drink melbourne

melbourne's best pubs & bars

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The Albion Rooftop & Club

The Albion Rooftop & Club is Melbourne’s award winning rooftop and nightlife destination. The menu sprawls across three floors with a complete function level, decadent club and incredible rooftop offering views of the Melbourne CBD skyline (including weather provisions, making it a go-to spot all year round).

On ‘Albion Saturdays’, the second floor turns into one of the best clubs in Melbourne with DJs and drinks flowing from the bar. They have a premium drinks selection, with thoughtfully handpicked wines, an array of champagne and bubbles, fresh tap beer and of course classic cocktails, including their much-loved Pornstar Martini and Espresso Martini… on tap!!

A carefully curated Modern Japanese Asian menu with locally sourced ingredients is on offer on the rooftop! They also have a Happy Hour that’s too good to resist, on Fridays from 5-7pm you can enjoy $10 Aperol Spritz, Asahi and Espresso Martinis. And on Sundays, the rooftop is pumping with live music and a Bottomless Brunch from 1-3pm. The Albion is perfect for any day of the weekend to enjoy some delicious food, lots of drinks and have a dance!

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Tramp Bar

‘Open disgusting late for all the right people’ is Tramp Bar. Located on King Street in the CBD is Melbourne’s leading underground house music bar and nightclub (that isn’t for the faint-hearted). 

The opening hours are as follows… 10pm Friday to 8am Saturday. Saturday 10pm -12am. Sunday is 24 hours - with 6am Sunday turning it into Tramp Mercy.

They often run ticketed events for pre-purchase, or for sale at the door unless sold out, with international artists frequently playing. As well as the unreal dance floor, they have snake skin leather booths which you can pre-book in advance.

Just remember, they do have a ‘neat and casual’ dress code so make sure you dress accordingly to be allowed inside, you can check out their website for more details. 

Tramp was awarded the Music Club of the Year in Victoria for 2021, and I think that says it all! They have a commitment to good times, good tunes and good company, and will ensure their house is your house.

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Chapel Street Pub Crawl

Chapel Street has evolved in recent years and is now the home to exciting restaurants and bars with an awesome atmosphere. This pub crawl will start you off on the Windsor End and walk you all the way up to South Yarra. 

Leonard’s House of Love is like finding the coolest house party at a ski resort, the bar offers a selection of beers on tap and the chef smashes out high-quality burgers and charcoal chicken.

Boston Sub’s Jungle Boy is the perfect cocktail bar where you can discover a new world of barrel-aged Manhattans, Negronis and eye-watering tiki drinks. Borsch, Vodka and Tears is the go-tp venue for vodka lovers, with a. Range of dumplings on offer to soak up the spirits. 

There is a lot that’s right with Two Wrongs, it mixes knockout cocktails and clever snacks which will leave you wanting more. Katuk is tucked away up a flight of stairs above Chapel Street, serving excellent happy hour specials and FIVE types of Espresso Martinis. It’s all about whisky at The Woods of Windsor, where you can go straight in for the hard stuff or try a 50/50 mix Scotch whisky and Stone’s ginger wine.

These are only a few of many pubs, bars and restaurants that you should definitely check out. Grab some mates and go for a pub crawl along the bustling Chapel Street and enjoy all the cool and quirky venues for yourself. 

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The Gasometer Hotel

Located in Collingwood is The Gasometer Hotel, but more commonly known as The Gaso. Within the Gaso is the Gasometer Bandroom and Gasometer Upstairs where there’s DJs and live acts playing in the two storey room with a retractable roof. 

There’s gigs and day parties on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays all year round! The events are listed on their website with a link to purchase tickets or you can usually find some events on either Oztix, Eventbrite or Moshtix. Tickets sell out fast, so if there’s an event you’ve got your eye on make sure to get in quick! 

There’s also a bar and bistro for a more relaxed setting. The front bar is open weeknights until 12am, Fridays and Saturdays until 3am and Sundays until 11pm with three open fireplaces and micro-brews, favourites on tap, a wine list and lots of cocktails on offer.

The Gaso has an amazing atmosphere, whether you’re attending one of the events or you’re in the bar and bistro. It’s the place to be for weekend gigs and day parties!

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Garden State Hotel

This multi-levelled, four-story oasis has room for 800 punters! The Garden State Hotel is in the heart of the iconic strip of Flinders Lane restaurants. The booze selection on all levels is second to none with something for everyone.

The tiered Beer Garden is the heart and soul of the hotel, with lush greenery that blends seamlessly with the outdoors. The Public Bar on the ground level serves patrons their favourite ales, it’s where you will also fund your favourite pub classics as well as a selection of snacks and shared items. This bar is fit out with booths, a double-sided fireplace and giant TVs showing live sporting games for the sport lovers.

The Rose Garden in the basement level provides a more intimate setting for cocktail lovers, with both classic and contemporary cocktails on offer. Upstairs is the Garden Grill which is a traditional bistro with some rooftop views of Melbourne.

Garden State Hotel isn’t only for weekend antics, they also have a $26 lunch special on Mondays to Thursdays from 12-2:30pm where you can enjoy a choice of 4 mains matched with a glass of red or white.

This pub is like a wonderland for adults, the perfect place to indulge amazing food and enjoys lots of beverages!

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Trinket

Located on Flinders Lane in the CBD is Trinket, where you turn the giant novelty key to enter a glitzy cocktail lounge making city drinking a lot more fun! It’s a secret pizza and cocktail bar with a hidden cellar.

Trinket have speciality made cocktails with a little flair, a variety of wines and icy cold tap beers. On the food menu are quality pizzas using seasonal produce, which can also be paired with share plates and fresh salads.

They have weekly specials, starting the weekend early with $15 pizzas every Friday from 12-3pm. Saturdays are for bottomless pizzas and cocktails for $49pp at either of the four sessions. ‘Sunday Sips’ run every weekend with a selection of boozy bites, bottomless drinks and a featured cocktail.

On the weekends, the main bar becomes a party starter with a DJ cranking music to kick of your Saturday right! And the cellar bar is open for a more subdued feel with a fireplace to cosy up in front of!

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Public House

In the heart of Richmond, with four grand floors and three rooftop areas is Public House. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm until late, you can get 360 degree views of Richmond and the CBD on the two-tiered rooftop deck. It’s a stones throw away from the MCG so is the perfect spot for footy fans pre and post game during the AFL season!

The Public House food menu has tastes from around the globe with a selection of small and large street-inspired dishes, as well as grazing boards to share. The drink menu combines the best Australia and the world has to offer, with an extensive wine list that has been handcrafted, an exclusive tap selection for the beer lovers, a range of spirits and a tailored list of original and classic cocktails.

Public house hold both one-off and regular events, such as AFL post-match and public holidays events, and even a Mother’s Day Luncheon for all the Mums! Keep your eye out for the upcoming events at this amazing venue.

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Osborne Rooftop & Bar

A Rooftop, Bar, Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge awaits you in the vibrant and bustling South Yarra. The Osborne Rooftop & Bar spreads over two levels and is open for both weekday and weekend celebrations, with a Happy Hour from 4pm-9pm from Tuesdays to Fridays.

Located on the ground level is the informal bar and courtyard with a fireplace, high tables and booth seating available with hearty pub classic meals on offer. The restaurant provides a relaxed setting and has a refined, produce-driven menu inducing a selection of sharing plates, mains and daily specials, with of course a drink menu also available as you dine.

The cocktail lounge is an inviting retreat upstairs, with snacks available to share as well as an expansive bar serving contemporary cocktails and a curated selection of wine, beer and spirits. The rooftop has impressive views of the South Yarra skyline, offering the same extensive bar menu with a range of outdoor sofas, tables and booth seating to enjoy a drink (or several). Once the night kicks off, the music gets louder and the dancing begins on the rooftop dance floor. 

The Osborne also offers Bottomless packages with their Japanese Brunch on Saturdays for $60pp, as well as the Bottomless Footy Package which is available for selected games each round for $55pp. There really is something for everyone, whether its a quieter night of dining or lots of drinking and dancing on the rooftop!

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Bottomless Brunches

Some weekend mornings are meant for sleep-ins and some are meant for a boozy brunch - a bottomless brunch means serious business in Melbourne! Nowadays on ever corner there is a cafe, restaurant, pub or bar offering a bottomless brunch on the weekends. Typically, you’ll get a meal of your choice with free flowing bottomless drinks for a period of a time at a set cost. 

Here are some go-to bottomless brunches in Melbourne. Fargo and Co is the home to Melbourne’s original bottomless brunch where for $65pp, you’ll receive a cocktail on arrival + 2 hours of bottomless Prosecco, Mimosas, schooners of house beer and a brunch item of choice. At the Imperial Hotel in the CBD, from 11am-1pm you can indulge in 2 hours of bottomless spritz’, wine and beer plus a lush grazing spread for $60pp, with epic views of the city. 

At House of Lulu in South Yarra, drinking is encouraged at their daytime disco, with a $30 bottomless brunch package, including unlimited Mimosas, Espresso Martinis and Bloody Marys for 90 minutes. Or you can spend your Saturday sipping the day away with stunning Yarra views, unlimited cocktails and amazing brunch food at Leftbank, it’s a 2 hour affair for just $49pp. 

Melbourne is full of boozy bunches, definitely give these ones a try! 

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Old Palm Liquor

Located on Lygon Street in Brunswick is a wine bar with low-key charm and an outstanding wine list. They’ve got a range of over 400 bottles to choose from, wines with geographic diversity from every corner of the globe, value for money wines and even something for the adventurous wine drinker. The bar also has Guinness on tap alongside several good local beers.

You’re welcome to pop into to Old Palm Liquor for a drink and nothing else, but the food menu is to die for. Drawing on the chef and co-owners South African heritage, is a seasonal menu with vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood and signature charred flatbreads. The centrepiece of the kitchen is a wood-burning grill which provides a delicate smokiness to the mouth-watering meals.

Old Palm Liquor is the go to for great wine and great food. 

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Hotel Esplanade

Known as the best pub in St. Kilda is Hotel Esplanade, but more commonly known as The Espy. It’s the perfect spot for enjoying a meal, kicking back with drinks or soaking up the scenes of a live gig. The Espy operates 12 different bars across 5 levels with hand picked wines, classic and custom cocktails, craft beers and spirits from their very own in-house ageing program.

The Espy Kitchen features a menu highlighting the best and local seasonal produce, there is a perfectly paired wine and cocktail list to enjoy alongside the pub classics, stone-baked pizzas and seaside snacks. Within the bustling Espy, there is Mya Tiger, which is a flavour-filled Cantonese restaurant serving up inspired cocktails, dumplings and Peking duck with views of the sunset. 

The Espy is also the home of live music in St. Kilda! From comedy shows to live DJ sets, they consistently operate a jam-packed line up of gigs. The Basement has Open Mic Tuesdays and Live Music Thursdays and the Main Bar has live music playing every Sunday afternoon. If live gigs aren’t your thing, the Public Bar show all the live sporting action. The Espy has something for everyone!

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Rooftop at QT

The QT Rooftop will have your weekday and weekend plans sorted, with opening hours 7 days a week until late. Take the lift to the edgy top floor at the designer QT Hotel to drink by the Melbourne skyline. It’s an all-seasons venue, with a retractable awning on the outdoor terrace so you can enjoy the generous cocktail list no matter the weather. 

Local liquids is the spirit, with signature cocktails, house made tonic, rooftop beer and wines and even Four Pillars x QT Cocktails. Rooftop at QT also frequently have pop-up partnerships with your favourite drinks, recently they’ve had Après Hour with Aperol where you get food and Aperol Spritz specials. Their rooftop food menu has munchies, stone baked pizzas and snacks for later on in the night.

The Rooftop at QT are also known for hosting epic events throughout the year. Previous events have been Summer Sunday Sessions, Game, Set Spritz at QT for the Aus Open, True Blue BBQ QT Style and Spring Racing at QT, so keep an eye out for their next event! 

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Leftbank

Situated on Southbank with uninterrupted views of the Yarra and the city skyline is ’Melbourne’s most exciting cocktail bar and dining destination’. Leftbank have your food and drinks sorted with seasonal menus focusing on locally soured produce as well as an extensive selection of drinks. They have a range of superb wines and beers as well as a cocktail bar that’s menu that has been expertly created, taking inspiration from around the world.

Leftbank provides drink deals all week round, with $6 pints on Mondays until all the tap beer disappears. On Tuesdays to Fridays from 4-6:30pm there is ‘2 and a half hours of 1/2 price happiness’ with ALL drinks included (even cocktails). They also have two bottomless brunch sittings on Saturdays with 2 hours of free flowing cocktails and an item from the brunch menu for only $49pp. 

They’re open 7 days a week, 12pm until late with live music and a DJ on the weekends. With the bustling location, you can choose to be seated inside or outside on the large terrace space and have great vibes either way. Definitely the place for week day knock of drinks or a big weekend celebration!

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Young & Jacksons

Also known as the Melbourne’s ‘most iconic hotel’ is Young & Jacksons. It’s a heritage listed building that was established in 1861 and has been beautifully restored and refurbished over the years. It’s a blend of a boutique bar and a traditional pub and is home to the infamous Chloe, a Melbourne icon and extremely fine work of art; a famous nude portrait which has graced the walls of the Hotel since 1909.

Located on the first floor is the dining room which offers casual dining focusing on Modern Australian Cuisine with an emphasis on fresh local produce. On offer are the pub favourites and an extensive shared plate selection. On the ground floor is the bar and lounge, serving a variety of local craft beers. Sports fans won’t be disappointed, you can catch all the footy and UFC action on the large number of screens with food and drink specials on offer all weekend.

Young & Jacksons is a go to in Melbourne and is known as ‘a place for good people, to share good food and drinks with each other’. 

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Cookie

Known for it’s Thai food, beer, wine, cocktails and disco is Cookie, with a central location in Swanston Street’s iconic Curtin House. It’s open Monday to Sunday until late and is one of Melbourne CBD’s most popular bars for any time of the week, whether it’s mid-week catch ups, knock off after work drinks, weekend celebrations or even a Sunday wind down. 

It’s known for it’s bustling and buzzing atmosphere, where tucked away in the depths of the beerhall you’ll find the cocktail bar serving any homemade cocktail to your liking. They’re also the home to up to 100 beers at a time, with an impressive 30 of those on tap and a 350+ wine list to choose from. As well as the main bar and beerhall area, they also have ‘Juliet’ balconies that offer a nice hideaway from the main room and provide phenomenal views of the city skyline. 

The food menu blends both the Thai and Australian way of life, with small, medium or large size dishes as well as sides and desserts on offer. It’s the perfect spot to soak in the afternoon sun with a delicious meal and lots of drinks, before flicking over the lights as the DJ warms up the room.

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Gin Palace

Established in 1997, located in the heart of the CBD and one of Melbourne’s first laneway bars is Gin Palace. It’s a late night cocktail bar that is open from 4pm-3am EVERYDAY. They offer a selection of over 200 gins and the list features vast quantities of the ‘best and worst gins in the world’, as well a cocktail list influenced by rare and seasonal ingredients. 

Gin Palace have a drink for anyone and everyone with their extensive drink menu. They offer a range of Martinis and is also of course the G&T’s which are 50ml serves of gin paired with an appropriate tonic and a carefully selected garnish, custom pairings are also available. 

The Cocktail list experiments with only the finest ingredients and can make anything your palate desires, whether it’s classic or otherwise. There is also the choice of a Negroni, with a selection of delicious variations based around gin, bitters and vermouths. If the substantial cocktail menu still isn’t for you there is also a list of classic beers and wines. 

As a side to your cocktail, there is a food menu with nibbles, snacks and cheeses (the chicken sandwiches pair perfectly with a martini). Gin Palace is the perfect spot for all cocktail and gin lovers!

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Richmond Pub Crawl

Richmond is rich in culture, rich in history and rich in sport and the perfect location for a weekend pub crawl. It’s bustling with people all year round, especially during the footy season. It’s the place for pre and post footy drinks with the MCG and AAMI Park just down the road from some top-notch bars and pubs along Swan Street and Church Street. 

There’s an endless list of pubs and bars but here are some of the go-to’s. Public House has four grand floors and three rooftop areas providing 360 degree views of Richmond and the CBD. The Corner Hotel is the home to live music in Richmond and has a rooftop and beer garden upstairs. Harlow have delicious food and drinks flowing and have one rule… ‘good vibes only’. Fargo and Co is where you can find Melbourne’s original bottomless brunch and have killer cocktails, carefully curated shots and 14 beers on tap. Richmond Club Hotel is an iconic Melbourne pub with a traditional public bar, beer garden, dining room, dance floor and rooftop with epic views of Melbourne’s skyline. Finally, The Precinct is the perfect spot for sporting fanatics with the beer garden filled with large screens showing sports day and night.  

Whether it’s day time, night time or both, Richmond is the place for the beloved pub crawl with a vast selection of old school pubs and flash new bars, all with drinks endlessly flowing!