Melbourne
A classic Brunswick East local, the art-deco-inspired Alderman has an inviting wooden bar, an open fireplace, a good beer and cocktail selection and…
Must-see nightlife in Victoria
Melbourne
In a side street off Lygon St is this unassuming brewery where you can try a craft brew in full view of the shining vats. In summer, the front courtyard…
Melbourne
This pocket-sized place is a proper stand-and-lean espresso bar, serving top-notch coffee courtesy of local roastery Seven Seeds. There are a couple of…
Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford
Flaunting a great all-weather beer garden, the Standard is anything but its moniker. This Fitzroy backstreet local has down-to-earth bar staff and a truly…
Melbourne
Popular with students and young, arty types, this grungy bar has a lively party atmosphere, with DJs playing mainly hip-hop, bass, electro and grime. It's…
Melbourne
This heritage pub hides a fully fledged nightclub with a 24-hour licence. It’s enormous, with distinct rooms over three levels that can fit up to 1000…
Melbourne
Multitasking is much in evidence in this cafe–jewellery store–gallery. There are some small tables on the street, a scattering inside, and a large,…
Victoria
There's no shortage of local characters who frequent the bar at Metung's yacht club, in a prime location overlooking the water. No hats allowed inside.
Melbourne
Head up to Hell's via the narrow stairway from beautiful Centre Pl. It attracts a hip, young crowd who sip classic cocktails, wine, beer or cider and…
Melbourne
If you’re going to do one club in Melbourne, this is your best bet, located in one of the old sheds jutting out into Docklands’ Victoria Harbour. Saturday…
Great Ocean Road
Established in 1897, the Port Campbell Hotel has long been the town's main watering hole. It's nothing flash, but it's a good spot for a beer and a meal …
Geelong
A former auction house, Beav's Bar was here way before Little Malop St got cool. It remains a popular spot, decorated with art, retro furnishings and soft…
Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford
This long-established bar is often open when everything else is closed, as the name suggests. The bar attracts a relaxed, young local crowd and bands play…
St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick
In the bowels of the wonderfully pompous, turreted George Hotel building is the George Public Bar – formerly the infamous Snakepit – rowdy at weekends and…
Melbourne
This little cafe does a roaring trade with Docklands office workers, filling the gap for great coffee in the area. It's a short walk from Southern Cross…
Victorian High Country
Dating back to 1867, the 'Bottom Pub' is your quintessential country hotel with cold beer and pub grub, including its signature double schnitzel burger…
Great Ocean Road
Right on the beach at Point Roadknight is this tiny shack bar above Anglesea Motor Yacht Club. It's popular with locals, and only opens for a few hours…
Melbourne
This vast booze barn houses a James Squire microbrewery, although it's debatable whether a brand owned by a giant multinational brewery can really be…
Melbourne
A far departure from the old-school coffee once encountered in Carlton, Assembly is all about filter coffee with single-origin beans. There's also an…
Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford
If you want a nightcap after your Vietnamese meal on Victoria St, this atmospheric bluestone inner-city bar has a good range of beers and wines, and good…
Great Ocean Road
A surprising candidate for Lorne's best coffee is served at this old surf shop, where owner Guy whips up his award-winning single-origin brews.
Yarra Valley
Buckley's has been hand-crafting its traditional lagers and ales for over a decade, and does so utilising solar power. Free tours and tastings ($10) on…
Melbourne
This popular Fed Sq drinking joint's beverage list is more of a beer bible than a menu, featuring more than 200 bottled beers from around the world and 20…
Melbourne
This small outpost of The League of Honest Coffee (which serves beans from local roasters Padre) is the perfect pit stop when you're wandering around the…
Bellarine Peninsula
Raucous coastal pub with a bistro and live music featuring well-known Aussie acts. There are good-value rooms upstairs.
Melbourne
The walls of this little shop are lined with craft beer for sale, but you can pull up a seat at the central wooden table and settle in for a drink and a…
Melbourne
This opulent spot on a funky little strip fills its plush booths with lovely, lithe young things who are heavy on the hair product and light on the attire.
Victoria
The upstairs club at Dom’s, in the heart of 'Feast Street', attracts a younger backpacking and after-pub crowd for a big night, especially on Saturdays.
Melbourne
Sit and soak up the city atmosphere from one of the tables beneath the colonnades of the GPO. Space heaters keep you toasty when Melbourne turns chilly.
Melbourne
This swampy New Orleans watering hole has big glass jars of gin and bourbon resting on its bar and food courtesy of its room-mate, Grindhouse Burgers.
Melbourne
This New York–like basement dive bar is worth squashing in for. Quaff American whiskies and craft beers to wash down the inventive Asian bar food.
Melbourne
This dark, red-lit sake bar attached to Izakaya Chuji will instantly transport you to downtown Tokyo.
Melbourne
In atmospheric Degraves St, this institution is a good spot to grab a quick takeaway coffee and wander the laneways.
Melbourne
A cool Brunswick local with a bohemian feel, a leafy backyard beer garden and regular live music.
Melbourne Region
Dating to 1870, Hepburn’s local pub has a few beers on tap and serves filling bistro meals.
Melbourne
This long-standing gay pub hosts drag shows, karaoke, pool competitions and happy hours.
Melbourne
The Lounge has seen a lot of years and still feels like a share house from the early 1990s – in a good way, of course. Evenings are filled with the sound…
Great Ocean Road
The town's only pub has a generic set-up, with mainstream beers, chicken parmas and a TAB betting shop. It does occasional live entertainment; check the…
Warrnambool
One more for beer nerds looking to tick local breweries off their list, this otherwise unremarkable pokies pub stocks three of its ales on tap. They're…
