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The Best Cocktail Bars in Melbourne to Try This Weekend
The best cocktail bars in Melbourne serve drinks worth their weight in gold.
Whether you like yours shaken, stirred, fruity, bitter or sour – nothing beats kicking off a night out with an expertly-made cocktail.
Melbourne is home to world-class drinking spots and cocktail bars, from opulent Golden Era-inspired dens to modern bars reinventing the category. Expert bartenders, an immaculate ambience and delicious snacks make the best cocktail bars in Melbourne the perfect spot to nurse your next Negroni.
Best Cocktail Bars Melbourne: CBD
Mr Mills
Mr Mills doesn’t announce itself—it doesn’t need to. Hidden beneath Marmelo, this moody little den hums with quiet allure, the kind of place you stumble into and never want to leave. The drinks? Next level. Classics get a sharp, seamless remix, but that clarified green apple margarita? Straight-up magic. Tart, clean, and almost too easy to drink. You swear you’ll head home after one, but the night sways on, the glow deepens, and just like that, you’re staying for another.
Basement/130 Russell Street, Melbourne
Mill Place Merchants
Mill Place Merchants is a speakeasy straight out of a Fitzgerald fever dream, hidden within an 1840s heritage building in Melbourne’s CBD. Behind an unassuming Mill Place entrance, the glow of candlelight flickers off exposed brick and velvet drapes, setting the stage for masterfully stirred classics and inventive house creations. Live jazz hums through the air, the kind that makes you linger over one more nightcap. It’s old-world glamour meets Melbourne cool—a sanctuary for those who know the best nights start with a little mystery and a perfect pour.
Ground Floor/2 Mill Place, Melbourne
Aster
Perched above Tattersalls Lane, Aster is a dreamy hideaway where cocktail craftsmanship shines. Their Japanese Slipper is a masterclass in balance—Midori, Cointreau, and lemon juice blended into a silky, citrus-kissed sip. But it’s their Spicy Coconut Margarita that steals the show, layering tequila’s bite with creamy coconut and a fiery kick. Vinyl spins, the lighting stays low, and every drink feels like a knowing wink from the bartender—because here, the magic is in the details.
Level 1 & 2/31 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne
The Valiant
Hidden above a Queen Street convenience store, with an entrance through a car park, The Valiant drips in Los Angeles-meets-Paris-Hilton-noughties glamour, infused with Jay Gatsby’s roaring opulence. Plush jewel-toned banquettes, sleek marble tables, and moody lighting set the stage for classic cocktails served with showstopping flair. This is where champagne toasts meet whispered secrets, the snack menu delivers (the cheeseburger sausage rolls—mon dieu), and the night stretches long past last call. A little hidden, a lot indulgent—The Valiant is a portal to a more glamorous era, no password required.
Level 1/412 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Bar Ampere
Slip through the shadows of Russell Place and into Bar Ampere, where late nights stretch long and absinthe flows like whispered secrets. A fever dream of industrial futurism and art deco elegance, it hums with the low glow of filament bulbs and the clink of amaro-heavy cocktails. The drinks are daring, the menu runs deep into the night, and the atmosphere is pure underground glamour. Whether you crave a sharp aperitif or a 3 a.m. revelation, Ampere delivers.
16 Russell Place, Melbourne
One or Two
Ever wanted a bar that feels like a knowing nod, a quiet thrill, a secret only the best nights find? One or Two is exactly that. Hidden down Celestial Avenue, this 24-seater hums with low-lit intimacy, slinging precision-crafted cocktails and rare small-batch whiskies with effortless cool. Every sip tells a story, every detail feels intentional—like a moment suspended in time. Settle in, slow down, and let the night shape itself around you.
18 Celestial Avenue, Melbourne
Caretakers Cottage
Hidden behind Wesley Church, Caretaker’s Cottage is a little bar with a big reputation, named Australasia’s best and cracking the world’s top 25. The vibe? A candlelit reverie where classic cocktails get the five-star treatment—no gimmicks, just perfectly balanced drinks poured with quiet confidence. Vinyl spins, whiskey and seasonal cocktail specials flow, and a small but mighty pub-style menu seals the deal. It’s effortlessly cool, deeply considered, and exactly where you want to be when the night calls for something special.
139-141 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Cameo
Take your drinks sky-high in Melbourne’s most chic and intimate cocktail lounge inside the Ritz Carlton. Crowned a finalist in the Best Hotel Awards for 2024, Melbourne meets New York in Cameo‘s sleek space, with dark wood panelling, mirrored walls and soft furnishing throughout, creating a warm, elevated area to unwind in style.
Make your way to level 80 at the Ritz for an evening of world-class spirits, vintage drops, expertly-shaken cocktails and select wines by the glass and soak up the jaw-dropping views of Melbourne sparkling below.
Level 80, The Ritz Carlton, 650 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Apollo Inn
From the wizards behind acclaimed Gimlet comes neighbouring Apollo Inn, an evocative cocktail bar in Melbourne that’s one to add to your must-visit list.
A little backstory: In 1844 one of Melbourne’s first public houses, the Apollo Inn, opened on the corner of Flinders Lane and Russell Street, where Gimlet now sits. Now, today’s ode is to the ageless art of the cocktail, the bar, the bartender and the drinker.
Settle into the intimate, moody, supper club-like space, and sip on one of the best martinis in the city (there are four styles to try). Whether you’re joining for a pre or post-dinner bev drink or the main event, you’re guaranteed a sophisticated night of classic and seasonal cocktails, and a menu of snacks and share plates designed with drinking in mind.
Try: Make like Gwyneth Paltrow with a Gibson martini. Tres chic!
165 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Jayda
Confident, sexy and unique, Jayda seduces passers-by with a cheeky red neon glow. She’s serving on all fronts too – with a strong snack game (it is Shane Delia we’re talking about here) and show-stopping, exclusive cocktails (Strawberry & Cream Negroni, anyone?), as well as beautiful art deco vibes that ooze sophistication. Walk-ins welcome.
19 Bond Street, Melbourne
Pearl Diver Cocktails & Oysters
Oysters and bubbly are a tried and true combination, but what about oysters and cocktails? Pearl Diver is a swanky bar entering the waters with a refreshing concept: a choose-your-own oyster adventure matched with tiki-inspired cocktails and classic drinks remixed with Victorian spirits.
Take your pick of rock and pacific oysters sourced from the Sapphire Coast to Coffin Bay served natural, dressed in crème fraîche and caviar, or grilled Kilpatrick. Expect lots of sours, punches and fruit-forward tipples to match.
Try: The Sea & Shell signature Martini, a not quite dirty martini with flavours of the sea, served with a liquified olive taking the form of an oyster.
56 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Byrdi
Byrdi is a cocktail bar like no other—where innovation meets alchemy in a sleek, minimalist space infused with warmth. Each season brings a new roster of mind-bending drinks, highlighting Victoria’s diverse landscapes in every glass. Sip on a smoky High Country-inspired serve or a coastal-infused concoction bursting with native botanicals. From wattleseed boba to Carolina Reaper heat, every cocktail is a sensory spectacle. Come prepared to have your mind blown—Byrdi is pure liquid artistry.
Corner of La Trobe and Swanston Streets, Melbourne
Nick & Nora’s
The Golden Age aesthetic continues to inspire today’s bars, but few are doing it as well as Nick & Nora’s. They’re full throttle on Gatsby-esque opulence with a glamorous design and theatrical cocktails worthy of celebration.
The extensive cocktail menu is as sophisticated as you’d expect from a Speakeasy venue (Eau de Vie, Mjølner), divided into sours, spritzes, punches, stiff drinks and more. Expect your drinks to be made and presented with dramatic flair (think liquid nitrogen) accompanied by oysters, cheese and charcuterie for nibbling.
80 Collins Street, Melbourne
Bouvardia
One of Melbourne’s more intriguing cocktail bars, Bouvardia serves just 11 cocktails… and you’ll want to try them all. Each has a dedicated page on the menu, showing its flavours, volume, ABV and even acidity, highlighting the bar’s precision.
The bar plays with lacto-fermentation, native ingredients and uncommon ingredients, resulting in fascinating drinks like the Honey, I Burnt the Yoghurt, which incorporates salted honeydew, Packham pear and caramelised yoghurt. The dark, moody space is an exercise in elegant minimalism, accented with pink banquettes and an emerald-green marble bar.
Level 2/169 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Best Cocktail Bars in Melbourne: Inner City
Above Board
A seat at Hayden Lambert’s tiny 16-seat cocktail bar is one of the most coveted in Melbourne. The exclusivity allows his team to give each visitor deeply personalised service, and the resulting experience is reminiscent of what you’d find in the upscale bars of Tokyo or London. Expect a regularly rotating list of cocktails that take inspiration from around the world, alongside classic drinks made to exacting standards.
306 Smith Street, Collingwood
Lola Belle
Lola Belle is a love letter to rum and champagne, wrapped in Fitzroy’s effortless cool. From the team behind Union Electric, this intimate haunt is dripping in old-world charm, serving up meticulously crafted daiquiris that redefine the classic. Think acid-adjusted Hemingway Daiquiris, rare rums with stories to tell, and champagne that flows like conversation at a dimly lit Parisian speakeasy. Settle in for Golden Hour (4pm to 6pm daily), and let the alchemy begin.
233 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Bar Spontana
Bar Spontana is Brunswick’s offbeat beauty—an effortlessly cool cocktail haven where wild-fermented drinks meet flame-licked Thai bites. Dreamed up by bartending maestros Josh Hodges and Caleb Baker, this spot ditches the rulebook for a menu that’s fresh, fiery, and full of surprises. Expect punchy, playful cocktails, a killer wine list, and a dining experience that’s as bold as it is laid-back. No reservations, no pretension—just good drinks, good vibes, and a little bit of magic in every sip.
4 Saxon Street, Brunswick
Antique Bar
Antique Bar in Elsternwick is the kind of place that makes you want to sink into a leather armchair with a perfectly made Old Fashioned and never leave. Dark wood, candlelight, and vintage charm set the scene, but the real magic is behind the bar—think classic cocktails with a clever twist, top-shelf spirits, and a wine list that goes deep. It’s effortlessly cool, completely unpretentious, and exactly where you want to be for a late-night sip that feels like a secret.
218 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick
Eydie’s
Cool but unpretentious, laid-back Eydie’s is a northern suburbs gem, layered with a personalised approach to cocktails and a menu that dances through in-house concoctions to classics with a twist. The welcoming and fun-loving team of bartenders are happy to chat with you through their selection of spirits to create something they think you’ll love.
Try: If you need a quick pick-me-up Espresso Martini or a low-key Negroni night-cap, Eydie’s has got you covered.
86 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
Lay Low
Enter through the hidden door to find Seddon’s favourite minimal waste cocktail bar, a vision of polished concrete and ambient light. The drinks at Lay Low are spirited in more ways than one, always striving for creativity without throwing out the rulebook.
Sip on house cocktails infused with native ingredients like the Umami Mary, a take on the Bloody Mary spiced with Pepperberry. They also do fantastic zero-alcohol cocktails that put the mocktails you know to shame.
93 Buckley Street, Seddon
Bar Conexao
Bar Conexão is the kind of cocktail haven you dream of discovering—unexpected yet effortlessly chic. Hidden away in Eltham, this intimate gem stirs up expertly crafted classics alongside inventive sips, all in a setting that radiates good taste. Think art-adorned walls, velvety lighting, and a playlist that hums just right. A Negroni at golden hour or a late-night espresso martini here isn’t just a drink—it’s an experience worth savouring. The fancy snacks? An added bonus.
4/10-18 Arthur Street, Eltham
Where to next? After settling in at one of the best cocktail bars in Melbourne, it’s time to find a venue to suit any vibe, by checking out our favourite cool pubs and underground hangouts.
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