Wheelchair-accessible bars in Melbourne

One of Melbourne's most famous pubs just so happens to be accessible, too. Since its new incarnation, the Espy has a wheelchair entrance to the immediate left of the main entrance, leading you to the palatial front bar. There's also lift access to Mya Tiger and The Espy Kitchen in case you get peckish in between sips.

We’re well known for our penchant for hidden bars, and Curious at hotel W Melbourne fits into that lineup pretty well. Take the lift to enter the Alice in Wonderland-inspired bar and take your pick from the expansive cocktail list sure to make your jaw drop.

What was once Richmond's old and crumbling Great Britain Hotel is now Harlow: an old-school pub with new-school sensibilities. Music is still the main focus in the building, with DJs playing Friday and Saturday nights. Access the lift through the side entrance and enjoy the beer garden and rooftop all night long. 

The rooftop bar at Carlton’s King & Godfrey adds a new element to this iconic Lygon Street business. Up the lifts you’ll find a big and bright patio bar serving beer, wine, cocktails and snacks. Add in spectacular 270-degree views towards the city skyline and it's happy days!

More than a century ago, this Lygon Street building was home to the State Savings Bank of Victoria. While the bank is no more and today, it is home to Teller, a modern-day pub offering and bar with full ramp access. On the drinks menu, you can expect a variety of local and independent beers on tap and wines from small producers. There are also a number of bespoke cocktails that pay homage to the building's heritage, like the 'Who Shot the Bank Teller', made with Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin, and the 'Vault', made with whisky and sweet vermouth. 

This massive outdoor eatery and beer garden sandwiched between two Melbourne icons (the Yarra River and Flinders Street Station) stretches for 120 metres along the river bank and is officially Melbourne’s longest bar. Take the lift opposite Federation Square and Transport Bar down before heading in for an Espresso Martini (or two)!

Sitting on the edge of St Kilda beach, Republica has a chilled out vibe that's perfect for either Sunday sessions or a few mid-week cocktails. The venue is over one level (bathrooms included) so find a spot, sit back and enjoy being near the seaside!

Sitting on the southeastern side of the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Botanical is every bit as pretty as its namesake. It might not house 8,000 plus plant species, but it makes up for with a sophisticated modern interior, a casual atmosphere and lift access to the sleek bar and dining room.

Straddling the divide between Northcote and Thornbury, Welcome To Thornbury is a venture by the crew who brought you Mr Burger, pizza joint Homeslice, Brunswick Mess Hall and Fancy Hank's. The indoor space houses multiple bars and a beer hall, while the outdoor space hosts park-style seating and plenty of foliage. The venue is fitted with ramp access throughout, so take your pick on a drink inside or out.

This is a bar for all those who like to take their drink with a good view! You'll find Captain Baxter upstairs at St Kilda Sea Baths where lift access will take you to the nautical themed bar and a pretty breathtaking view. Grab a cocktail and take in the scenes.

It can be hard to find a place without a queue in Windsor, so it’s good to know that this Scandi-cool pub and cocktail bar has enough room for everyone – and access for all. Come to this all-occasions venue for a knock-off cocktail, weekend pint or weeknight pub meal. 

With a step-free entrance and kerb ramps, it’s a breeze to roll up at Embla and relax in this quintessentially Melbourne wine bar. If you're after more than just a tipple, grab an order of the crusty sourdough and thank us later!

Ask the staff at street-level Naked for Satan for lift access, and ascend to sparkling rooftop views of the cityscape. There are heaps of beers and wines on offer, but Naked really shines with its cocktails which are available in a single glass or a carafe to share. Some of the cocktails feature the vodkas that Naked infuses in-house. 

There’s a lot going on at Her, Lonsdale Street’s new four-concept mega-venue. At street level is Her Bar, a French-inspired all-day cocktail spot, and on level one you’ll find the Music Room, an ode to whisky and vinyl. BKK is on level three, it’s a “turbocharged Thai BBQ canteen” that also caters for Her Rooftop, a relaxed garden terrace for drinks, lunches, dinners and nightcaps. There's lift access to each level, so take your pick! 

Ben Carwyn’s eponymous Thornbury bottle shop is a pilgrimage all beer enthusiasts must take, no matter what part of the city they hail from – and it's fitted out with ramps for wheelchair access. The beer selection in the shop is incredible, and the bar has 28 beer taps pouring the best suds around. 

The '80s never ended at Evies, a 1980s and disco-inspired diner that opened early 2018 on Fitzroy's Gertrude Street. Come here for a feed during the day or a boogie at night – the venue's menu has American-diner vibes so expect plenty of chicken and waffles, burgers, loaded fries and old-fashioned shakes topped with whipped cream and a glacé cherry. 

A heritage two-storey pub that is completely step-free throughout with lift access? The Belle has done it. Continue on from lunch through to cocktail hour. The drinks menu has a variety of domestic and international beers and wines, as well as a selection of delicious cocktails. 

Enter step-free from the grungy end of High Street, where Chato offers a low-lit sanctuary with concrete floors as polished as their bar service. Couple your drinks with some delicious Spanish tapas, like an empanada filled with chorizo or deep-fried mussels in a creamy bechamel sauce. 

Only a stone's throw away from the 'G, the Richmond Club Hotel is the footy lover's pub that also doubles as a decent hangout spot for knock-off drinks and Sunday sessions. With its slick interior (but not too slick, it should be noted), a killer rooftop space overlooking the train tracks and top-notch pub grub that spans traditional pub counter meals to fresh bar snacks, this pub promises a good time. The public bar and the beer garden are both wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets in those areas.