Must-see nightlife in 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…

Boatbuilders attracts a mixed crowd of office workers, travellers and Melburnians for its waterside views and backyard vibe. There's a great range of…

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…

This place, with a spotless heritage-listed facade and glass-filled, architecturally designed interior, has different spots to eat and drink. On a nice…

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…

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…

Hidden in a graffitied laneway off another laneway – how very meta-Melbourne – the slightly creepy Croft is a laboratory-themed bar downstairs, while…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

An old favourite, the Vineyard has the perfect corner position and picket-fenced outdoor seating to attract crowds of backpackers and scantily clad young…

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…

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…