The best nightclubs in Melbourne

Sub Club is a basement nightclub in little-known laneway Flinders Court, and its programming is as underground as its location. The club is carved out of the old ANZ bank vault, which gives it that Tresor vibe. Line-ups reflect forward-thinking curators and subcultures, so no one is left out here. You can expect to hear loads of bass, techno and left-field electro transmitting out of a 10,000-watt sound system.

Music is front and centre here, with a collection of records pumping out of Funktion-One speakers specifically installed to fill the room. DJs play the likes of John Coltrane, Susan Wong, Esther Phillips and Ute Lemper with scatterings of David Bowie downstairs, or you can head upstairs to the 80-person black box venue and party to events put on by Animals Dancing, Crown Ruler, Cool Room and Pelvis. It’s super dark in the room, with a singular light that projects onto a disco ball that casts an eclipse shadow above the DJ booth. And we're not kidding about the speakers – those Funktion-Ones really pack a punch.

A nightclub space dedicated to the love of quality, high fidelity sound. While nightclub sound systems can be a bit hit and miss – and we love them all the better for it – Wax has pulled out all the stops with theirs. Created by the team behind Wax Museum Records, a lot of love and thought has gone into making this place feel inviting and atmospheric. It’s a newcomer amongst Melbourne’s venues, so give Wax a try next time you want to impress your friends or date on one of the city’s coolest dancefloors.

Every Saturday at Bourke Street Courtyard, Xe54 welcomes punters to a multi-level electronic club experience. There are three dancefloors to choose from or flit between, and DJs don’t shy away from subgenres you might be hard pressed to find elsewhere. The roster often boasts big name artists and stacked line-ups, but electronic music fans can safely assume they’ll have a good night here whether you’re planning to see your favourite DJ or going in cold. Come for neon lights, variety and packed-out rooms.

It’s from the legendary team behind Sub Club, so you know it’s going to be good. This new entry to Melbourne’s tech house scene boasts a Funktion-One system, so you can be sure you’ll get a next-level sound whether you’re front and centre or enjoying the all-weather courtyard. It’s too soon to say for sure – but Gravity could become a mainstay amongst Melbourne nightclubs.

The Music Room at Her Bar delivers on an intimate, low-key ambience while still providing the space and tunes to bust a move should you so desire. The look and feel is Melbourne in a nutshell, with records lining the walls, warm wood finishes, comfy couches and cocktails. While these flourishes make the place feel a little more homey than the other spots on this list, it’s still essentially a club – so when we say low-key, we mean for a club. No snooze fests here.

Hot off the presses of local label Plasma Lab, QQQ St Park slings onigiri by day and top tier drum and bass by night. Another newcomer to this list, drum and bass fans will be catered to here, while the venue also programs launches and touring DJs. The space is on the smaller side, so it feels squishy in the best way and sits amongst Collingwood’s finest galleries, restaurants and bars.

The vibe is electric in this darkly red-lit boudoir of a live music venue and it's not hard to see why. The Night Cat is without a doubt a Fitzroy institution, with live jazz, funk and reggae among its diverse line-up. It's probably best known for its circular stage in the centre of the venue that gives all punters a great vantage point for watching their favourite acts.

On any given night at this Collingwood bluestone stalwart, punters of all ages, genders and sexualities can be found sinking pints, smashing pub classics, or standing shoulder-to-shoulder watching gigs on the mezzanine level of the 350-person bandroom.  In the warmer months, the bandroom’s huge moon roof pulls back, so that the sun streams in or, by night, party people dance under a canopy of stars.

Another old faithful in Melbourne’s nightlife, the Grace Darling is a multi-level bluestone that brings the best elements of pubs and music venues under one roof. Gigs take place in the basement and bandroom upstairs, so if there’s a DJ on you can plan your night around a pint, a parma and a boogie. No, it’s not a nightclub. But it sure feels like one when you’re catching a set in the basement on a Saturday night and the place is packed shoulder-to-shoulder.

After an illustrious 12 years in the CBD, New Guernica made the move to Collingwood. The new venue features soaring seven-metre ceilings, a balcony high above the dancefloor and a world-class lighting and sound system. Some elements have been brought over from the original location, including the well-known disco ball. Get ready for a weekly rave on Thursday nights complete with drink specials, Friday parties run by organisers like the Operative and upcoming events by established electronic artists, emerging talents and international touring acts.

Dance the night away at one Melbourne’s biggest and best gay club nights, nestled in the heart of South Yarra. From dusk ‘til dawn on a Saturday, Chasers transforms into a queer rave led by top-class local and international DJs playing a variety of music styles including funky house, vocal trance and R&B. With drag performances all night and a pop throwbacks-heavy side room, it’s a reliably fun night out on the southside for LGBTQIA+ partygoers and allies.

If you can get over its giggle-eliciting name, the three-level Brown Alley is a fun time. Especially on Fridays when the joint becomes Nerve, your destination for hard techno, house and dance music. Weekly entertainment spans techno, R’n’B, electro, indie and breaks. The downstairs room feels like a superclub while the upstairs room is long and rectangular, with DJs at one end in a darkened alcove. The open rooftop bar is the smoking area.

Revolver, better known as Revs, will take you in on a Friday evening and treat you to a bit of soul-tinged deep house and then spit you out onto Chapel Street Sunday morning, ears still ringing with throbbing techno. Yes, it has a certain (deserved) reputation, so it’s good to know what you’re getting yourself into. The bar/club goes all night and is often responsible for the sort of behaviour that is best forgotten by morning. A great night out, in other words.