The Best Cocktail Bars in Melbourne
Whether you want to drink a martini with spaghetti at 2am or pair a whisky concoction with a piece of peach pie, you can have your cocktail any which way in this city.
Some nights you want a pot of beer that doesn't taste too bad and a bowl of chips that will do as dinner. But other nights you want a locally distilled spirit washed with something fancy like butter served with house-made bitters, just-cut ice and something that has been (or still is) on fire. For those times, these are the bars you want to head to — from a Brunswick East bar pairing pie and peach cocktails to a CBD lair doing all the classics until 3am.
You might need more dollars in your bank account, but, really, if you're going out for piña coladas, there is no room to be anything less than frivolous.
Image: Arlechin by Letícia Almeida.
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RestaurantReine & La Rue
380 Collins Street, Melbourne
The NOMAD team has taken French fine-dining to the next level in Melbourne.
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RestaurantChiki Chan & Hiki Bar
6 Centreway, Mordialloc
Chiki Chan is serving up playful Asian-fusion fare in Mordialloc — plus plenty of creative cocktails in its adjoining Hiki Bar.
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BarFlour Child Richmond
432 Church Street, Richmond
You’ve had sourdough pizza, US-style slices and dirty Aussie pizzas, but have you tried pinsa romana?
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BarMorena Melbourne
71 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Alejandro Saravia is totally in his element with Morena Melbourne, masterfully executing his own take on contemporary Latin American fine-dining.
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BarAster Cocktail & Wine
31 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne
Aster is Ferdydurke's replacement, swapping out live music for more grown-up date-night vibes.
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BarThe Bon Vivant's Companion
150 Main Street, Mornington
This Mornington bar offers up a bit of old-world luxury — even if you can't find its secret whisky bar.
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BarLola Belle
233 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Strange bedfellows rum and champagne come together at this Brunswick Street bar.
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BarCode Black Coffee Flinders Lane
189 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Code Black's Morning Bar is home to a stacked lineup of coffee-infused cocktails — both boozy and non-alcoholic.
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BarPurple Pit
380 Collins Street, Melbourne
Drop by Purple Pit for the best dirty gin martini in town.
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BarCaretaker's Cottage
139-141 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
This Melbourne bar is home to some of the world's best cocktails.
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BarHotel Nacional
23-25 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Hotel Nacional is Hardware Lane's five-storey, totally gluten-free Mexican restaurant and bar.
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BarChampagne Problems
238 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
If you loved drinking and dancing at Evie’s Disco Diner but now feel a little too old for it, consider a trip to its older sibling in the CBD.
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BarDutch Rules Distilling Co.
586 Whitehorse Road, Mitcham
The gins here hero spices that originate from Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other spice islands.
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BarFleet Rooftop Bar
1 Queen Street, Melbourne
The Flinders Street rooftop bar boasts an encyclopaedic drinks menu stacked with over 70 rums, 50 gins, and a selection of vintage and hard-to-find spirits.
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BarMill Place Merchants
2 Mill Place, Melbourne
If you're feeling mysterious, dark and moody, this speakeasy bar might be the perfect place to brood. That's if you can find it.
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BarMisfits Bar
30 Chambers Street, Footscray
A trio of misfits have set up a sleek bar in Footscray, which champions local artists and community groups.
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BarBianchetto
26-28 Cotham Road, Kew
Joe Vargetto is blending old-school Italian sensibilities with contemporary cool at this trendy Kew spot.
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BarCastlerose
67 Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne
Treat yourself to some old-world luxury — sipping on fine champagne and biting into confit duck cigars at the bar.
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BarMirror Mirror Rooftop Lounge
209 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne
Is Mirror Mirror rooftop bar the fairest of them all? Only time will tell.
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BarMaggie's Snacks and Liquor
100 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
This isn't your average drinking den, with the crew pumping out some wildly creative eats and drinks for locals.
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RestaurantLa Madonna
103 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
It's a proper hidden gem in the city, rising well above most hotel restaurants and bars you tend to find in Melbourne.
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BarThe Osborne Rooftop & Bar
119 Commercial Road, South Yarra
Choose between its intimate cocktail lounge, on-site restaurant, classic pub or rooftop with views of the South Yarra skyline.
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RestaurantMING Dining
299 Queen Street, Melbourne
Head to the Melbourne fine-diner to feast your way through refined dishes that marry contemporary Australian cuisine with Chinese-Canto influences.
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BarEvies Disco Diner
232 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Karaoke, bingo, bottomless brunch- that's just the beginning.
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BarBossley Bar & Restaurant
186 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
Head to this CBD spot for pre-theatre dining or after-work drinks with the office crew.
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RestaurantCentral Club Hotel
240 - 248 Victoria Street, North Melbourne
Find the recently renovated pub right across the road from the Queen Vic Market.
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RestaurantLongrain Melbourne
44 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Dine on modern Thai dishes within an impeccably restored horse stable.
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RestaurantMasti
354-356 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Prepare for a a light-hearted and laidback approach to Indian dining.
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RestaurantCaptain Baxter
10-18 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Drink cocktails while taking in the sweeping beachfront views.
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BarRichmond Club Hotel
100 Swan Street, Richmond
Classic pub fare meets contemporary cuisine in the heart of Richmond.
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BarAbove Board
306 Smith Street, Collingwood
Nab one of just 12 seats at this hidden, minimalist cocktail haunt — and prepare for some world-class drinking.
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BarStrato Melbourne
202 Normanby Road, Southbank
Hit this 40th-floor beauty to sip crafty cocktails and snack on foie gras macarons among the clouds.
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BarArbory Afloat 2022 - CLOSED
Flinders Walk, Melbourne
Melbourne's seasonal floating bar is back with a new holiday-worthy look and an offering inspired by the Balearic Islands.
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BarNaught Cocktail Bar
32 Peel Street, Eltham
This cocktail den by award-winning distillery Naught will entice you out of the city with its elegant sense of drama and menu of crafty gin sips.
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BarBarlow at The Continental Sorrento
1 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento
This luxe speakeasy pairs a sumptuous live entertainment program with clever cocktails and late-night snacks by Scott Pickett.
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BarYarra Falls
381 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
A 25-seat boozer guided by locality, steered by the seasons and named after the Yarra River's one-time waterfall.
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BarYarra 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.
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BarHER 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.
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BarMusic Room
270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Melbourne's first dedicated 'listening bar' boasts a 3000-strong vinyl collection and DJ Jnett in the role of Music Director.
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BarThe Distiller Melbourne - CLOSED
530 High Street, Northcote
This cocktail bar and distillery is the new home of booze brands Grainshaker and Ned, pouring classic sips with a twist.
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BarBrunswick Aces
124 Weston Street, Brunswick East
Australia's first booze-free bar and bottle shop boasts a moody, industrial-meets-baroque space in Brunswick East.
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BarPearl Diver Cocktails and Oysters
56 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Creatively-charged cocktails and primo Aussie oysters headline the offering at this glam CBD watering hole.
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BarFable Melbourne
168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Melbourne's highest rooftop bar is slinging clever cocktails and Mediterranean bites 14 storeys above Lonsdale Street.
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BarArbory Afloat 2021 - CLOSED
Flinders Walk, Melbourne
The floating bar's latest incarnation is inspired by Turkey's Turquoise Coast, serving up Mediterranean bites and a hefty lineup of cocktails.
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RestaurantSociety
80 Collins Street, Melbourne
This dramatic venue from Chris Lucas features two restaurants and a glam cocktail lounge.
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BarOm Nom Kitchen
187 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
The old dessert destination is now a luxe wine and cocktail bar with top-notch drinking snacks to match.
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BarFour Pillars Gin Distillery
2A Lilydale Road, Healesville
An experimental distillery, a gin shop and stunning bar by the Four Pillars crew.
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BarKepler's Yard - CLOSED
2 Arthurton Road, Northcote
DJ nights, mismatched furniture and planet-themed cocktails, in a space that's named after a famous astronomer.
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BarPoodle Upstairs
81-83 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Poodle Bar & Bistro has scored a new upstairs sibling, serving signature sips, gourmet charcuterie and caviar two nights a week.
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BarDom's Social Club
301 Swanston Street, Melbourne
The former home of Peaches and Cheek has been transformed into a laidback spot that feels distinctly like an Italian social club.
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BarJohnny's Green Room
293-297 Lygon Street, Carlton
Dose up on sophisticated Euro vibes and Italian cocktails at this chic, sunny rooftop bar in Carlton.
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BarMs Bartronica - CLOSED
159 Ryrie Street, Geelong
Fancy a game or two of Street Fighter, Mario Kart or even Time Crisis with your cocktails?
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BarThere There
8 Malop Street, Geelong
Set inside a grand old bank building, but feels like a 70s house party.
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BarThe 18th Amendment Bar
82A Little Malop Street, Geelong
A sophisticated cocktail bar that recalls Prohibition-era Chicago and New York speakeasies.
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BarTrouble in Dreams - CLOSED
297 Barkly Street, Footscray
This 25-seat bar is an ode to the world's greatest speakeasies.
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RestaurantGimlet at Cavendish House
33 Russell Street, Melbourne
Andrew McConnell's elegant cocktail bar and European bistro serves up caviar, champagne and truffles aplenty.
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RestaurantMr Brownie
343 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne
A multi-level pub, Punjabi-style deli and rooftop bar run by chef-restaurateur Jessi Singh.
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BarNick & Nora's
80 Collins Street, Melbourne
This opulent CBD bar boasts over 400 bottles of champagne, three balconies and a roaring 30s vibe.
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BarMaha North
86 Smith Street, Collingwood
Head to Smith Street for Shane Delia's elegant meze and cocktail bar.
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BarPepe's Italian & Liquor
275 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
You'll find cheesy bowls of gnocchi, meatball pizza and giant sundaes at this 1930s New York-Inspired Italo-American joint on Exhibition Street.
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BarImperial South Yarra
522 Chapel Street, South Yarra
A southside spot to unwind with a fishbowl cocktail and a little bit of a boogie.
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BarFargo and Co
216 Swan Street, Richmond
This old Richmond bank is the home of bottomless brunch and fried chicken.
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BarRascal - CLOSED
341 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Pair one of 120 wines with caviar-topped fried chicken at this Sydney Road wine bar in a 150-year-old building.
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BarBar Margaux
111 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
A CBD basement bar serving up French bistro food and cocktails until 5am.
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BarKitty Somerset
565 High Street, Northcote
This cosy northside cocktail bar is a favourite among locals for its relaxed vibes and top-notch drinks.
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BarBouvier Bar
159 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
A moody bar on Lygon Street serving classic cocktails and tapas-style bites.
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BarLand of Plenty - CLOSED
188 Carlisle Street, St Kilda
A St Kilda rooftop bar and barbecue joint with an all-Aussie drinks list and Milo desserts.
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BarRadar - CLOSED
243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Melbourne CBD's new late night bar and club is at home in the old Lounge space on Swanston Street.
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RestaurantMono-XO - CLOSED
191A Smith Street, Fitzroy
A 25-seat yakitori and rock 'n' roll bar in Fitzroy.
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BarEl Camino Cantina
222 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Fitzroy's colourful Tex-Mex joint with giant cocktails from the Rockpool Dining Group.
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BarCasa N.O.M Bar y Restaurante
110 Greville Street, Prahran
A mezcal bar with a broad-ranging Latin American snack menu in Prahran.
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RestaurantMister Munro
215 Little Collins St, Melbourne
An all-day dining room and bar in Melbourne's historic old 'dry hotel'.
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BarLa La Land
Level 1, 125 Hardware Street, Melbourne
This CBD oasis is just like your living room — but with more cocktails and Chesterfields.
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BarJasper's - CLOSED
14 Goldie Place, Melbourne
A jazz bar with a cosy courtyard and an extensive gin list.
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BarThe 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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BarBomba 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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BarState 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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BarRed 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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BarAmelia Shaw
280 Sydney Road, Brunswick
A sleek weekend-only cocktail bar above the Retreat Hotel.
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BarSig. Enzo Aperitivo Bar
1D Michael Street, Brunswick
An aperitivo bar perfect for a spritz, some snacks and some solo time.
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BarAtticus 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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BarFossey's Ginporium & Distillery
110 Eighth Street, Mildura
An old-timey gin distillery and bar found on the country streets of Mildura.
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BarLittle Lon Distilling Co.
17 Casselden Place, Melbourne
A tiny CBD gin distillery that open its bar three nights a week.
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BarGolden 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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BarEast China Trading Company
Hardware Lane, Melbourne
A dumpling, cocktail and 200-strong rum bar tucked down a CBD laneway.
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BarCampari House
25 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Navigate the four levels of this hospitality extravaganza with a Campari — or two — in hand.
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BarThe Bank on Collins
394 Collins Street, Melbourne
Finally a bank you might actually want to visit.
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BarBar 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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BarBar Ampere
16 Russell Place, Melbourne
End your night with French aperitifs and raclettes at this Parisian-style bar.
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BarHeartbreaker
234A Russell Street, Melbourne
This wild-child American-style dive bar is a rock 'n' roll dream.
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BarRomeo Lane - CLOSED
1a Crossley Street, Melbourne
It's cocktails all round at newly-spawn Romeo Lane.
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BarNew Gold Mountain
21 Liverpool Street, Melbourne
If you can find New Gold Mountain it's a reward in itself.
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BarMadame 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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BarLily Blacks
12 Meyers Place, Melbourne
A glamorous 1920s speakeasy that exudes a little extra cheek.
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BarHihou - CLOSED
First Floor, 1 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
A Japanese-inspired bar behind a secret doorway.
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BarThe Everleigh
Upstairs, 150-156 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Experience the hedonistic pleasures of the 1920s in Fitzroy's hidden cocktail den.
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BarNaked in the Sky
285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
The best position on Brunswick Street is in the sky.
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BarTransit Cocktail Lounge
Level 2, Transport Hotel, Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne
A view best complemented with cocktails.
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BarThe Croft Institute - CLOSED
21 Croft Alley, Melbourne
A bar science nerds and spirit lovers alike can get behind.
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BarMr Wow's Emporium - CLOSED
97B Smith Street, Fitzroy
A purveyor of fine drinks and good times, what Mr Wow is selling, we are happy to be buying.
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BarThe Noble Experiment
284 Smith Street, Collingwood
A noble attempt at some pretty incredible barrel-aged cocktails from the Prohibition era.
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BarWhite 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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BarBad 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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BarPolepole 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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BarBorsch, 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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BarDoc Martin's - CLOSED
86 Collins Street, Melbourne
Swill spirits on the sidewalk with the Doctor.
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BarBotherambo - CLOSED
65 Swan Street, Richmond
Richmond's newest Asian joint is a little bit different to its Victoria Street neighbours.
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BarCaz Reitop's Dirty Secrets
80 Smith Street, Collingwood
Late-night cocktails on Collingwood's Smith Street.
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BarUnion Electric
13 Heffernan Lane, Melbourne
This Chinatown bar boasts an ever-changing cocktail offering and a rooftop gin garden.
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BarHarley House
71 Collins Street, Melbourne
Picanteria-style Peruvian fare is the new face of this subterranean city space.
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BarBoilermaker House
209-211 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
The perfect combo of whisky, beer, cheese and charcuterie.
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BarWaterslide Bar
26 Southgate Avenue, Southbank
A bar standing in the spot of a waterslide has big expectations to fill.
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BarThe Mill House - CLOSED
277-279 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Channel the Prohibition era and sip moonshine below street level.
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BarThe 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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BarVaporetto 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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BarRooftop at QT
Level 11, QT Melbourne, 133 Russell Street, Melbourne
The CBD slick rooftop bar on top of the QT.
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BarGood Heavens
Level 2, 79 Bourke Street, Melbourne
A CBD Palm Springs-inspired rooftop bar above Fancy Hank's.
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BarHenry Sugar
296-298 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
Rathdowne Street's neighbourhood bar doing inventive food and delicate desserts.
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BarHouse 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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RestaurantNeptune
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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RestaurantArlechin
Mornane Place, Melbourne
Grossi Florentino's basement bar is serving snacks and cocktails until 3am every night.
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BarStoryville
185 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Where sipping insect-garnished cocktails from a magical toadstool bar is just a regular night out.
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BarBad Love Club - CLOSED
68-82 Hopkins Street, Footscray
Cafe by day, bar by night, sugar coma by choice.
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BarBeneath Driver Lane
Shop 3, Driver Lane, Melbourne
Blues and bourbon in a moody underground space.
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BarDunning Kruger - CLOSED
436 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
Pair cocktails and slices of house-made pie at this Brunswick bar.
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BarWhaler - CLOSED
71 High Street, Prahran
This sophisticated Prahran bar offers a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Chapel Street.
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BarInes Wine Bar
150 Chapel Street, Windsor
An old-school wine bar complete with Sinatra tunes, Italian wines and classic Euro drinking fare.
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BarPromise Bar - CLOSED
173 High Street, Prahran
Prahran's hidden speakeasy doesn't have a cocktail menu — or a front door, for that matter.
