Must-see nightlife in 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…

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…

Above a Vietnamese grocery and gym is the ultimate community bar, jointly owned by nearly 200 people. With Saturday night drag performances, food from…

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…

Behind the 1869 heritage facade are three levels of dining, drinking and dancing space, including indoor lounges, VIP booths and an expansive rooftop bar…

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…

Named for the former tailor shop it occupies, this bar has signature cocktails following themes, named after everything from colours to fashion essentials…

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…

Above venerable Thai restaurant Longrain is Longsong, housed in what was once a 1900s horse stable. There are four-person punch bowls, Asian-inflected…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

This favourite after-hours hangout feeds night owls pit-smoked meats and waters them with frothy tap beer, absinthe and whisky. Here champagne crates…

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…

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…

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…