The 50 best bars in Melbourne

Caretakers Cottage, "probably" Victoria's smallest bar, has built a reputation that looms large. Being crowned the 21st best bar in the world on the 2024 World's 50 Best Bars list is just the tip of the highball iceberg when it comes to accolades under its belt. Caretaker's Cottage is quintessentially Melbourne: cool without being pretentious, creative but not overwrought, and intimate without being isolating. It's not a place for big groups or rowdy nights out; this is a bar best enjoyed in pairs or threes. It's a space where you feel cared for, where every detail – from the sheer curtains to the music to the flawless Martinis – has been considered. 

Tash Conte’s family-run bar has been a beacon of excellence for almost 21 years now. Not content to sit pretty on tried-and-tested masterpieces, the list is always on the move, keeping step with moods and seasons. This Fitzroy stayer delivers killer cocktails downstairs and upstairs in the Attic you get more of the same but with a quieter, date-night vibe.

Above Board is a bar in the same way that Tame Impala is a band. At Above Board you are in Hayden Lambert’s house, even if he has a bit of help some nights. The bespectacled host will determine if you’re after a classic or a signature cocktail, but you’re also getting a little bit of a chat and a silly joke with every drink he dispenses from the bar that is the heart and control centre of this tiny venue. There is only a handful of seats, and all of them face the drinks action where Lambert is putting the art back in artisanal.

Gerald’s is and always has been bursting with personality: convivial, boisterous, eccentric, but at the same time, utterly approachable with a flawless soundtrack. A fried to all near and far, it's been a favourite drinking hole of ours for what feels like aeons.

Colour this writer shocked and bothered when she discovered Embla had been sneakily absent from this list! But then, Embla could be thought of as a beloved restaurant just as often as it is a wine bar – a casual dining destination equally suitable for both a proper meal and a quick snack-and-drink. This CBD venue won both our Best Casual Restaurant and Restaurant of the Year awards in 2016 and our Hot Talent award in 2017 and to this day, it's not hard to see why it's been so treasured since it first burst onto the scene. Chef Dave Verheul and wine genius Christian McCabe know how to make their guests happy, the soured cucumbers still slap and we trust we'll enjoy this classy offering for many years to come. 

Bar Bellamy is somewhat of a genre-defier, a Jack-of-all-trades that equally channels bistro, wine bar and cocktail bar vibes all at once. Come here at any time of the week and you’ll be satisfied with thoughtfully prepared European-leaning eats, A-grade cocktails and quality vino – and ultimately, a delightfully good time. Bar Bellamy, you’ve most certainly been our bel ami.

There should be another word for what Byrdi is doing. Bar doesn’t quite cut it, despite the fact that dispensing booze is at the core of what it does. It seems more like some kind of lab where you get to play guinea pig to its scientist. The drinks, made and served by a fleet of staff swaddled in crushed linen, are highly original and highly delicious in equal parts. There’s plenty of exciting technique going on here, plus a strong sense of seasonality. Techniques commonly associated with kitchens are front and centre – fermenting, smoking, clarifying – and the results are often thrilling. It's no wonder Byrdi is globally recognised and gilded in glittering awards. 

Any epicure worth their dirty martini knows that an unassuming alley often holds the best treasures. One or Two is further proof of this. Located down a backstreet in the heart of Chinatown, this cocktail bar delivers cool and contemporary without pretence. Stepping through the understated black door will immediately transport you to Shimokitazawa in Tokyo. And I don't mean the flashy, neon-lighted, anime-character-ed interpretation that Melbourne hospo often attempts. I mean the real, effortless, and timeless version.

What does it take to make a great bar? A feeling of letting your hair down? Freedom from the nine to five grind? If escapism back to the glory days of your youth is central to the average Southside watering hole’s recipe for success, then yes, Young Hearts – a boozy enclave hidden upstairs from High Street – gets it right. This eclectic drinking and dining space features rotating local DJs, kitchen talent, live music and art exhibitions.

Heading to Peter Gunn’s tiny Collingwood bar (a post-lockdown neighbour to his illustrious restaurant Ides), you might fret you’re in for a rather stuffy excursion. Fortunately, March is nothing of the sort. Though the sleek womb-like space naturally smoulders with a sense of occasion, it dodges the pomp factor by taking its cues from izakayas and casual tapas bars. Neighbouring Ides may be the fancier option for a multi-course elevated meal, but this slinky dive is a hell of a lot more sexy. Our only advice is to go hungrier than not – the elevated bites are worth the extra spend, and they’ll line your belly for some of the most impeccably crafted drinks money can buy on Smith Street.

One of Melbourne's OG laneway bars, Gin Palace has been keeping folks loose and liquored for over 25 years. There have been many keys to the cocktail haunt's longevity: those famed chicken and mayo sangas, 90-milliletre Martini pours, a generous closing time of 3am (ideal for post-shift workers), a certain brand of bohemian swagger, and a mastery of all drinks juniper. It's such an institution it even won our Legend Award back in 2016.

Alex Boon and Pez Collier are the lauded Brisbane bartenders who spent two years refining their idea of the perfect oyster and cocktail bar. They joined up with the Speakeasy Group (Nick and Nora's, Eau De Vie, Mjolner) and the collaboration is part of the brand’s Pathways to Partnership program, an initiative to bankroll visionary venues of hospo-preneurs. If Pearl Diver is anything to go by, the scheme could birth a whole new slew of city go-tos. 

The Coupette Group, a small private hospo crew, quietly opened Bouvardia in May 2021. Its drinks program is known to be at the forefront of cutting-edge flavour innovation, from the use of isoamyl acetate (the chemical compound that tastes like bananas) to a sustainability centred focus on local seasonal ingredients – some of which take up to weeks to prepare. The venue manager behind the vision is none other than Dom Gareffa, formerly of Attica. But while Bouvardia’s reputation as an innovator may rest on its desire to push the bounds of modern drinking, the bottom line is that the cocktails truly taste as impressive as they look – and that’s why we’ll be back.

Moody, intimate and tastefully lit, Black Kite Commune is the latest addition to the illustrious Russell Place – joining sister bars Gin Palace (a Melbourne institution) and its lively adjunct Bar Ampere. But fret not – Black Kite Commune has stepped into Neapoli’s shoes, ticking all boxes and then some. Spread across two levels, the mood is '70s bar meets French bistro – wooden panelling and low ceilings meet black walls and dark carpeted floors. A birdcage contraption on the far corner of the first floor adds a playful energy, while the purple hues of a lightbox night sky installation overlooking the entire venue creates an ethereal feel. 

Whisky and Alement has been paving Melbourne nights with precious amber distills since 2010. These guys were also the first to have access to the limited-edition and crazy expensive Scotch Malt Whisky Society single cask bottlings – look for the dark green bottles with white labels and number codes in place of distilleries. Previously you had to shell out north of $200 for a bottle, but at Whisky and Alement suddenly you could buy it by the nip and get a taste of the high life for fewer dollars than your weekly rent. 

Another whisky-loving joint, Elysian Whisky Bar has been dishing up wee drams in Fitzroy for years to a discerning crowd who might opt for a flight or simply trust the knowledgeable bar staff to find something they love. Key to this speciality bar’s success is the painstakingly built 350-strong backbar of rare and independently bottled whiskies. Each bottle has been hand-selected, resulting in an eclectic collection full of one-offs you won’t find elsewhere in the city. 

Public Wine Shop is the very model of the modern-era wine bar. There’s soul spinning on the turntable, rows of wine bottles lining the brick wall and a communal table to rule them all. Altogether, it adds up to that incalculable feeling that you’ve somehow stumbled into a mate’s place rather than the new haunt of one of Australia’s most promising chefs.

Chef Nagesh Seethiah opened the doors of Manzé (Creole for 'eat') in November 2021 to strong interest, with tables booking out completely in its debut month and often since then. It’s arguably Australia’s highest profile culinary representation of Mauritian cuisine, but as we come to find on our visit, that’s only the beginning of its appeal. 

Earth Angels is a small West Melbourne newcomer that’s seizing the chance to do things its own way. Co-owners Sasha Chifura and Emmanuel John have connected with Narit Kimsat (La Pinta) to lead a vibrant kitchen focusing on funky Southeast Asian small plates, minimal intervention wines and innovative cocktails. Have they manifested a bar? A restaurant? It’s a yes to both – but it’s also a live performance venue, an art gallery and even plays host to a farmers’ market on occasion. If Melbourne’s bar scene continues to embrace hybridity, then Earth Angels is the future.

Another new bar that is channelling the Prohibition era, Naught Distilling is worth the trip out to Eltham for a speakeasy designed to showcase Naught’s award-winning range of gins. The décor is dramatic pressed metal and velvet, and the huge stone bar is the perfect place to belly up and try the drinks and simple snacks like pâtés. There is a dedicated tiki section to the drinks menu that has some fun options including the Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, which is named for the state fish of Hawaii and is strong enough that you will not want to go for a swim afterwards.

If Champagne is your thing, Nick and Nora’s is the place for a glass of celebratory bubbles. This Roaring '20s-themed temple of decadence has walls of Champagne bottles and cocktails themed around the heroes and villains of a hard-boiled crime book. Nick and Nora Charles are characters created by crime writer Dashiell Hammett and with just one visit to this glitzy cocktail bar from the Speakeasy Group, you will think it is a crime to go anywhere else.

This Brunswick neighbourhood bar is a perfect combo of simple snacks, great drinks and service that treats everyone as if they live just around the corner, with a side order of epic vinyl. Housed in an old butcher shop and named for INXS’s third album, Shabooh Shoobah’s team of Hootan Heydari and Emily Bitto from Heartattack and Vine have created the lo-fi wine bar that Brunswick sorely needed. 

This sultry new Latin-inspired bar Santana is offering one of the CBD’s most sensual and thoughtfully curated casual drinking experiences above ground level. Consider puffing away on a Montecristo Short while nursing an El Presidente – a perfect balance of dark rum, dry vermouth, curacao and cranberry grenadine. Or swirling a glass of Emiliana Natura carménère from Chile while you take in moody views of the city’s nightscape. 

Getting a beer in St Kilda is easy. Shut your eyes, spin around for a few seconds, start walking in a straight line in any direction, and you'll hit a spot for a pint in no time at all. But a nice cosy nook to sip a wine and suck on a proper fresh oyster? You may be walking for a while – at least, that was the case until the Walrus showed up.

The mysterious sibling to Andrew McConell’s esteemed Gimlet at Cavendish House may be one of the newer bars to grace this list, but it's certainly already made a name for itself. Packed to the rafters almost every night, the swanky 30-seater serves wines by the glass and bottles from Gimlet's impressive cellar, signature cocktails inspired by old-world classics, and a concise yet diverse seafood-forward menu of snacks and dishes designed for pairing. Signature cocktails include the Lucien Gaudin featuring gin, Campari, dry vermouth, Grand Marnier, and the Picon Bierre, a blend of house-made amaro and French lager. In other words, the latter's an upscale shandy – one of the finest after-work refreshments you can find in the CBD. Walk-ins are encouraged, but given its current popularity we highly suggest making a reservation. 

The Everleigh remains one of the best classic cocktail bars in Melbourne with its clubby feel of ottomans, dark wood and historical portraits. It remains one of the few bars where you can trust the bartender to deliver your new favourite drinks just by asking you a few questions. It is still the home of some of the best service in the business. The Everleigh remains a must-do on the Melbourne cocktail scene.

To drink at Liberty is to revel in the best of all booze. The only rule about each drop here is that it must be a superlative example of its style. Whether it’s wine, cider, cocktails, whisky, vermouth or even housemade soda, every item on the long menu is carefully curated: the variety and quality on offer are hard to overstate. Head chef Zackary Leon Furst and executive chef Casey Wall curate small plates such as king prawns in a miso sauce, while sweet slices of snapper fillet are served on a bed of tart kefir cultured cream and thin slices of Jerusalem artichoke, with an aniseed kick from fennel seeds.

A wine bar and digital radio station being run out of a creative arts precinct housed in a disused school. It doesn’t get much more Melbourne than that. Hope St Radio is located within Collingwood Yards and run by power duo (and coincidentally friends who love great food and wine) Pete Baxter and Jack Shaw. The wine bar and radio station headquarters aims to bring the community together by championing local musicians, produce and natural wine. Punters can expect local DJs mixing vinyl all through the night, expansive outdoor communal tables and fire pits, a 60-strong wine list highlighting the best of the new-age natty stuff, and a seasonal, Italian-leaning menu helmed by Ellie Bouhadana.

Melbourne’s reigning bar barons Michael and Zara Madrusan are pros at recreating these tiny universes, first giving us golden age classiness at the Everleigh, then rowdy breakouts of song at rock’n’roll dive Heartbreaker. Now we’re burrowing underground at the Paris-via-New York brasserie Bar Margaux, a place where oysters are shucked, Champagne is popped and steak are sizzled until the tiniest of hours.

Perhaps the most unusual thing about Section 8 is that it’s still here. It's Melbourne’s longest-ever pop-up bar, first surfacing in 2006 with low overheads in a Chinatown car park, and then just never leaving. There’s not a clean line in the place, with graffiti and stickers covering almost every surface. White waistcoated waiters are nowhere to be seen, replaced with tattooed funky types who are very happy to walk you through the ever-changing beer list, shake a cocktail or dole out generous pours of wine. Section 8 is an outdoor drinking space, but the smells of nearby Chinatown eateries and smoke (from cigarettes and, sometimes, other things) mean you won’t be mistaking it for a brasserie en plein air. It’s as Melbourne as it gets, and we’re happy to report that means pure rock’n’roll. 

Almay Jordaan and Simon Denman are serving more than 300 low-intervention and biodynamic wines alongside 12 tap beers and a super-slick menu cooked over coals with a South African inflection. The majority of the wine list, except for a literal handful of wines, are low-intervention vinos that have either received extended skin contact, been aged in amphora, have little to no sulfur added to the bottle, or are several of these things all at once. Confused? Don’t be. Each wine has been coded with its farming practices and processes.

The Shady Lady has transformed the old Houndstooth on Johnston Street to be a self-proclaimed vegan-friendly, dog-friendly, LGBTQIA+-welcome dive bar with a glam-shab décor. Orange tassel-covered lampshades, blue painted brick, disco balls and cabaret curtains are a refreshing change from the minimalist blond wood and Prohibition-style bars littered around Fitzroy. The Shady Lady knows it is different and encourages boatloads of fabulous, daggy fun. 

Eau de Vie was once one of those hidden bars that would take you a good chunk of time to find. Now, it’s one of the worst-kept secrets in Melbourne. Eau De Vie continues to be one of the busiest cocktail bars in town due to its ability to transport you out of the modern day and into the charms of yesteryear. But it isn’t just the jazzy soundtrack, private booths and staff clad in waistcoats that are the drawcard. Eau De Vie backs it up with some serious drinks and also a bit of flair. 

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.

Lonsdale Street’s four-storey mega-venue looks across at where the modest St. Jerome’s once stood, but this new addition to Melbourne bar life is a million miles away from the milk crates and graffiti of the laneway original. That is no criticism, more an evolution, as Her is a great mix of all-day drinking. The street-level space sells itself as a “daytime” cocktail bar, although it slings French 75s and Dirty Gin Martinis until 3am. (If you’re an early bird, the doors swing open at 7am for pastries, lobster omelettes and Market Lane coffee.) Head upstairs to the Music Room that makes you feel like you are drinking inside a speaker, or spend the sunny arvos on the rooftop with a quirky mosaic and great summer drinks.

If you like cocktails, whisky, blues, good service and eating Reuben sandwiches at 2am, Beneath Driver Lane is your basement of dreams. Occupying an old bank vault in the CBD and celebrating its fifth birthday in 2022, this bar has a Harry Potter feeling that’s rare in Melbourne. It’s a vision of rustic Victorian style: the brick arched booths, the walls cluttered with black and white photos, and the warm light from candles and low-hanging lamps are comfortable. The fitout and the sharp service give this place a feeling that’s equal parts Melbourne, Chicago and Diagon Alley. 

Situated next to (and sharing a food menu with) the European, another Christopoulos enterprise, City Wine Shop is a cosy, intimate space with green-tiled walls, chalkboards displaying the daily specials and an entire floor-to-ceiling wall of bottles available to take home or drink in. There’s plenty of seating on the footpath outside to soak up those lovely Spring Street vibes at dusk, but given its proximity to the Princess Theatre and its scene-y reputation, it fills up fast even on cold winter nights. A seat at the bar is the next best thing, perfect for posting up with a plus-one or maybe a book. This is the sort of place you can go alone without feeling lonely.

A party-starting bar, with a gin-garden rooftop, smack in the middle of Chinatown – what business does Union Electric have being really, really, good? It’s common knowledge that most CBD venues with similar natural advantages are content with steadfast mediocrity, but not here. The bar champions fresh produce, each day pressing, juicing and infusing all manner of fruits, herbs and botanicals. The team gives extra vivacity to cheeky tiki cocktails and quenching Highballs, though on sticky days it’s difficult to beat the quench of rum or whisky simply served tall over fresh apple juice. 

Bahama Gold started out as a liquor delivery service in the dark days of lockdown, but has since evolved into a cosy public bar and wine shop for the discerning explorer. Think funky bottles like pét nats, orange and skin contact wines, plus many more indie drops from the 1,000 bottle-strong cellar. Malaysian-born (and European-trained) chef Jane Low ensures you won't go hungry with her slick, minimalist menu of snacky delights, which she prepares for you by hand behind the bar – a disarmingly personal touch. It may be a tiny operation but it heaves with big character. An impressive sound system plays an eclectic soundtrack of records curated by the bar team and wedged within the 30-seater there's a roaring fireplace for chilly nights. Good hospitality is all about the little thoughtful things and here, there are too many to count. 

When Kirk’s opened in 2015 it immediately felt like a substantive thread in our city’s fabric, with its familiar, lived-in feel, confident service and mature wine list. At last, Spring Street sophistication had come to the shouty end of town. Years have passed, but it feels as essential as ever, proving that a classic wine bar, done well, never goes out of fashion. The list is as deep as it is broad, paying respect to all the old-world staples before giving equal ardour to trailblazing makers like Radikon and local innovators like Memento Mori. 

The creators of Pinchy’s Lobster and Champagne bar bring you an intimate space dedicated to nature’s most perfect pairing: oysters and chablis.In its previous life, Pearl was a nail salon. There are no windows, the ceilings are low, and you’ll have to walk in single file to fit between the bar and sidewall banquettes. But instead of feeling at all claustrophobic, it feels exclusive – almost like being backstage somewhere. If Pinchy’s is pink and kitsch, Pearl is gilded and luxurious.

Craft beer, good wine, better spirits and great cocktails are the big draws here. Tucked away in one of Footscray’s dilapidated strips and surrounded by internet cafés and discount clothing shops, it’s easy to miss. But persevere, and your reward is a crew where friendliness and passion ripple throughout, from the young guns on the taps to the folks in the wine shop. Behind the long bar, there's a huge wall of 26 rotating taps to keep your attention piqued. 

Heartbreaker isn’t the kind of place you go to when you’ve got an early morning the next day. You'll get swept up in the rock ’n’ roll, flowing shots, beer chasers and party-hard spirit the venue has cultivated over the last few years. Throw in that late-night New York-style slice and you’re in for some trouble with a whole lot of staying power. Sure, it’s a dive bar, but it isn’t a hovel. It’s a T-shirt-and-leather-jacket crew here, who like to dress every bit as rock’n’roll as the soundtrack.

Walking into Leonard’s is like finding the coolest house party at the ski resort, circa 1983: a place where staff kick back to rock’n’roll, drink whisky and make fun of the bleach-blonde varsity ski team crowd. The venture from Guy Bentley and Mark Catsburg, plus bar manager Jonathan Harper and chef Nick Stanton, occupies a corner bluestone just off of Chapel Street in South Yarra.

This bar is named after the year in which the word ‘cocktail’ first appeared in our vernacular, and it takes the art of cocktail-making very seriously here. From the 1930s gentlemen’s clubs of Philadelphia to the classy small bars of Florence and the beaches of Brazil, the cocktails seduce you with curious backstories, but it’s the skill of the staff here that seals the deal. The real showstopper is the out-of-this-world whisky and cheese flights that match 2016’s favourite spirit with cave-aged English Cheddar and 1,000-day-old Gouda.   

Recently relocated to Russell Street in the city, Hats and Tatts is more than just a frat bar. That’s what it wants you to think it is. Scratch the surface and you’ll find a whisky collection more than 100 deep, some of the best cocktail-making in Melbourne, and taps that pour a lot more than just beer. It isn’t a place where the ladies go to lunch or be seen, but the frat food of fried chicken and Reuben croquettes are also deceptive given the skill in the kitchen from ex-Touche Hombre chef Nick Willard.

Despite Lygon Street’s popularity with tourists and locals alike, there are probably only four venues on the famous Carlton end of the strip that regularly garner a long queue outside: ice cream shop Pidapipo, rooftop bar Johnny’s Green Room, Universal Restaurant (likely for its monster cheap parmas) and finally, Good Measure. The latter is an all-day coffee shop that transforms into a lively cocktail bar in the evenings. We also love that you can indulge in its famous signature Mont Blanc coffee until 8pm. 

Kew, long known for its leafy streets and let's just say well-to-do residents, has been crying out for a proper cocktail bar. Chef Joseph Vargetto, the mastermind behind Mister Bianco, has finally answered that call with Bianchetto. It's moody, it’s intimate, and it feels like it was plucked from a Fellini film. 

Nestled amid the high-density apartments that cluster together in this particular part of Brunswick, Nina’s is carving out a space for itself with a beautifully thought-out menu, service that’s as laidback as it is efficient, and a space that’s as inviting in the warmer months of the year as it’ll be in the chillier nights of winter – no one will be able to resist pasta night then.  

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 city changes, bars come and go, but sometimes a space finds its next perfect iteration. Aster isn't trying to replicate or compete with what came before — it's writing its own story, and doing it rather well.