The Best Bars in Melbourne for After-Work Drinks

Sip speciality wine, drink local craft beer or enjoy a Negroni (or two) at these post-work haunts.
Concrete Playground
Published on May 01, 2023
Updated on June 09, 2023
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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.

  • Restaurant

    Society

    80 Collins Street, Melbourne

    This dramatic venue from Chris Lucas features two restaurants and a glam cocktail lounge.

  • Bar

    The Corner Hotel

    57 Swan Street, Richmond

    A Richmond live music institution with a banging rooftop.

  • 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.

  • Bar

    Baby Snakes Bar

    30 Chambers Street, Footscray

    A colourful, no-fuss wine bar that also slings frozen cocktails and seriously good sangas.

  • 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.

  • Bar

    Beermash

    306 Smith Street, Collingwood

    Try before you buy from the extensive range at this Collingwood beer bar and bottle shop.

  • Bar

    The Local Taphouse St Kilda

    184 Carlisle Street, St Kilda East

    This Carlisle Street institution boasts 19 taps, two fireplaces and a sun-soaked rooftop.

  • Bar

    Hope St Radio

    35 Johnston Street, Collingwood

    Roll into this lofty bar for natural wines, top-notch drinking snacks and live radio broadcasts.

  • Bar

    The Flying Duck Hotel

    67 Bendigo Street, Prahran

    Prahran's favourite old Duck flies again.

  • Bar

    BrewDog Pentridge

    1 Champ Street, Coburg

    This global brewery's first Melbourne home is a sprawling bluestone beer haven, complete with two bars and a supersized beer garden.

  • Bar

    Kirk's Wine Bar

    50 Hardware Lane, Melbourne

    A quaint city wine bar sans pretension.

  • Bar

    Full Moon Fever

    225 Johnston Street, Abbotsford

    Lulie's all-weather rooftop bar is an escape to the Cali desert, complete with burgers, brews and an agave-heavy cocktail list.

  • Bar

    Pilgrim Bar

    15-19 Federation Wharf, Melbourne

    Sip gin tea cocktails at a waterfront venue in the heart of Melbourne's CBD.

  • Bar

    Yarra Botanica

    Southbank Promenade, Southbank

    The Yarra River's permanent two-storey pontoon bar and eatery is celebrating local produce, native ingredients and an all-Victorian drinks offering.

  • Bar

    HER Rooftop

    270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

    Venture up to HER's garden party-inspired rooftop for punchy Thai snacks and summery cocktails, paired with sweeping city views.

  • Bar

    Carwyn Cellars

    877 High Street, Thornbury

    This Thornbury stalwart has been sating northside thirsts for over a decade.

  • Bar

    Holmes Hall

    15 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds

    The plant-filled and neon-lit venue has 20 beer taps, a vegan-friendly gastropub menu and even pinball machines and a shuffleboard table.

  • 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.

  • Bar

    Patient Wolf Distilling Co

    34-36 Market Street, Southbank

    Sip clever gin cocktails just metres from where the gin was made at one of Victoria's largest independent gin distillery.

  • Bar

    Tetto di Carolina

    48 Toorak Road, South Yarra

    A South Yarra bar with an outdoor terrace, live jazz and lots crafty cocktails.

  • Bar

    The Moon

    28A Stanley Street, Collingwood

    A moody and atmospheric spot for sipping from an extensive selection of interesting wines.

  • 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.

  • Bar

    Lulie Tavern

    225 Johnston Street, Abbotsford

    Abbotsford's no-frills neighbourhood warehouse bar.

  • Bar

    The Vale Bar & Eatery

    169 Union Road, Ascot Vale

    A cosy Ascot Vale local with a strong selection of pizzas and 150 wines.

  • Bar

    Harlow

    447 Church Street, Richmond

    Richmond's Great Britain Hotel has been transformed into an all-occasions pub with a dog-friendly beer garden and lots of barbecued meats.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Bar

    The B.East

    80 Lygon Street, Brunswick East

    A Brunswick East haunt for burgers, drinks and live music.

  • Bar

    The Carlton Club

    193 Bourke Street, Melbourne

    Party like an animal at this inner-city jungle oasis.

  • Bar

    Newmarket Hotel

    34 Inkerman Street, St Kilda

    Great pub fare, exciting architecture and a dedicated gig space — the Newmarket is a triple threat.

  • Bar

    Swan Hotel

    425 Church Street, Richmond

    Glide in and grab a pint or dance away the night in this classic Richmond bar.

  • Bar

    The Tipsy Cow Malt & Vine Co.

    359 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

    A neighbourhood bar that loves whisky and dogs.

  • Bar

    Joanie's Baretto

    832A High Street, Thornbury

    Thornbury's cute neighbourhood Italian bar serving spritzes, cicchetti and gluten-free pasta.

  • Bar

    Mr West Bar & Bottleshop

    106 Nicholson Street, Footscray

    A two-storey bar and bottleshop in the heart of Footscray.

  • Bar

    Whitehart

    22 Whitehart Lane, Melbourne

    Melbourne CBD's new two-storey car park container bar.

  • Bar

    Paradise Alley

    25 Easey Street, Collingwood

    A casual Collingwood warehouse bar connected to Backwoods Gallery.

  • Bar

    Good Heavens

    Level 2, 79 Bourke Street, Melbourne

    A CBD Palm Springs-inspired rooftop bar above Fancy Hank's.

  • Bar

    Gilson

    171 Domain Road, South Yarra

    An all-day European-style eatery across from the Botanic Gardens.

  • Bar

    Stomping Ground Brewery & Beer Hall

    100 Gipps Street, Collingwood

    Collingwood's expansive brewpub.

  • Bar

    Rooftop at QT

    Level 11, QT Melbourne, 133 Russell Street, Melbourne

    The CBD slick rooftop bar on top of the QT.

  • Bar

    Garden State Hotel

    101 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

    Flinders Lane's new four-storey pub.

  • Bar

    Heartattack and Vine

    329 Lygon Street, Carlton

    The new Italian kid on the Carlton block is cool, comfy and serves chicchetti all night.

  • 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. 

  • Bar

    City Wine Shop

    159 Spring Street, Melbourne

    The best people watching, wine sipping spot on Spring Street.

  • Bar

    The Great Northern Hotel

    644 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North

    A pub for pub-lovers in Carlton North.

  • Bar

    Section 8

    27-29 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne

    Pull up a milk crate and set yourself up in this excellent outdoor bar.

  • Bar

    Dr Morse

    274 Johnston Street, Abbotsford

    $10 burgers, local beers, an open fire and a good Abbotsford buzz.

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