Twelve New Bars in Melbourne You Need To Try Right Now

When it comes to buzzworthy new bars, Melbourne's cup runeth over.
Tom Clift
Published on July 30, 2015
  • Bar

    Boilermaker House

    209-211 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

    The perfect combo of whisky, beer, cheese and charcuterie.

  • Bar

    Lulie Tavern

    225 Johnston Street, Abbotsford

    Abbotsford's no-frills neighbourhood warehouse bar.

  • Bar

    MJR TOM - CLOSED

    108 Smith Street, Collingwood

    Call in ground control, there's another bar on Smith Street.

  • Bar

    Underwood Wine Bar

    181 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North

    Venture north of the main Fitzroy drag for a no-nonsense glass of red.

  • Bar

    Joey Smalls

    284 Sydney Road, Brunswick

    A small bar for Sydney Road.

  • Bar

    Glamp Bar

    Level 2, 267 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

    Because sometimes you don’t feel like roughing it. And why should you?

  • Bar

    The Stone Hotel

    298‒300 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

    A brand new pub for Fitzroy's busiest intersection.

  • Bar

    Aloha Sailor - CLOSED

    284 Smith Street, Collingwood

    Leave your troubles (and your gloves) at the door as you descend to Smith Street's new basement tiki bar.

  • Bar

    Union Electric

    13 Heffernan Lane, Melbourne

    This Chinatown bar boasts an ever-changing cocktail offering and a rooftop gin garden.

  • Bar

    Magic Mountain Saloon

    62 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

    An eatery and bar spawned from one of Melbourne's best hospo pedigrees.

  • Bar

    Belleville - CLOSED

    Globe Alley, Melbourne

    A hidden cocktail bar above Chinatown from the team behind Section 8 and Ferdydurke. 

  • Bar

    G&Tea Gin Garden - CLOSED

    100 Kerr Street, Fitzroy

    All your gin garden dreams come true on Brunswick Street.

  • Event

    Le Bon Ton's Superbowl Party

    Mon, 10 Feb, 2025

    Le Bon Ton, Collingwood

    Pair your Superbowl watching with hot wings, waffles and chicken, and Budweiser beers.

  • News

    The Five Best Rivers for Swimming In Near Melbourne

    Skip the overcrowded sands of Melbourne's beaches in favour of floating upstream at these Victorian rivers.

  • News

    How Does It Feel to Make a Bob Dylan Biopic?: Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro and James Mangold Chat 'A Complete Unknown'

    This portrait of Bob Dylan going electric boasts the songs, the stars and 60s-era style — plus plenty of passion from its lead, his fellow cast and director.

  • Guide

    The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This Weekend

    This weekend, you can pair pickleball games with sushi platters and cocktails, watch films under the stars, and see if you can score last-minute tickets to AO Live.

  • Guide

    The 16 Best Seafood Restaurants in Melbourne

    Here's where to find Melbourne's best seafood — across fine-diners, messy crab shacks, local neighbourhood eateries and lavish omakase haunts.

  • News

    Messina Wants You to Treat Your 2025 Valentine to a Heart-Topped Tub of Salted Caramel and Baked Cheesecake Gelato

    This February 14 special also features dark choc chips, passionfruit curd, crème brûlée mousse and caramel swirls.

  • Restaurant

    Astoria Bar Kè Grill

    302 Toorak Road, South Yarra

    This Toorak Road terrace house is now home to a fab Greek restaurant.

  • Bar

    Espy Sunroom

    The Esplanade, St Kilda

    Just when you thought St Kilda's Hotel Esplanade couldn't get any bigger, it opens the 252-person Espy Sunroom next door.

  • News

    Heartbreaking News: Splendour in the Grass Has Confirmed That It Isn't Returning for 2025

    "Splendour needs a little more time to recharge and we won’t be back this year," the festival's organisers announced.

  • Event

    Galentine's Day at Pincho Disco

    Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

    Pincho Disco, Collingwood

    Gather your gals, gays and theys together for a big Latin American feast the day before Valentine's Day

  • Pincho Disco

    59 Cambridge Street, Collingwood

  • News

    'The White Lotus' Has Been Renewed by HBO for Season Four Before Season Three Even Starts

    There's no word yet on which destination will follow Hawaii, Sicily and Thailand — but a fourth round of this HBO hit is on the way.

  • News

    Seven Melbourne Venues Screening the Super Bowl for NFL Superfans

    If you're looking to tune in to the biggest event in American sporting, do it right at these spots around town.

  • News

    Singapore's Hidden Gem: Everything to See and Eat in Katong-Joo Chiat

    Discover Singapore's Peranakan history at this colourful cultural hub.

  • News

    An ALDI Ice Cream Truck Is Serving Up 36-Cent Desserts at East Coast Beaches for One Day Only

    When the supermarket chain's van hits coastal spots in Sydney, Melbourne and on the Sunshine Coast, nothing will cost more than $1.

  • News

    The Full Trailer for 'Yellowjackets' Season Three Is Here with Haunting Secrets and a Relentless Fight to Survive

    Here's one way to spend Valentine's Day: with the return of this TV hit, this time with Hilary Swank joining the cast.

  • News

    Five Epic Multi-Day Hikes to Conquer Near Melbourne

    Walk your way through the most beautiful parts of Victoria (while staying at remote campgrounds) during these multi-day hikes near Melbourne.

  • Event

    GABS Craft Beer Fest

    Fri, 4 Apr, 2025

    Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf

    Where can you get a drink from a 120-tap bar? At 2025's Great Australasian Beer Spectapular.

  • News

    GABS Is Set to Build Australia's Longest Bar (with 120 Taps) When the Huge Craft Beer and Cider Festival Returns for 2025

    This just might be the biggest bar that you ever get a drink from — and it's coming to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

  • Guide

    The 16 Best Hotels In Melbourne for 2025

    Whether you're vacationing or staycationing, this lineup of the best hotels in Melbourne will help you live your best life — fine restaurants, premium spas, rooftop pools and pillow menus await.

  • Hotel

    The StandardX

    62 Rose Street, Fitzroy

    Fitzroy's The StandardX boasts 125 luxury rooms, a rooftop bar and a contemporary Thai restaurant.

  • Hotel

    Melbourne Place

    130 Russell Street, Melbourne

    This has got to be Melbourne's most beautiful hotel — from top to bottom.

  • Bar

    Mid Air

    130 Russell Street, Melbourne

    This banger of a rooftop bar sits on top of Melbourne Place hotel, and is open from breakfast right throughout to dinner.

  • News

    'Joker: Folie à Deux', 'Madame Web' and 'Borderlands' Are All in the Running for 2025's Razzie Awards

    Also picking up plenty of nominations from cinema's least-coveted accolades: 'Megalopolis', 'Reagan' and 'Unfrosted'.

  • News

    The Warehouse Project's 2024 Australian Debut Was Such a Hit That It's Returning in 2025

    A taste of Manchester's rave scene is coming to Sydney and Melbourne again — this time for a night in each city in April.

  • News

    The Best Things to Eat, See and Do to Celebrate Lunar New Year in Melbourne

    Themed high teas, street parties, limited-edition cakes, karaoke, banquets and huge giveaways — now that's how you welcome in the Year of the Snake in Melbourne.

  • Event

    What's on in Frankston: 2025 Events

    Multiple single dates

    Various Frankston venues

    From European beach clubs to street art and sand sculpting, here's everything hitting Frankston in early 2025.

  • News

    How One of Australia's Most-Beloved Children's Books Finally Became a Movie: Alison Lester and Robert Connolly Talk 'Magic Beach'

    Three and a half decades after it first hit bookshelves, this illustrated favourite has reached the screen in a fittingly imaginative way.

  • Guide

    The Best Bars in Melbourne with Beer Gardens and Boozy Courtyards for 2025

    Save cosy pub corners for the depths of winter — it's time to drink a brew out in the open at these fab Melbourne beer gardens.

  • News

    Damn Fine Viewing: Thirteen Must-See David Lynch Movies and TV Shows That You Can Stream Right Now

    Watching 'Twin Peaks', 'Blue Velvet' and the director behind them interrogating a monkey is the best way to pay tribute to a filmmaker like no other.

  • Guide

    The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This Week

    This week in Melbourne, you can watch LGBTQIA+ players fight it out at the Aus Open's Glam Slam, score a few drinking and dining deals, and treat yourself to a luxe six-course Japanese dinner down at the Portsea Hotel.

  • Event

    Writers Revealed: Treasures From the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London

    Sat, 12 Apr - Sun, 3 Aug 2025

    HOTA, Home of the Arts, Surfers Paradise

    This world-first exhibition pairs author portraits with rare manuscripts, showcasing the work of Jane Austen, Shakespeare and Tolkien and more.

  • News

    Coming Soon: Jane Austen, Shakespeare and Tolkien Are in the Spotlight at Literature Loving-Exhibition 'Writers Revealed'

    Displaying on the Gold Coast, this world-first showcase spans six centuries of work, bringing author portraits and rare manuscripts to Australia.

  • News

    Qantas Is Launching Direct Flights From Australia to Sapporo So You Can Get to Japan's Snowfields Quicker

    The new route flies out of Sydney and will launch this coming December, ready for the 2025–26 snow season.

  • Event

    Biggest Best IMAX Film Festival

    Sat, 11 Jan - Sun, 2 Mar 2025

    IMAX Melbourne, Carlton

    This IMAX Melbourne film festival is filled with the best and biggest flicks to see on its huge 32-metre-wide by 23-metre-tall screen.

  • News

    From Adam Elliot Talking 'Memoir of a Snail' to the Philippous with ONEFOUR, AACTA Festival's 2025 Lineup Just Got Bigger

    Australian actors Damon Herriman, Kate Mulvany, Teresa Palmer and Jack Thompson have also joined the packed program.

  • News

    Reimagining Classic Horror, Reflecting Reality and Scaring Up Resonant Emotion: Julia Garner and Leigh Whannell Chat 'Wolf Man'

    What keeps drawing Garner to on-screen tension and unease — and Whannell to modernising iconic movie monsters? We found out.

  • News

    More Than Just Shooting Stars: Bag Raiders Talk Internet Fame, Creative Freedom and Loving Playing Festivals

    It's been a decade and a half since 'Shooting Stars' helped bring this Australian electronic music duo to fame — and, with their own label, plus frequent sets at fests like AO Live, Jack Glass and Chris Stracey are as inspired as ever.

  • News

    Jacob Elordi-Starring Australian Miniseries 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North' Has a Date with Your Streaming Queue in April

    Directed by 'True History of the Kelly Gang' and 'Nitram' filmmaker Justin Kurzel, the five-parter is set to arrive just in time for Easter long-weekend viewing.

  • News

    Tennis Tipples: The Australian Open Has Upped Its Booze Game This Year By Hosting a Slew of Fun Pop-Up Bars

    All these bars are accessible to punters holding Australian Open ground passes — helping fuel the festival vibes.

  • Event

    Europa! Europa Film Festival

    Wed, 12 Feb - Wed, 12 Mar 2025

    Select cinemas in Melbourne, Various locations

    Celebrate European cinema with a packed film festival lineup featuring 44 movies from 26 countries.

  • News

    Europa! Europa Film Festival's 2025 Lineup Serves Up a Feast of European Cinema's Latest and Greatest

    When you're not watching the highest-grossing French movie of 2024 or Sweden's latest Oscar submission, you can catch a restoration of four features by iconic filmmaker François Truffaut.

  • News

    Anarchy in Australia and New Zealand: Sex Pistols Are Touring Down Under for the First Time in Almost 30 Years

    The iconic punk-rock band will play their 1977 record 'Never Mind The Bollocks' when they head this way in April 2025.

  • Guide

    The 25 Best Chinese Restaurants in Melbourne for 2025

    From Chinatown institutions and neighbourhood haunts to CBD fine-diners and contemporary Asian-fusion eateries, here are our top picks for when you have a hankering for some top Chinese cuisine.

  • News

    Love Is on the Lineup — Plus Recent Music-Filled Films — for Your February 2025 Moonlight Cinema Dates

    Program highlights include '10 Things I Hate About You', 'The Notebook', sing-along 'Wicked' sessions, 'Better Man' and 'A Complete Unknown'.

  • Feature

    Coasting Together

    Tens of thousands of kilometres of coastline... where to start? You grab your mates, we'll be on navigation duty.