Best Bars With Food in Melbourne
Melbourne's bar scene is not your everyday affair. It's a sprawling treasure trove of the best bars this side of Australia. Whether you're seeking a hidden bar in a laneway, a bustling cocktail bar in the heart of Melbourne CBD, or a dive bar with old-school charm, this city has you covered.
From the delightful eau de vie in Fitzroy to the beer garden vibes in Carlton, let's paint the town red with flavors, drinks menus, and vibes. Get ready to explore the best cocktail bars, wine bars, and even a rooftop bar or two. It's a journey filled with classic cocktails, craft beers, and delicious food to soak it all up with.
Cookie
Cookie offers a fusion of Thai-inspired fabulousness right in the CBD! More than a cocktail bar, Cookie is a Melbourne institution. You're in for a treat with a cocktail list that will make you swoon and a wine list that rivals any wine bar in Victoria.
Dance to the beats of live DJs, sip on espresso martinis or explore the hidden bar within for a classic old-fashioned. And if you’re feeling peckish, their menu offers a selection of small, medium, and large dishes depending on your style and appetite.
From Thai classics like pad thai and green papaya salad to unique small plates like their whizz fizz chicken sticks and mouth-watering beef and ginger dumplings, you’ll have more than enough sustenance at the end of a night here to justify one more cocktail.
Naked for Satan
Now, for something a touch naughty and oh-so-nice in Fitzroy! Naked for Satan is not just a rooftop bar with jaw-dropping views.
It’s an incredible bar offering great drinks and a food bargain you won’t find anywhere else: game-changing pizza for $13. This isn’t a happy hour deal, darlings — it’s an all-day, everyday event.
Sip the best cocktail in town or indulge in European and Spanish delights from the charcuterie. This gem on Brunswick Street combines the old-world charm of a Victorian speakeasy with the lively atmosphere of a modern Australian bar.
From the spritz to the classic cocktails, the bartenders here craft concoctions that'll leave you craving more. And with live music, a dance floor, and bar snacks that redefine flavors, this venue is one for the Melbourne bar bucket list.
Whether you’re in it for a hearty and funky risotto with wild mushrooms and smoked buffalo mozzarella or a carafe full of craft cocktails, you’re in for a real treat.
Section 8
If you thought Melbourne's bar scene was all glitz and glamor, get ready to embrace the edgy charm of Section 8. Nestled in the laneways of Chinatown, this shipping container-turned-bar is the epitome of urban chic. A cocktail bar? A beer garden? Honey, it's both!
You'll find craft beers served alongside spritz and the best cocktail menu this side of Flinders. The bartenders here are artists; each drink is a masterpiece of flavors garnished with a touch of Melbourne magic.
The dance floor's old-school vibe, combined with the city's panoramic views, makes Section 8 a key part of Melbourne's heart and soul. Whether you're a fan of classic cocktails or eager to explore the drinks list, you'll find a home here. So shimmy your way to Lonsdale Street and join the dance of Victoria's finest.
The Toff in Town
Open until the nonspecific but oh-so-tempting “late,” The Toff in Town is the best place to go to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a decadent bite before making your way to one of their many lively gigs to ride out the rest of the evening. Located in the bustling Carlton district, this venue is a glory of Asian fusion in the heart of Melbourne's CBD.
The Toff in Town is a classic beauty with a cocktail list that rivals Sydney's best and an old-fashioned twist on Melbourne bars. You'll find the best Australian brews, a wine list that speaks every European language, and live music that will serenade you into the night.
The tiki vibes meet Victorian charm in a setting that's both romantic and vibrant. And if you're feeling adventurous, the bar snacks are an international trip of tastes and textures. Oh, and don't forget to catch the DJs on Bourke Street; they know how to keep the party alive.
Garden State Hotel
Last but not least, let's take a stroll down the garden path to the Garden State Hotel. If there ever was a bar that combined the essence of Melbourne's laneway culture with a rooftop bar's elegance, it's this one. Nestled in the vibrant heart of Collingwood, it's a botanical beauty that promises a night full of flavor and fun.
You'll find the best cocktail menu in Australia, crafted by bartenders who know their brews and concoctions. The beer garden is a lush oasis where espresso martinis meet brunch in a fusion of Melbourne's best.
Dance to the beats of live music, or find a hidden bar within, where classic cocktails reign supreme. It’s a space that's as eclectic as the city itself, redefining the idea of a pub and blending the lush greenery of the outdoors with the upscale vibes of a hotel. You’re in for a treat with a wine list that's a who's who of both the old world and the new.
Naught Cocktail Bar and Distillery
Time to take a lavish leap back to the Prohibition era because Naught Cocktail Bar and Distillery has opened its velvet-curtained doors in Eltham, and darling, it's every bit as naughty as the name suggests. This speakeasy, designed to showcase Naught’s award-winning range of gins, brings dramatic décor with pressed metal and velvet and a huge stone bar that practically begs you to belly up.
If you’re looking for fun with a tropical twist, their tiki section is where the party's at! Sip on the Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, named for the state fish of Hawaii, and you'll be swimming in delight — though perhaps not in the ocean, as it's strong enough to keep you moored on dry land. Simple snacks like pâtés round off the experience, making Naught a key addition to Melbourne's bar scene.
The Keys
Ready to get your Big Lebowski vibe on? The Keys in Preston is rolling out the fun with its new retro bowling alley, games arcade, and beer garden. This is the hotspot for summer with 12 bowling lanes, a dance floor, and room for 600 bowlers and drinkers.
Three bars with exposed warehouse roofs and pot plants create a unique ambiance, perfect for grabbing a craft beer and indulging in "gutter snacks" like chicken poppers or Sicilian hot ribs. It might be tricky to get a lane here over summer, but one thing's for sure: The Keys is a game-changer in Melbourne's west bar scene.
Shabooh Shoobah
Shabooh Shoobah is calling your name, even if you can’t call back without stumbling over your words a few times. It's time to dance to the beat of Brunswick's newest sensation. This neighborhood bar, housed in an old butcher shop and named for INXS's third album, has everything from simple snacks to great drinks.
But it's the service that'll make you feel like you live just around the corner. The team of Hootan Heydari and Emily Bitto from Heartattack and Vine have crafted the lo-fi wine bar Brunswick needed.
With classic cocktails, a cocktail menu boasting the best of Melbourne, and an epic vinyl collection, Shabooh Shoobah is a musical note in the symphony of Melbourne bars. Enjoy the flavors and the flair of a venue that's truly in tune with its city.
Sip Happens
Melbourne, you've outdone yourself, darling! We've waltzed through laneways, sipped our way through the best cocktail bars, and danced under the stars at the city's finest rooftop bars. From the bustling CBD to the bohemian charm of Fitzroy, we've explored every nook and cranny that Melbourne bars have to offer.
Whether you're a connoisseur of craft beers, a seeker of speakeasies, or a lover of live music, Melbourne has a spot that feels like home. It's a cocktail list of experiences, a dance floor of opportunities, and a wine list that captures the world in a glass.
But none of that would be quite as delicious and indulgent without some next-level eats to sample alongside your drink. So if you’re feeling drinky and munchie, run, don’t walk to these fabulous Melbourne bars for the best of both worlds.
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