Looking for a peak cocktail experience in Melbourne? A rustic but chill bar where wine is champion? Cool, we can do that. Bringing you the spots you NEED to know, we've searched high and low for the best bars in Melbourne. Period. Whether you're a connoisseur or just after something special, check out our recommendations below.
Last edited by Scarlett Welch
Last updated on 25th April 2025
Your go-to for a great night out? The Last Jar is a great Irish bar along Elizabeth Street providing you with craft brews and fun times. From live music sets to tasty comfort food and an extensive range of whiskeys, this Melbourne bar is well worth a visit.
One of the quirkiest bars in the city, Alcotraz Melbourne: Cell Block Five-Nine-Two can be found on Elizabeth Street. This immersive experience is themed around prisons, so prepare to don an orange jumpsuit and be locked in a cell.
You'll be tasked with hiding contraband to swap for four personalised cocktails, and there are interactive actors throughout. Be sure to look out for the warden though.
Step into Flight Club Melbourne, the ultimate venue where traditional darts meets the future. Featuring high-tech dartboards and an eye-catching, fairground-themed interior, it's a unique space to play, relax, and have fun.
Experience exciting, multiplayer games with fast-paced rounds that score automatically - giving you more time to focus on your aim. Fuel up with a menu full of sharable plates, mouthwatering pizzas, and everything from zesty cocktails to an indulgent afternoon tea. Plus, the bar offers a diverse range of local and international drinks, including beers, wines, and spirits.
From frozen margaritas and a tucked away beer garden, to regular karaoke nights and blues DJ sessions, The Shady Lady is your quirky all rounder when it comes to a top Melbourne bar, complete with tasseled ceiling lights and retro interiors.
A Flinders Lane favourite where you'll likely find most of the velvet furnishings in the city, Trinket is a much-loved Melbourne bar where cocktails and slinky evenings are a given. Home to its very own secret basement bar, along with pizza for the hungry, it's a no-brainer.
Master at all things burger and beer, you might have to go slightly out of your way for a visit to East Of Everything, but they're worth every stop. From big patties to 12 beers on tap, those with a love of all things hoppy will find comfort here.
Home to everything from a rooftop bar to grand dining rooms, State Of Grace have all your hospitality needs rolled in to one. With industrial touches owed to its time as the Melbourne Steamship Co. building, expect cocktails in the sunshine and basement drinks if the night takes you.
Celebrating the best of Australian-sourced bottles, Bad Frankie is a Fitzroy bar that prides itself on its varied options. When you're not on gin from Victoria, try a selection of whisky from Queensland, even tucking in to a tasting session/masterclass if the night takes you.
From its working jukebox down to its unmissable red neon, Heartbreaker is the perfect Chinatown dive bar for the laidback of Melbourne. Head on down for a game of pool, tuck in to a menu of small dishes or simply kick back with a drink in hand.
With Funktion-One sound systems blasting out the best from DJs across the city, Angel Music Bar do exactly what they say on the tin. And when you're not admiring the hits? Enjoy an approachable wine menu and a cocktail list of classics.
