The Best New Bars in Melbourne in 2025

Uncovering Melbourne’s vibrant bar scene is an adventure, with each neighbourhood boasting an array of hidden gems and beloved favourites.

From iconic rooftops perfect for summer evenings to cosy pubs and intimate wine and cocktail bars offering a warm refuge in winter, Melbourne’s bar landscape is as diverse as it is dynamic.

Whether you crave inventive cocktails, hard-to-find wines, or a glamorous ambience for a special occasion, join us as we explore the best new bars in Melbourne, where every drink tells a story, and every visit is an experience to remember. Cheers!

LKF Bar

Newly refurbished, LKF Bar is an enticing spot sitting pretty above Yum Sing House. Let your hair down and get ready to sing your heart out in style as you ascend the stairs to the bar and enter the private karaoke rooms, each named after a neighbourhood in Hong Kong. Plus, with private dining in each room available, you can indulge in delicious bites as you sing your heart out. Opt for the curated set menu or go a la carte with fresh crab, caviar and lobster and Cantonese-inspired dishes. Our personal favourite has to be the crumbed pork bao or crispy chicken bites. Paired with impressive cocktails and (hopefully) great singing, LKF Bar is set to host a night you’ll love sharing with your friends.

22 Sutherland Street, Melbourne

Nixie Nox

Tucked into a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot on Swan Street, Nixie Nox is Richmond’s smallest pub—and one of Melbourne’s most enchanting. Step inside and you’re met with low lighting, velvet booths, and a kind of vintage opulence that feels both effortless and intentional. The drinks list is tight but thoughtful, with a rotating selection of natural wines, classic cocktails, and craft brews. It’s the perfect pre-dinner hideaway or a late-night spot to lose track of time.

141 Swan Street, Richmond

Sweet Nectar Inn

Sweet Nectar Inn is the kind of place that feels like it’s always been there—a milk bar turned bar bar, where cold tins, natural wines, and good chat flow as easily as the locals strolling in. Owners Devon Hunter and Sam O’Farrell have stitched together nostalgia and community, right down to a bar top tiled with their own stories. It’s part bottleshop, part pub, all heart—perfect for a cheeky pint or a takeaway six-pack.

140 Nicholson Street, Coburg

Mr Mills

Mr Mills is Melbourne’s late-night supper club you didn’t know you needed. Hidden beneath Marmelo on Russell Street, it’s all moody lighting, plush booths, and a bar stacked with character. The drinks? Impeccable. Their green apple clarified margarita is an essential Melbourne sip—sharp, clean, and dangerously drinkable. Pair it with late-night bites in an intimate, art-filled space that nods to Portuguese charm. Enter through the laneway, descend the chartreuse staircase, and let the night unfold.

Basement/130 Russell Street, Melbourne

Le Splendide

Le Splendide is the moody, impossibly chic little sister to Melbourne institution France-Soir. Hidden behind burgundy drapes, it’s all red carpets, buttery lighting, and a slick zinc bar where sharp-dressed staff pour Kronenbourg and mix faultless cocktails. The wine list leans French and fabulous—Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, Burgundian chardonnay, Châteauneuf-du-Pape. There’s no kitchen, just impeccably curated grignotages: foie gras, salmon gravlax, Marcel Petite comté. Phones? Stickered shut. Here, presence is the price of entry.

9 Toorak Road, South Yarra

Slowpoke

Slowpoke Lounge & Lookout in Collingwood is the rooftop bar you didn’t know you needed. With panoramic views, a nostalgic yet modern vibe, and a menu full of playful, elevated cocktails, it’s where childhood whimsy meets grown-up sophistication. Open since March 1st, Slowpoke is all about freedom—whether you’re unwinding after work or partying till late. Behind the bar, Harry Costello stirs up quirky concoctions like the Hazelnut Espresso Martini and the signature Picante. It’s a playground for the senses, a place to be yourself, drink a little differently, and enjoy the city from a whole new angle. Cool, creative, and unapologetically fun.

Open Thursdays through Sundays

Level 4/50 Gipps Street, Collingwood

Brick Lane Brewing Co.

Brick Lane Brewing might not be the new kid on the block, but with its Queen Vic Market expansion, it’s pouring itself a fresh moment in the sun. Between the lively Brick Lane Market—a two-storey beer-and-bites haven—and the Dandy Taphouse, out in Dandenong, this brewery proves it’s got more hops than the rest. Think small-batch brews straight from their pilot system, sashimi with your lager, and pork belly bathed in chilli caramel. Whether you’re chasing a crisp pint or just a damn good feed, Brick Lane is proof that great beer only gets better with time.

466 Queen Street, Melbourne

41 Imagine Way, Dandenong South

Gracie’s Wine Room

Gracie’s Wine Room went viral on social media before the South Yarra wine bar had even opened…or been built. Founder Kelsey Gaffey documented the journey of building her dream wine bar on her TikTok, which gained traction as the building and renovations took place It’s certainly opened with aplomb, with lines out the door full of eager supporters wanting to experience the new stylish hotspot.

The interior is cosy, cute, and feels like a slice out of a trendy inner-suburban home. Shelves containing records line one wall, sitting neatly above a DJ booth. Step outside and you’ll find a sun-dappled courtyard lined with tables and full of chatter as people sip on Australian varieties of wine, indulge in spritzes and slurp fresh oysters. There’s a small selection of nibbles on the menu, one of them being focaccia with salami, honey and stracciatella—a must!

27 Toorak Road, South Yarra

Bar Nearby

This neighbourhood gem is truly a win for the locals. Bar Nearby is a BYO food cocktail bar, meaning you can pick up any cuisine you fancy, Uber Eats, or pack a charcuterie board of things in your pantry and bring it along to enjoy alongside a cocktail or wine! While there are simple bar snacks, the team wants to highlight and support other local businesses dishing out some delicious eats, and will even recommend you drinks to go along with your meal of choice. It’s the perfect spot for a casual post-work-from-home or weekend tipple!

1115 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill 

Malin Wine Bar

Malin Wine Bar is an intimate new wine bar in Carlton serving ultimate Mediterranean vibes. With a carefully curated selection of minimal-intervention wines and a menu of refined small plates, it’s the kind of place that feels effortlessly chic yet welcoming. Whether you’re settling in for a casual drink or a leisurely evening with friends, the warm ambiance, knowledgeable staff, and beautifully crafted wine list make it a must-visit for wine lovers.

687 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North

Sistine on Chapel

Sistine on Chapel is the seductive new cocktail bar and speakeasy causing a stir on Chapel Street. One of the newest editions to Melbourne’s bar scene, Sistine is from VALARC Group (Tartine Bistro, The Meatball & Winebar, Ines Wine Bar and Ned’s Bake & Bistro) and gives a cheeky nod to its namesake through playful charm from the renaissance period, rooms inspired by the Vatican and thoughtful design. 

There’s a vending machine called The Immaculate Conception, an innovative snack experience, featuring a range of snacks to munch on while you sip. There’s also a rotating selection of curated bites from the Ines Wine Bar Kitchen. Expect caviar, salumi plates, and even recovery kits to ease the Sunday hangxiety. Come on up after you’ve enjoyed a couple of wines at Ines, or have a sneaky rendezvous in this exclusive spot.

Sitchu Tip: You must try the spicy margarita. With a refreshing hint of mint, it’s the ultimate hot-cold experience, and perfect to ease anyone into the cocktail, especially if you’re not tequila’s biggest fan.

150A Chapel Street, Windsor

Espy Sunroom

The iconic Hotel Esplanade, St Kilda’s beloved Espy, has unveiled its dazzling new Espy Sunroom—just in time for summer revelry. This luminous bayside haven beckons with sweeping views, sultry vibes, and a menu brimming with indulgence.

Picture a golden afternoon spent sipping Guava Palomas or Japanese Slippers on an open-air deck, where the retractable roof invites the sun to linger. Share a sumptuous seafood platter or a coal-grilled barramundi while soaking up live sax on Saturdays or soulful Sunday DJ sets. With secluded nooks and an electric atmosphere, the Espy Sunroom is Melbourne’s ultimate summer escape.

11 The Esplanade, St Kilda 

Moon Dog Beach Club

Moon Dog Beach Club in Frankston brings a tropical beachside escape right to Port Phillip Bay. This sprawling 2,000m² venue is all about vacay vibes, with lush foliage, cabana huts, and a huge beer garden. Sip on Moon Dog beers, cocktails with tiny umbrellas, or boozy slushies as you lounge under palm trees or soak up the sun. Feast on gastro-pub classics, seafood towers, and delicious burgers.

When the sun sets, the festoon lights flicker, and the DJ hits the stage, making for a perfect night of dancing and fun with friends. A must-visit for summer vibes!

490 Nepean Highway, Frankston 

Bar Conexão

Elevating Eltham’s leafy charm, Bar Conexão brings boutique wines, classic cocktails, and snackable bites to this suburban pocket. A sibling to the much-loved Little Drop of Poison, this moody, art-filled hideaway doubles as a gallery and serves up a dreamy lineup: tiny, briny martinis, prawn cocktails with mama salsa, and decadent kimchi tuna tartare. Sip on drinks like the Green Apple Sour or the Spiced Negroni, and explore a sommelier-curated wine list that champions small-scale producers. This dreamy new bar in Melbourne is perfect for casual elegance or a date night with an edge, proving you don’t need to trek to the CBD for a polished night out.

4/10-18 Arthur Street, Eltham 

Whether you’ve discovered a new favourite haunt or added a few more destinations to your must-visit list, we hope this guide to the best new bars in Melbourne has inspired you to continue exploring our city’s dynamic drinks scene. And, until next time, may your nights be filled with romantic date spots and cinematic adventures.