Must-see nightlife in Melbourne

  • Royal Saxon

    Melbourne

    This place, with a spotless heritage-listed facade and glass-filled, architecturally designed interior, has different spots to eat and drink. On a nice…

  • Railway Hotel

    Melbourne

    Split into three sections, the Railway Hotel is a smart, casual gastro-pub. Locals hang out at the public bar downstairs pounding beer on tap. The Deck…

  • Croft Institute

    Melbourne

    Hidden in a graffitied laneway off another laneway – how very meta-Melbourne – the slightly creepy Croft is a laboratory-themed bar downstairs, while…

  • Gin Palace

    Melbourne

    With a drinks list to make your liver quiver, 300 gins and a serious whisky collection, Gin Palace is the perfect place to grab a soft couch and hard…

  • Cheeky Pint

    Melbourne

    A pub, sports bar and brewing company, Cheeky Pint has five core beers, seasonal brews and more. Set in the former Barkly Hotel building, there are three…

  • Mr Wilkinson

    Melbourne

    The owners decked this place out in recycled timber and now concentrate on keeping things mellow and their customers well watered. It’s a great place for…

  • Market Lane Coffee

    Melbourne

    It's all about the super-strong coffee at this branch of Market Lane. It serves a few pastries too, but as it's on the corner of Queen Victoria Market…

  • Rooftop Bar

    Melbourne

    This alfresco bar sits atop happening Curtin House. From December to March there are daily DJs, and it transforms into an outdoor night-time cinema with…

  • Brother Baba Budan

    Melbourne

    This small cafe has just a few seats (more are hanging from the ceiling), but it does a roaring takeaway-coffee trade for inner-city workers and is a…

  • Loop

    Melbourne

    At weekends, DJs perform here in a project space with a large double screen and scattered projectors; find yourself a dark seat or a spot at the bar…

  • Carlton Hotel

    Melbourne

    Over-the-top Melbourne rococo gets another workout here and never fails to raise a smile. The tropical deck on the 1st floor is shrouded in jasmine and…

  • Woods of Windsor

    Melbourne

    Dark timber, kooky taxidermy and a speakeasy vibe make the Woods a suitable place to hide on those brooding, rainy Melbourne nights. Bunker down for a…

  • Windsor Castle Hotel

    Melbourne

    What's not to love about a lime-hued pub with a herd of pink elephants on the roof? The Windsor Castle is a backstreet veteran, full of cosy nooks, sunken…

  • Alehouse Project

    Melbourne

    A Brunswick venue for beer snobs to convene and compare notes, or for those who just want to rock up and taste test a great selection of 12 rotating craft…

  • Emerson

    Melbourne

    A swanky three-level venue with cocktail bar, club and rooftop bar frequented by southsiders. On Sunday afternoon the rooftop's a huge hit with gay…

  • Campos Coffee

    Melbourne

    Pourovers, AeroPress, siphon, cold drips and daily-changing single-origin African, Asian and Latin American coffees – Campos has it all covered for the…

  • Hop Nation

    Melbourne

    Follow the smell of fish down an unlikely industrial lane to this veritable cathedral of beer, located in a cavernous brick warehouse. There's usually six…

  • Section 8

    Melbourne

    Enclosed within a cage full of graffiti, wooden-pallet seating and a shipping-container bar, Section 8 is makeshift-cool. It's quite a scene, packing out…

  • Double Happiness

    Melbourne

    This stylish hole-in-the-wall is decked out in Chinese propaganda posters and Mao statues, and serves an excellent range of Asian-influenced chilli- and…

  • Onesixone

    Melbourne

    Front up to the peephole – if you pass muster, snaffle a couch or a pouf. A wiggle on the small dance floor is obligatory. Late-night Saturdays run until…

  • Ferdydurke

    Melbourne

    This dive bar and art space is set over two levels, and within its gritty confines they play everything from electronic to live Polish jazz. Also sells…

  • Padre Coffee

    Melbourne

    Situated in the middle of the South Melbourne Market, Padre offers a perfect (and popular) caffeine-enhanced respite from mad market shopping.

  • League of Honest Coffee

    Melbourne

    No word of a lie, the coffee's great at this bright and breezy cafe. It also serves muffins, cookies, toasted sandwiches and filled baguettes.

  • Public House

    Melbourne

    Not in any way resembling a pub from any discernible period in history, this swanky bar has been given a striking fit-out using raw and recycled materials…

  • New Gold Mountain

    Melbourne

    Unsignposted above Double Happiness, New Gold Mountain’s intense chinoiserie interior overloads the senses, with decoration so relentless you may feel as…

  • Young & Jackson

    Melbourne

    Opposite Flinders St Station, this heritage pub has been pouring beer since 1861 and makes for a popular meeting spot. Head to the 1st-floor Chloe's Bar …

  • Town Hall Hotel

    Melbourne

    A bit rough around the edges, this unfussy local is festooned with rock iconography (Bowie and Iggy feature prominently). Religious figures adorn the rear…

  • Riverland

    Melbourne

    Perched below Princes Bridge along the Yarra River, this bluestone beauty keeps things simple with good wine, beer on tap and bar meals that hit the mark:…

  • Chuckle Park

    Melbourne

    Creating a park out of a narrow laneway and an expanse of astroturf, this kooky crew serves huge cocktail jars, fancy sandwiches during the day and pizzas…

  • Market Lane

    Melbourne

    This northside outpost of Prahran's Market Lane occupies the tiny front room of a terrace house where you can sidle up to the takeaway window or grab a…

  • Robot

    Melbourne

    If neo-Tokyo is your thing, or you just have a sudden urge for a sushi handroll washed down with an Asahi, check out Robot. Attracting a laid-back young…

  • Stovetop

    Melbourne

    Just up from the Vic Market, Stovetop lives up to its name by preparing and serving its house blend and single origins in stovetop espresso makers. Order…

  • Queensberry Pour House

    Melbourne

    A relaxed corner coffeehouse inspired by American diners, where the filter coffee is bottomless and lingering is welcomed – it's perfect for students at…

  • Alderman

    Melbourne

    A classic Brunswick East local, the art-deco-inspired Alderman has an inviting wooden bar, an open fireplace, a good beer and cocktail selection and…

  • Traveller

    Melbourne

    This pocket-sized place is a proper stand-and-lean espresso bar, serving top-notch coffee courtesy of local roastery Seven Seeds. There are a couple of…

  • Temple Brewery

    Melbourne

    In a side street off Lygon St is this unassuming brewery where you can try a craft brew in full view of the shining vats. In summer, the front courtyard…

  • Workshop

    Melbourne

    Popular with students and young, arty types, this grungy bar has a lively party atmosphere, with DJs playing mainly hip-hop, bass, electro and grime. It's…

  • Brown Alley

    Melbourne

    This heritage pub hides a fully fledged nightclub with a 24-hour licence. It’s enormous, with distinct rooms over three levels that can fit up to 1000…

  • Self Preservation

    Melbourne

    Multitasking is much in evidence in this cafe–jewellery store–gallery. There are some small tables on the street, a scattering inside, and a large,…

  • Hell's Kitchen

    Melbourne

    Head up to Hell's via the narrow stairway from beautiful Centre Pl. It attracts a hip, young crowd who sip classic cocktails, wine, beer or cider and…

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