar
Temple Brewing Company
122 Weston Street, Brunswick East
Brunswick East's own microbrewery offering much more than just beer.
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Bar
Heartattack and Vine
329 Lygon Street, Carlton
The new Italian kid on the Carlton block is cool, comfy and serves chicchetti all night.
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Bar
St Hotel - CLOSED
54 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Once a questionable choice of venue, the Saint Hotel has been transformed into a sleek Thai dining space and bar.
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Bar
Doc Martin's - CLOSED
86 Collins Street, Melbourne
Swill spirits on the sidewalk with the Doctor.
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Bar
Arbory Bar & Eatery
Flinders Walk, Melbourne
With great views and even better food, this is one platform you won't mind getting delayed on.
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Bar
Magic Mountain Saloon
62 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
An eatery and bar spawned from one of Melbourne's best hospo pedigrees.
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Bar
The Rooks Return
201 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Your local better watch out — The Rooks Return threatens to take its place.
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Bar
The Grand Trailer Park Taverna - CLOSED
87 Bourke Street, Melbourne
East Coast trailer trash at its finest (and funnest).
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Bar
The General Assembly
29 South Wharf Promenade, South Wharf
The General Assembly keeps things simple with craft beer on tap, good bar food and riverside views.
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Bar
Neapoli Wine Bar - CLOSED
30 Russell Place, Melbourne
A little-known wine bar with a lot of potential.
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Bar
City Wine Shop
159 Spring Street, Melbourne
The best people watching, wine sipping spot on Spring Street.
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Bar
Borsch, Vodka and Tears
73 Chapel Street, Windsor
There's no doubt that Borsch is a stalwart, and a damn fine one at that.
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Bar
The Catfish
30-32 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
A Gertrude Street dive with a point of difference: their Bloody Marys.
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Bar
Windsor Castle
89 Albert Street, Prahran
Sink beers with neon pink elephants and stuffed peacocks south of the river.
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Bar
College Lawn Hotel
36 Greville Street, Prahran
Relax on the astroturf and enjoy cheap pub grub along with ice-cold beers at this no-frills local.
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Bar
The Great Northern Hotel
644 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
A pub for pub-lovers in Carlton North.
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Bar
The Boatbuilders Yard
23 South Wharf Promenade, South Wharf
Located right on the harbour at South Wharf, this is the place to go if you like your drinks served with a view.
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Bar
The Brunswick Green
313 Sydney Road, Brunswick
This large and welcoming watering hole is a mainstay of Sydney Road.
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Bar
Romeo Lane - CLOSED
1a Crossley Street, Melbourne
It's cocktails all round at newly-spawn Romeo Lane.
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Bar
Transit Cocktail Lounge
Level 2, Transport Hotel, Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne
A view best complemented with cocktails.
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Bar
Rooftop Bar
252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Rooftop Bar is the centrepiece of Melbourne's alcohol stocked skyline.
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Bar
Pallino Bar
790 High Street, Thornbury
Play bocce in summer or cosy up with a glass of wine in winter at this High Street stalwart.
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Bar
Forester's Beer & Music Hall - CLOSED
64 Smith Street, Collingwood
50 beers on tap and 32 different craft brews from around the world, and around the corner.
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Bar
Polepole Bar & Kitchen
Level 1, 267 Lt Collins Street, Melbourne
Step out of Lt Collins Street and into Africa with killer cocktails and bar snacks.
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Bar
Bad Frankie
141 Greeves Street, Fitzroy
Australian cocktails, lamington jaffles and some of the best service you'll find off Smith Street.
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Bar
White Oaks Saloon
115-117 Greville Street, Prahran
A southern-western bar serving up some of the most unique cocktails south of the river.
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Bar
The Raccoon Club
145 Plenty Rd, Preston
With a strict 'no dickheads' policy (that they take very seriously), it really is about drinking better, not more.
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Bar
The Noble Experiment
284 Smith Street, Collingwood
A noble attempt at some pretty incredible barrel-aged cocktails from the Prohibition era.
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Bar
Naked in the Sky
285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
The best position on Brunswick Street is in the sky.
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Bar
Boney - CLOSED
68 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
This CBD club lets you dance right up until 7am.
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Restaurant
Ora
156 Pakington Street, Kew
You can now stop by Ora for a late-night wine and snacking sesh without having to fight over a table.
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Bar
Hihou - CLOSED
First Floor, 1 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
A Japanese-inspired bar behind a secret doorway.
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Bar
The Rum Diary
334 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
No, it's not a bar themed around the 1950s, sex, jealousy, and Puerto Rico.
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Bar
Los Hermanos
339 Victoria Street, Brunswick
Los Hermanos has found a niche somewhere between the taco trucks of the north and the classier acts of the inner city and south-side.
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Bar
Hell of the North - CLOSED
135 Greeves Street, Fitzroy
You could easily pass by the bluestone home on Greeve's Street, off uber-chic Smith, were it not for the canary yellow door.
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Bar
Madame Brussels - CLOSED
Level 3, 59-63 Bourke Street, Melbourne
With AstroTurf, tennis whites and jugs of Pimms, Madame B has classic summer style.
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Bar
Naked For Satan
285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
It’s the Pintxos that truly set Naked for Satan apart from the 7,564 other bars in Melbourne's inner hub.