Melbourne is renowned for the quality of its bars and restaurants. It’s a city where people care deeply about food & wine, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the best cocktail bars in Melbourne are in fact some of the best in the world.
While Melbourne venues weren’t able to crack The World’s 50 Best Bars in 2020, they did the following year with Collingwood’s Above Board coming in at number 44. In 2022, Caretaker’s Cottage snagged 60th place, Byrdi locked in 61st position for itself in 2023, and this year, that very same world-class watering hole shimmied up the rankings to attain 23rd place.
Beyond that, the pivotal question is: what are the best cocktail bars in Melbourne? Sample them below.
RELATED: Starward Whisky’s Port Melbourne Distillery Just Got A Major Glow Up
The Best Cocktail Bars In Melbourne’s CBD
Apollo Inn
Andrew McConnell and his partner Jo McGann know a thing or two about making a successful Melbourne venue and Apollo Inn is the latest offering from the hospitality legends, located not too far from sibling restaurant Gimlet.
Containing just 30 seats inside the intimate venue, booking is always recommended, but once you’ve secured entry you can rest easy knowing you’re in for a good time thanks to a menu serving up all the classics, as well as plenty of house specials.
With its warm and welcoming atmosphere, impeccable service, and meticulously curated drinks selection, Apollo Inn provides an exceptional experience for cocktail lovers and more casual drinkers alike.
Address: 165 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9277 9727
Opening Hours: Monday — Thursday (5 PM — 1 AM); Friday (3 PM — 1 AM); Saturday — Sunday (5 PM — 1 AM)
Bouvardia
Another relative newcomer to Melbourne’s cocktail scene, Bouvardia is a stylish venue that brings a touch of old-world elegance to the nightlife in the Victorian capital.
Nestled in a sophisticated space with plush velvet seating, ambient lighting, and Art-Deco accents, the talented bartenders at Bouvardia craft a range of exquisite cocktails, combining classic techniques with a creative approach to ingredients.
The intimate setting, impeccable service, and exciting drinks menu make this one an ideal destination for all sorts of occasions: from date night to post-work tipples.
Address: 2/169 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: 0466 859 933
Opening Hours: Monday — Wednesday (5 PM — 12 AM); Friday — Saturday (4 PM — 1 AM)
Byrdi
Byrdi is a consummate example of how owners Luke Whearty and Aki Nishikura are constantly chasing perfection. Most recently, the venue was recognised with a 61st overall ranking, in the long list of the World’s 50 Best Bars for 2023.
This place throws serious Jiro Dreams of Sushi vibes: so long as you enter via the back passage of the ELLA food court. Once inside, you’re somewhere else completely — thanks to DesignOffice’s penchant for complete, catch-you-by-surprise immersion.
At Byrdi, “mixology” is much more than just a buzzword. Before it’s even tipped into your glass, your drink will have had contact with a dizzying array of sprays, purees, spices, powders, graters, and tweezered garnishes.
On the menu: an expansive and intriguing list of local ingredients and produce. Not on the menu: the drink’s base alcohol. The MO here is ‘produce first, liquor second’ — a phenomenon that many of the regulars will eagerly attest to. Don’t get too attached to any one signature cocktail: even by Melbourne standards, the beverage program changes frequently.
Address: 211 La Trobe Street, Tenancy GD075, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: N/A
Opening Hours: Tuesday — Saturday (12 PM — 12 AM)
Caretaker’s Cottage
A relative newcomer to the scene (opened in March of 2022), Caretaker’s Cottage has already made serious waves in the ranks of Melbourne’s best cocktail bars.
In 2022, the venue earned itself 60th place on the list of The World’s 50 Best Bars and was the only Melbourne establishment in those vaunted rankings. This year, it took out first place in Boothby Victoria’s 50 Best Bars list, further cementing its already glorious reputation.
Unlike the vast majority of vibey Melbourne joints, hidden as they are in alleyways and underneath staircases, Caretaker’s Cottage lives up to its name by being tucked away in the ancient bluestone building behind Wesley Place church. It also arguably has as much in common with ye olde English pub as it does with a world-class cocktail bar, and is likely the only bar of its calibre that serves Guinness by draft.
The menu is restrained — the hallmark of any good venue, in our opinion — consisting of three house creations, three classic drinks and a Martini. If you’re after a bite to eat, the venue also has you covered, with pies sourced from the legendary Falco bakery.
Another must-visit.
Address: 139-141 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Opening Hours: Tuesday — Saturday (4 PM — 1 AM)
Eau De Vie Melbourne
Simply put, Eau De Vie is a Melbourne institution. Home to white collar warriors, obsessive foodies and everyone in between, its bar is a sight to behold; boasting hundreds of different rare spirit bottles and one of the most extensive whisky collections in the city.
Beyond the visual spectacle of liquid nitrogen and smoke machines, the magicians behind the bar at Eau De Vie are always innovating with different ways of infusing, blending and presenting drinks, making it a surprise and a pleasure every time you walk through the colossal front door.
If you’re looking to wet your whistle in the city, we recommend you add this to your list.
Address: 1 Malthouse Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 8393 9367
Opening Hours: Tuesday — Thursday (5 PM — 1 AM); Friday — Saturday (4 PM — 3 AM)
Curious
Curious belongs to the new W Melbourne property, and fittingly, exudes peak luxury. It speaks volumes that a bar as new as this one can cut through Melbourne’s incredible cocktail scene to become an instant classic.
A confusing clock-clad entry will direct you from Market Street, down a dizzying spiral staircase and into a cavity of undulating timber beams and reflective surfaces: all amounting to a fantastical space that feels like it’s been lifted from the pages of Lewis Carroll.
The bar showcases boutique Melbourne and Australian spirit brands, botanicals and local ingredients. And because of the venue’s wider Marriott-backing, drink prices are surprisingly well-calibrated.
Address: W Melbourne, 408 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9113 8862
Opening Hours: Tuesday — Thursday (5 PM — 11:30 PM); Friday — Saturday (3 PM — 12:45 AM); Sunday (3 PM — 10:45 PM)
Nick & Nora’s
Fancy a bit of Champagne opulence? Although Nick & Nora’s feels new to the scene (it soft launched under, shall we say, difficult circumstances back in 2020) Melburnians are well-acquainted with its sister venue, Eau de Vie and have since embraced Nick & Nora’s with similar gusto.
Walking up the stairwell under stained glass instantly transports you from the Paris end of Collins Street, to the actual city of Paris circa 1925.
Champagne comes first, and cocktails second, with a comprehensive menu that even includes large-format pours, like a monstrous 15-litre Nebuchadnezzar of Mumm. And before you ask: yes, it is served via Champagne tower.
Address: 80 Collins Street via, 11 Benson Walk, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 8393 9367
Opening Hours: Tuesday — Thursday (5 PM — 1 AM); Friday — Saturday (3 PM — 1 AM); Sunday (2 PM — 11 PM)
Little Lon Distilling Co.
If you want drinks with a side of great storytelling, Little Lon is a strong contender. This 144-year-old building (formally home to a bordello) has since been repurposed into an urban gin distillery. It also just so happens to make some of the city’s best cocktails.
It’s quite the sight to spot this tiny little gem, shadowed by skyscrapers. The venue prodcues a range of bold small-batch gins and is open to the public on Friday and Saturday nights to “raise a tipple to the delightful deviates that once trod these lurid laneways.”
Both fermentation and distilling processes are done on-site, and you can stay a while longer by booking a tour or a gin masterclass. It’s a great way to pass the time while trying your luck at nabbing one of 20 seats indoors. The cocktail list is very creative, and obviously, the team here have the process of making consistently excellent G&Ts down to a fine science.
Address: 17 Casselden Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: N/A
Opening Hours: Wednesday (4 PM — 8 PM); Thursday — Friday (4 PM — 9:30 PM); Saturday (2 PM — 10 PM)
The Best Cocktail Bars Around Melbourne
Above Board, Collingwood
Above Board has long been regarded as one of the best cocktail bars in Australia, with a slew of awards to back this reputation. In fact, when it came 44th in the World’s 50 Best Bars of 2021, it was the first Melburnian cocktail den — other than The Everleigh or Black Pearl — to make the list since 2011.
Designed with minimalism in mind, the atmosphere is sleek, comfy, absolutely somewhere you’d want to bring guests you wish to impress.
Despite a capacity of 16, you’re encouraged to pull up a chair and stay a while. Owner Hayden Lambert holds firm to the notion that the ‘open kitchen’ view from the barseats is the best place to be in any of Melbourne’s busiest bars and restaurants. So he hand-built a selection of booths behind the bar, complete with stowable drinks trays to facilitate. It’s a unique vantage point to enjoy an almost peerless cocktail experience.
Address: 1/306 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066
Opening Hours: Monday — Sunday (6 PM — 1 AM)
Bar Bellamy, Carlton
Fusing the best of a cocktail bar, a wine bar, and an old-world bistro, Bar Bellamy is a spot that aims to deliver a good time and good company. The venue’s name is a play on the French words bel am (or “good friend”). It’s also a relative youngster, winning the Best New Bar prize in Boothby Victoria’s 50 Best Bars list, but one with serious pedigree thanks to owner Oska Whitehart’s experience at Gimlet, The Everleigh and more.
The obvious upside to the fact that Bellamy isn’t a pure cocktail bar is the food on offer, which includes mouthwatering plates like hot sauce oysters, mussel croquettes, and the city’s most smashable devilled eggs. Cocktails only take things up a notch, with Whitehart’s depth of experience coming to the fore with perfectly made classics, and thoughtful riffs on his favourite cocktail: the Martini. If you live north of the river, be sure to swing through.
Address: 164 Rathdowne St, Carlton VIC 3053
Contact: (03) 8590 0022
Opening Hours: Monday (5 PM — 1 AM); Wednesday — Friday (5 PM — 1 AM); Saturday (12 PM — 1 AM); Sunday (12 PM — 11 PM)
Black Pearl, Fitzroy
There’s a reason the seductively named Black Pearl has been a near-permanent fixture of the World’s 50 Best Bars for nearly a decade; and we’d wager it has something to do with the staff’s expertise in slinging excellent cocktails, with serious precision, at any given hour.
No matter how calm or how busy, the quality of consistency is foremost why this and sibling venue The Attic have both remained staples in Melbourne’s hospitality scene.
The downside? The space is rarely ever empty. If the bar on the ground floor appears a touch too busy to chase drinks from, we recommend making a beeline for the aforementioned Attic, which you’ll usually have a better shot at exchanging banter with the bartenders.
Address: 304 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Contact: 0488 304 304
Opening Hours: Monday (5 PM — 3 AM); Wednesday — Sunday (5 PM — 3 AM)
The Elysian Whisky Bar, Fitzroy
What sets The Elysian apart from the other establishments on this list of the best cocktail bars in Melbourne, is its singular focus on independent whisky distilleries — both local and international.
They sling mostly single barrels and one-off releases. If you need a bit of convincing to divert from big-name brands, the bar’s owners, Low and Wong are both ex-Whisky & Alement. Suffice to say: you’re in good hands.
The fit-out is very clearly inspired by Japanese whisky bars, so expect cosy feels, the sweet sounds of jazz, and a long beautiful Californian redwood counter. It’s the perfect ambience for sampling a range of rare drams from Japan, Ireland, Germany, India and, of course, various Aussie distillers closer to home.
Address: 113 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Contact: (03) 9417 7441
Opening Hours: Tuesday — Saturday (4:30 PM — 1 AM)
The Everleigh, Fitzroy
The Everleigh is a decades-old Gertrude Street institution. And it continues to surprise and delight all who manage to follow its black and white tiled entry upstairs.
With the venue as busy as ever, the expert bartenders that drive this multi-award-winning bar have bottled up their classic cocktails, and manufactured them to the exacting standards.
The only choice then is to go out and soak up The Everleigh’s sophisticated, golden era atmosphere and abundant energy, or try and recreate it at home using their cocktails.
Address: Level 1/150-156 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Contact: (03) 9416 2229
Opening Hours: Monday — Sunday (5 PM — 1 AM)
Bar Liberty, Fitzroy
Bar Liberty is yet another reason why Fitzroy is one of the coolest suburbs, not just in Melbourne, but the world. Run by ex-Attica sommeliers, it’s a wine bar first and foremost. But you ignore the list of rotating signature cocktails at your peril, which is penned with as much attention to detail importance as Liberty’s selection of lo-fi and minimal intervention wines.
Address: 234 Johnston Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Contact: (03) 9415 9025
Opening Hours: Monday — Saturday (5 PM — 11:30 PM); Sunday (12 pm — 5:30 PM)
Did you find this Melbourne cocktail bar guide helpful? Check out some of our other Melbourne content below:
