Melbourne bar and pub reviews

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. It’s hard to imagine a Melbourne where Apollo Inn doesn’t exist, such is the impact this handsome and swanky spot has had on the city’s bar scene in its short lifespan so far. Andrew McConnell’s first standalone cocktail bar – which swung open its leatherbound doors in June 2023 – has seamlessly settled into its location at McDonald House on Flinders Lane, maintaining a strong and steady stream of visitors nightly, all hoping to squeeze into one of just 30 highly coveted seats.  I’m reminded of its magic when I pop in on a Thursday evening with a friend from Sydney in tow. I’ve walked through the enormous doors, into the cosy waiting corridor and through the plush velvet curtains to the main bar a few times now, but there is still something special about sauntering in for the very first time – as evidenced by my pal’s “oohs” and “ahhs” as she films our grand entrance. We snag the last two perches at the bar – in my opinion, there’s no better spot to sit at Apollo Inn than here – and let the cosy cocoon of warmth, chatter and the occasional clinking of glasses wash over us. The space is intimate and dimly lit, with gorgeous Art Deco details, teeny tabletop lamps and a splash of graffiti from Hosier Lane peeking in through the sheer curtains. “It’s just so...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. It normally takes a lot for me to cross the river (yep, typical northsider I can hear you all saying), but if there’s one thing I can’t resist it’s the siren song of a slick and sexy wine bar. So it’s on a near 40-degree day that my partner and I find ourselves on High Street in Armadale, in desperate need of a cold drink and something to eat. Auterra provides our sweet escape from the heat, and we slip into a table backed against the two-tone exposed brick wall. Located on a shopping strip chock-full of fancy designer boutiques, this unassuming (from the outside, at least) and unpretentious spot is the brainchild of chef-owner Clinton McIver, making it the little sibling of his highly regarded fine diner Amaru.  But while Amaru encourages you to go on an extravagant dining odyssey across multiple courses, Auterra is the chilled-out and charming companion – ideal for arvo wines, a cute date or long, lazy Sunday lunches.  Speaking of arvo wines, in the midst of umming and ahhing over a Tassie riesling or rosé from the Barossa, our waiter points to a note on the wine list about off-menu bottles on pour and suggests the day’s chosen tipple: Blind Corner’s ‘Orange *in Colour’ – a natty wine that can only be described as pure sunshine in a glass. Vibrant in...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. Birra. Biscotti. Bolognese. Bresaola. Bruschetta. There are countless awesome Italian things that begin with the letter ‘B’, but if you love wine, barolo has got to be near the top of the list. And now we can also add Bar Olo – a snazzy new Carlton bar playfully named after the Piedmont grape varietal. Both locals and curious passersby have been smitten from the moment its mysterious sheer white curtain was first swept back in April 2024. So what’s all the fuss about? Well, first of all, there’s the Scopri connection; the bar’s big sister restaurant is a short walk down the road, and is one of Carlton’s longtime favourites for old-school Italian hospitality and special occasion dining. Bar Olo may have been fated to be just another restaurant outpost (a recent trend that’s seen many venues add little bars next door as a kind of footnote to their central offering), but it’s immediately clear that this one plays no second fiddle.  Upon entry, you’ll fall in love with the beautiful classiness of the 40-seater. It’s stylish and sophisticated with white cloth-draped tables and a tastefully warm and handsome design, plus a welcoming team of well-groomed staff ready to make sure you’re taken care of right away. In a similar vein to fellow recent-ish openings like...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here.punter If you were the type of old club head to trawl the pubs on Brunswick Street for pints, chats and boogie opportunities, you’ll probably remember the Punters Club of yore. While it was gone for a while, we can now confirm: yes, it’s back – and better than ever. A beloved live music venue from the time before anyone had a mobile phone, and before it was Bimbo (and then Kewpie), the Punters Club has come back to the future with a fresh lick of paint, stacked live music program and an inspired menu of nostalgia-inducing pub grub. For the latter, think a salt and vinegar chip packet full of tuna tartare (trust us, it's better than it sounds), South Melbourne Market dim sims with Lao Gan Mai chilli oil and an old-school banana split for dessert. If that all sounds too fancy, you can also order a 'roo schnitty, fried chicken or a damn tasty cheeseburger.  While it might not be exactly the same as the good ol' days (I mean, do we really miss smoking inside?), trust that the new owners are a formidable team. There’s Jason Cameron of Near and Far, Matt Francis from Garage Project and Marquis of Lorne, head chef Dylan Marshall (formerly of the Scenic Hotel in South Australia and Marquis of Lorne), musician Mark Wilson, creative agency specialist Britt King, and...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. When Molly Rose Brewery first opened its doors in 2019 in a Collingwood backstreet, northside craft beer lovers rejoiced. Though it’s not difficult to find the local brewer’s creations at bars and good bottle shops around town, there’s something to be said for drinking at the spot where all the beer alchemy takes place – from the fermentation process to that final frothy pour.   In March 2023, the brewery enticed locals further with an ambitious expansion involving a takeover of the building next door, the add-on of a leafy beer garden and the hiring of creative new Thai-born chef, Ittichai Ngamtrairai, who dished up arguably one of the city's best value Chef's Table experiences. Though Ngamtrairai may have since left Molly Rose to return to Scott Pickett's Matilda, the magic of the unique brewery-slash-gastropub-slash-bar remains. From Wok Wednesdays and Sip and Slurp laksa nights on Thursdays (and even the hosting of a culinary star-studded laksa festival) to custom gin-making masterclasses and workshops run by local creatives, there's always something cool happening at this inner north hive. The venue itself is hard to define, a narrow warehouse hodgepodge of drinking and dining areas, each with a different sense of purpose. If you’re all about a...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. It's been almost eight years since Mr West swung open its doors to astonished Footscray locals. Some, rightly so, feared the young bar marked the beginning of the 'cray's dangerous edging into hipster territory. Others, also rightly so, encouraged naysayers to live a little. The latter camp welcomed a new casual drinking home for excellent craft beer, cocktails and locally produced wines – a friendly place where staff could talk tipples with anybody and everybody curious enough to step in for a drink. So how does Mr West fare in 2025? Has it seamlessly woven its offering into the colourful patchwork of Footscray's spirit? It certainly has, and it's still, simply, one of the best in the west. What started as a humble watering hole has transformed beautifully into a jack-of-all-trades: an indie bottle-o (if you're a lover of low-intervention drops and crafty brews, this is the place to shop), a cocktail bar shaking up more interesting spirits than most and a BYO dinner joint. Importantly, this venue supports local restaurants and eateries around Footscray by allowing visitors to order takeaway directly to their tables. Broken rice, bánh mì, dumplings? You got it. And maybe that's part of the reason why it's fit in so well. My partner and I have swanned in on...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. Askal’s cocktail destination Inuman is the latest in bar ventures from restaurants – think Maha’s opulent art deco bar Bar Jayda, Vue de Monde’s rooftop marvel Lui Bar, Longrain’s cocktail bar Longsong.  Ascending three flights of stairs from within Askal – enough to elevate you to a handsome view of Melbourne, not so many you completely lose your breath – will bring you to the bar and casual rooftop courtyard decked out with colourful striped cushions and tables.  It’s apt that the Tagalog word ‘inuman’ roughly translates as ‘to drink’. It’s a delightful mishmash of people frequenting Inuman when we visit – an older group of Filipino men, a couple, a contained trio of friends. Unlike other rooftop bars in Melbourne, Inuman remains somewhat undiscovered and the vibe, as a result, can be quiet. But what’s worse than dragging yourself up a perilous number of stairs to find a place completely full? And surely it's only a matter of time before this hidden gem is noticed.  The drinks list at Inuman is forever evolving, but it always has a distinct Filipino twist. The Southeast Asian grass jelly dessert cendol is given the cocktail treatment in the Hennessy-based Ais Cendol, while the gentle funk of durian is the lingering aftertaste of the calamansi-rich Tito Ray, an homage to Filipino bartending legend Ray Buhen....

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. There's an art to inheriting a beloved space. When Ferdydurke closed its doors in April 2024 after 12 years of deliberate grit and good times, the question wasn't just what would replace it, but how. Aster, the latest venture from Office of Public Works (the crew behind Section 8), answers with quiet confidence. The balcony alone is worth the visit. In fact, it's a bit of an enigma – it's seemingly never packed and yet there's always a spot, which is perplexing as it overlooks such a beautiful slice of Melbourne's inner city. The electricity and vibe of Section 8 below, the ever-changing passerby circus of Tattersalls Lane, the sheer magic of having a front row seat to pure Melbourne. It's truly a wonderful spot to perch up and have your drink of choice and a cigarette or cigar if you're so inclined. Seriously, how this balcony isn't constantly packed to the brim is a mystery to me. It might be Melbourne's best-kept secret.  But this isn't a balcony review blog (though if I had my way, it would be), so let us continue further up the stairs, where the magic carries inside; where the heritage building has been thoughtfully refreshed while preserving its character. The ghost of Ferdydurke would be proud of what stands today. The lighting here is exceptional,...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. In ancient Greece, Olympia was considered the valley of the gods. While Melbourne’s version – a wine and cocktail bar perched above the suburban bustle of Oakleigh’s main street – might not reach such divine heights, there’s something undeniably celestial about it that makes the name feel apt. The venue is split between an indoor wine bar on the first level and a rooftop space that’s the real showstopper. Set atop a section of the carpark above Oakleigh Market, the open-air bar leans heavily into the area’s Greek heritage and the owners’ roots. Whitewashed walls, olive trees, and rustic accents evoke a classic Santorini taverna – though instead of ocean views and whitewashed cliffside homes, the outlook of power lines and palm trees are decidedly Melbourne. We arrive outside of peak hours, but Olympia’s flexible setup lends itself to all occasions: casual lunches, afternoon drinks, or aperitivo, which began in Greece despite being popularised by Italy. As is common in Greek cuisine, dishes are designed to share, though Olympia opts for a small-plate format rather than the supersized portions typical of Oakleigh’s other Greek eateries. Don’t expect towering platters of grilled meats or hefty slices of moussaka. With the exception of the lobster and prawn rolls, most offerings fall squarely into the snack...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. Taking its name as a nod to America's great waterways, Goodwater is rapidly becoming Northcote's worst-kept secret. Inspired by the mighty Ohio – a river integral to America's whiskey heritage – the connection here runs far deeper than just the moniker. From the framed Mississippi River maps by US Army Corps engineer Harold Fisk from 1944 that grace the exposed brick walls to the carefully curated selection of more than 250 American whiskeys flowing as freely as the rivers themselves, every detail reflects a profound sense of place and history. Welcome to Goodwater. Perched right in the thick of the action on High Street, Goodwater has mastered what so many venues struggle with: being both a serious whiskey bar and genuinely welcoming space. The best seats in the house? Right up against the giant windows, which fling open on sunny days to let the good air in. Good air, good water – this is the spot to perch up and watch Northcote's evening parade while nursing a perfectly mixed Old Fashioned.  While the window seats might be prime real estate, the outdoor area offers its own backyard-ish charm. But really, there's no bad seat in the house – the warm, cosy atmosphere inside pervades every corner. The space strikes that perfect balance between classy and...