The best late-night bars in Melbourne

If Black Pearl sounds familiar, we’re tipping it’s because this Fitzroy bar regularly tops international award lists (and not because you’re a Pirates of the Caribbean die-hard fan). The bartenders here are some of the country’s best, so leave it in their capable hands to craft the tipple your tastebuds are craving. Black Pearl is open until 3am most nights of the week.

Open ’til 3am every single morning, Bar Ampere is a late-night haunt you can rely on. The signature drink here is Absinthe, so follow the green fairy and opt for the spirit served the authentic French way: accompanied by a fountain that drips cold water onto sugar cubes and into your drink. Once your feet start itching, explore the bar’s hidden Swamp Room or venture next door to sister venue, Gin Palace.

With a mantra like ‘Burgers and Burgundy’, you know you’re going to have a good time at Bar Margaux. This French-inspired underground brasserie feels intimate, classy and totally other-wordly, made for debaucherous nights that look picture-perfect. Bar Margaux is open until 3am on Saturday night.

For some late-night Southern charm, Le Bon Ton is a must. The saloon-style barbecue joint has a fair whack of hot and smoky cocktails, with standouts like the BBQ Highball (complete with beef jerky) and the Creole Bloody Mary promising to leave a lasting impression on your mind (and your palate). Le Bon Ton is open until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Hidden behind a bookcase in Melbourne’s oldest public house, Loch and Key is a tight-packed bar brimming with booze, where the hours melt away. It's also practically open 24/7, perfect for those nights where you just really don't wanna go home.

Cherry Bar doesn’t need to be convinced of its status as a legend. This is a venue that refers to itself as “pretty much the best rock’n’roll bar in the world”; a venue that an infatuated Noel Gallagher once offered to buy; that turned away Lady Gaga’s request for an after party because a local band had already been booked. In its 17 years, this rough-and-ready dive bar has shaped Melbourne’s live music culture, pushed for positive change in the music industry and pulled more pints for off-duty rock stars than we could drink in a lifetime. It also keeps its doors open until 5am on Friday and Saturday nights and until 3am during the rest of the week.

Open seven days a week and until 3am every night, the Old Bar is a bar and live music venue on Johnston St in Fitzroy that has been rock and rolling for over 20 years. Considered one of Melbourne's best live music venues, the dive bar hosts all sorts of gigs – and a free one every Monday night. Keep a close eye on their Facebook page for all the upcoming events and updates. The Old Bar is generously open from 3pm until 3am every day of the week. See ya there for a gig!

One daring duo, a subterranean space in the same building that houses regal Reine and La Rue, and an original vision to shake things up in Melbourne: these were Purple Pit’s trifecta of selling points when it quietly opened late last year. And they were the right ones to spark instant intrigue. Shimmy on down into this glowing post-punk lair for inventive cocktails, interesting snacks and chats that go 'til 3am. 

Regarded in industry circles as a hospo bar for hospo workers, Lily Blacks knows how to nail a good night. Even if you consider yourself a cocktail aficionado, chances are Lily knows better – so let the staff tailor a drink just for you. Ready to chip fresh ice by hand and pimp your drink with homemade ingredients, the team at Lily’s won’t steer you wrong. The bar stays open past 2am most nights of the week.

From pollies to suits and students, Angel Music Bar pulls an eclectic crowd. The stripped-back decor means you can project your own dream night onto this venue, whether that’s a subdued drink in the front bar, a bop next to the vinyl-spinning DJ, or a full-on boogie in the thumping upstairs bar. Angel Music Bar is open until 5am on Friday and Saturday, until 4am on Thursday and until 3am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays – so you can party all week long!

If you haven’t been to Bar Bambi, chances are you’ve spotted its bathrooms in an influencer’s selfie. Swoop in once the door line dies down, order a drink (a glass of bubbles feels right) and soak up live music in these opulent underground surrounds. Not enough venues sling after-hours plates, and it’s something Bar Bambi is on a mission to fix with its late-night menu of meatballs, vodka pasta and Carbonara toasties. Oh, and bonus points, it's open until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.

When it’s getting late and your group is still squabbling over where to go, head to the multi-venue, five-storey Her building. On balmy nights make a beeline for the rooftop. The polished bar boasts sweeping city views and a late-night menu that includes a confit duck jaffle and a raclette cheeseburger. After 1am, head downstairs and file into the always-heaving Music Room, where the walls are lined with vinyl and the taps run with custom cocktails.

This unpretentious bar at the top end of Bourke has been doing it's thing for about 30 years. "It's thing" being cheap drinks and snacks in cosy, lounge-like atmosphere with stand-up comedy Monday nights. It's the perfect way to start the working week, and best of all, it's open until 5am every day except Sunday. 

Upscale rooftop bars that offer whisky, Havana cigars and idyllic city views haven't always been so easy to come by in Melbourne – which explains why Siglo has remained a CBD staple for so long. Better yet, it's open until 3am most nights of the week.

On the website for Melbourne’s fairytale-themed bar there’s a cardiac health warning – “Beware… this fairytale is not for the faint of heart." The moment you wheeze jelly-legged into the bar that was once Wah Wah Lounge, you realise we’re not talking clean-cut Disney fairytales but the darker, Grimmer, witch-infested-forest variety. you’ll get up to antics here that will become part of your own folklore. Just mind your post-cocktail footing on your way down the stairs. 

When you’re craving a midnight spaghetti fix, look no further than Arlechin. Created by restaurant royalty, the Grossi family, this subterranean hotspot is hard to find but easy to love. Get cosy under the curved cork ceiling and pick the brains of talented wait staff for unexpected drink recommendations and pairings.

So Kafeneion technically isn't a bar, but when it comes to tipples after midnight the vibes at this Greek taverna-style restaurant are just too infectious to ignore. After 10pm, slip upstairs from the Melbourne Supper Club was a delicious homestyle supper, some interesting Greek wines or a round of freshly mixed cocktails. Kafeneion is open until 3am most nights of the week.