Melbourne
This hidden bar is accessed through Rocco's Deli. Ring the bell and behind the unmarked door is a moodily lit industrial space with a tiled bar and…
Must-see nightlife in Melbourne
Melbourne
Somewhere between Mexican kitsch and band-poster grunge, this little bird keeps Windsor’s cool kids happy with all-day drinks, breakfast and diner-style…
Melbourne
Above a Vietnamese grocery and gym is the ultimate community bar, jointly owned by nearly 200 people. With Saturday night drag performances, food from…
Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford
Craft beer, cheap tacos, great music and friendly service – all good reasons to take a pit stop at this narrow, colourful spot when stomping around…
Melbourne
Behind the 1869 heritage facade are three levels of dining, drinking and dancing space, including indoor lounges, VIP booths and an expansive rooftop bar…
St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick
You're guaranteed a good time at this St Kilda veteran, a joint that hasn't been short of berets, boozy debates and raucous banter from locals since it…
Melbourne
Named for the former tailor shop it occupies, this bar has signature cocktails following themes, named after everything from colours to fashion essentials…
Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford
It's a bit of a hike to get here, but you'll be rewarded with excellent and experimental craft beer at this functioning microbrewery. Don't be put off by…
Melbourne
Above venerable Thai restaurant Longrain is Longsong, housed in what was once a 1900s horse stable. There are four-person punch bowls, Asian-inflected…
Melbourne
Too hip to have a sign (look for the stylised mountain/M-shaped neon), this slick venue spills over two levels where visitors can order cocktails from…
Melbourne
Find your habitat at this pub – garden, grungy band room or intimate front bar – and settle in. It hosts free nightly gigs, including acoustic sets in the…
Melbourne
Head up the dingy lift to this rooftop terrace if you’ve had it with dark-wood, Melbourne-moody lounges. Named for a famous 19th-century brothel owner, it…
St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick
Reminiscent of an old-school Brooklyn bar, this warm, woody local has a rotating cast of 20 craft tap beers and an impressive bottle list – try the five…
Melbourne
Rowdy Revolver – or 'Revs', if you're local – can feel like an enormous version of your lounge room. But with nonstop music come the weekend and the…
Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford
Adored by Collingwood football fans as the birthplace of the club, the Grace has been given a spit-and-polish and attracts a clientele of pretty young…
Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford
This favourite after-hours hangout feeds night owls pit-smoked meats and waters them with frothy tap beer, absinthe and whisky. Here champagne crates…
St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick
There's nothing cantankerous about this unruffled local, a few steps (and a million miles) away from Fitzroy St's backpacker bars. Punctuated with various…
Melbourne
There's a buzz around this tiny coffee shop on the perimeter of South Melbourne Market, not only for its expertly crafted brew but for the weekend…
Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford
Dr Morse is a classic all-rounder, keeping everyone happy any time of day. The mildly Asian-influenced cuisine is a winner from morning to night, you can…
St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick
Next to the Classic Cinema, After the Tears serves an astonishing range of vodkas and cocktails – the latter served hot, for dessert and in layered shots…
Melbourne
If this Robin Boyd–designed mid-century building had ears, there’d be a few generations of writers and academics in trouble. There's something for all…
Melbourne
Boatbuilders attracts a mixed crowd of office workers, travellers and Melburnians for its waterside views and backyard vibe. There's a great range of…
St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick
The street-level public bar is the place to go if you’re up for sinking a few pints, wiggling to whatever comes on the jukebox and snogging a stranger…
Melbourne
This place, with a spotless heritage-listed facade and glass-filled, architecturally designed interior, has different spots to eat and drink. On a nice…
Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford
If you're a proud, gay Melburnian, you already know the saying 'all roads lead to the Peel'. One of the city's best-known and most popular gay venues, it…
Melbourne
Split into three sections, the Railway Hotel is a smart, casual gastro-pub. Locals hang out at the public bar downstairs pounding beer on tap. The Deck…
Melbourne
Hidden in a graffitied laneway off another laneway – how very meta-Melbourne – the slightly creepy Croft is a laboratory-themed bar downstairs, while…
Melbourne
With a drinks list to make your liver quiver, 300 gins and a serious whisky collection, Gin Palace is the perfect place to grab a soft couch and hard…
Melbourne
A pub, sports bar and brewing company, Cheeky Pint has five core beers, seasonal brews and more. Set in the former Barkly Hotel building, there are three…
Melbourne
The owners decked this place out in recycled timber and now concentrate on keeping things mellow and their customers well watered. It’s a great place for…
Melbourne
It's all about the super-strong coffee at this branch of Market Lane. It serves a few pastries too, but as it's on the corner of Queen Victoria Market…
St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick
Pause has been around since 2001 and draws a loyal local crowd, who settle into the dim North African–inspired bar for cocktails (two for $22!), pints of…
Melbourne
This alfresco bar sits atop happening Curtin House. From December to March there are daily DJs, and it transforms into an outdoor night-time cinema with…
Melbourne
This small cafe has just a few seats (more are hanging from the ceiling), but it does a roaring takeaway-coffee trade for inner-city workers and is a…
Melbourne
At weekends, DJs perform here in a project space with a large double screen and scattered projectors; find yourself a dark seat or a spot at the bar…
Melbourne
Over-the-top Melbourne rococo gets another workout here and never fails to raise a smile. The tropical deck on the 1st floor is shrouded in jasmine and…
Melbourne
Dark timber, kooky taxidermy and a speakeasy vibe make the Woods a suitable place to hide on those brooding, rainy Melbourne nights. Bunker down for a…
St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick
An old favourite, the Vineyard has the perfect corner position and picket-fenced outdoor seating to attract crowds of backpackers and scantily clad young…
Melbourne
What's not to love about a lime-hued pub with a herd of pink elephants on the roof? The Windsor Castle is a backstreet veteran, full of cosy nooks, sunken…
Melbourne
A Brunswick venue for beer snobs to convene and compare notes, or for those who just want to rock up and taste test a great selection of 12 rotating craft…
