The Best Rooftop Bars in Melbourne for Year-Round Hangs
With sky-high views and killer cocktails to match, these are the best rooftop bars in Melbourne to check out no matter the city's four seasons in one day ethos.
Despite being well into the cooler months, Melbourne's rooftop bars are still in full swing. Whether it's a fresh, sunny winter day or overcast (or even raining, since many rooftop bars are weatherproof), you can still enjoy a drink with a view. Step outside of the underground bars and emerge into the light.
Fresh air, stunning sights and good vibes are on offer across the city, from lofty hotel bars in the CBD and bright terraces by the beach.
Here are some of the best rooftop bars in Melbourne, perfect for your next outing. Happy sipping!
Fleet Rooftop
Sitting pretty atop level 22 of Flinders Street's Vibe Hotel, Fleet emerges as a beacon of the city's ever-evolving bar scene, with panoramic views of the city skyline that are unrivalled. Plus, it has a retractable roof, so you can enjoy views of the horizon rain, hail or shine.
The ambiance is a blend of sophistication and whimsy, beckoning guests to unwind amidst amber hues and chic retro touches. Fleet boasts an impressive array of over 70 rums, complemented by a curated selection of gins, whiskies, and local craft brews.
Chef Asish Kumar's menu celebrates Victoria's finest producers, offering the perfect accompaniment to an unforgettable drinking experience. We're talking rounds of Cobb Lane sourdough with saffron herb butter, braised pork cheek croquettes with apple relish and parsley mayo, lobster crepes and charcoal mushroom arancini.
1 Queen Street, Melbourne
The Q
Float up to The Q, perched atop The Quincy Hotel, for one of the city's finest happy hours. This relaxed rooftop oasis offers a prime setting for delightful cocktails and Thai bar snacks, with highlights including Pacific oysters with red nahm jim, coriander, and fried shallots, as well as chilli salted school prawns with a red nahm jim dipping sauce. Their G&Ts come highly recommended as well.
Under the golden arches that preside high above Melbourne's bustling streets, The Q exudes an effortless confidence, combining adaptability with approachability. It's a place where you can truly unwind and be yourself.
Happy hour is available from Wednesday to Saturday, 4-6 pm.
Level 28, 509 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Rooftop at QT
Swanky Saturday nights await at Rooftop at QT, a popular hotel rooftop bar in Melbourne that's serving up good times and good tunes.
Expect bold cocktails, a Mediterranean-inspired menu perfect for summer hangouts, and vibrant interiors featuring private booths and a private lounge.
The dress code instructs punters to turn up “sharp”, but in return, you’ll be treated to prime people-watching and one of the tastiest G&Ts in town. If you're visiting in winter, take shelter under their awnings and sip on a bold red wine for a mighty fine time.
QT Melbourne, 11/133 Russell Street, Melbourne
Fable
Drinking cocktails on a rooftop may seem like an exclusively summer activity, but look more closely and you'll find this venue equally alluring in the colder months.
At 14 storeys up Fable is one of Melbourne’s highest rooftop bars, and with a fully retractable awning and heaters, it’s also weatherproof and surprisingly cosy in winter.
13/168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Pinchy's
Step into the vibrant and inviting rooftop bar area of everyone's favourite seafood hotspot, Pinchy's.
Exuding an air of sophistication and relaxation with its stylish contemporary design, cosy seating, divine dishes de la mer and refreshing cocktails, this is one of the best rooftop bars in Melbourne.
A seaside oasis in the heart of Melbourne, start with a lobster roll and a glass of champagne, and toast to good times with friends.
Level 1/200 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Dom’s Social Club
With three storeys of delicious wood-fired pizza, pool room fun and rooftop relaxation, Dom's is the place to be.
Start on the ground floor with a delicious dinner of wood-fired pizza and charcuterie, then move to the pool room for some fun and games, before retiring to the rooftop bar to take in the city skyline views.
Unit 1/301 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Goldilocks
Spot the sign above a nondescript entry on Swanston Street, enter the elevator and head to the top floor to discover one of the best rooftop bars in Melbourne.
Hanging festoon lights and a semi-covered space make it an oasis that feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle outside.
It may be hard to find but it’ll be even harder to leave, with well-made classic cocktails and moreish bar snacks sustaining you ‘til late.
5/264 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Farmer's Daughters
An embassy for Gippsland in the heart of the CBD, Farmer's Daughters is perched high on the third floor, with a rooftop designed to bring a little piece of regional Victoria to the city.
One of the most chic and best rooftop bars in Melbourne, offering house-made cocktails, curated beers and select wines by the glass.
6/80 Collins Street, Melbourne
Sojourn
Sitting pretty on New Chancery Lane, Sojourn is one of the CBD's hottest summer spots and best rooftop bars in Melbourne.
With both a restaurant and rooftop bar on premise, you can easily spend the afternoon wining and dining.
Pair delicious eats and refreshing drinks with the venue's cool style, and you're onto a long lunch winner.
501 Bourke Street, New Chancery Lane, Melbourne
HER Melbourne
Dining, immersive art and music collide at Her Melbourne, housed within a heritage building in the CBD that's now four glamorous and unique new venues.
Head upstairs to HER Rooftop – a design-lover's dream with an enviable view of Melbourne city.
The stylish space transports drinkers to Europe, with its gorgeous Italian marble floor, French mid-century chairs, and inviting olive, mustard and navy palette.
Rooftop, HER, 270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Siglo
A true everyone's club steeped in old-world charm, Siglo’s table-clothed rooftop terrace is without a doubt a city icon.
Perched above the Princess Theatre at the cocktail-loving ‘Paris end’, a sense of European style and elegance permeates as patrons savour fine wines whilst overlooking the glittering streetscape below.
For the cigar-loving folk have your lighters at the ready because Cohiba Siglo's are the venue's signature.
Level 2, 161 Spring Street, Melbourne
The Stolen Gem
The Stolen Gem is one of Melbourne's best inner-city rooftop bars, with 260-degree views of the city, a playful cocktail menu and modern sharing plates.
The New York-style bar is a surefire hit for post-work sips, and this is certainly a view worth dressing up for!
Level 8, 388 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Rooftop Bar
Whether you decide to wait (and wait) for the sluggish elevator or go with the marathon sprint up the stairs, the reward atop Curtin House is well worth your trouble.
Aperol Spritzes, astroturf, and kimchi burgers create high holiday vibes in the middle of the CBD, making it one of the best rooftop bars in Melbourne and a perennial post-work favourite.
Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Loop Roof
Ample greenery in the form of hanging vines and exotic cacti gives Loop, one of Melbourne's best rooftop bars, an exotic feel despite being square in the concrete jungle.
Tiki-tinged cocktails make for transportative drinking before views of the towering buildings over your shoulder remind you of your bearings.
23 Meyers Place, Melbourne
Bomba
Perched over Lonsdale Street is an attractive rooftop tapas bar that’s a winner for post-work tipples, pre-dinner cocktails and watching the sunset over the city treetops.
Spanish favourites make for easy sharing over glasses of fizzy cava. Cheers!
103 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Best Rooftop Bars in Melbourne: Inner Suburbs
Mirror Mirror Rooftop Lounge
Mirror Mirror Rooftop Lounge has cast an enchanting spell over South Melbourne with its Snow White-inspired theme and stunning city views. Located above The Clarendon Hotel, this rooftop gem offers fairy-tale-inspired cocktails like the Poison Apple and Queen of Witches, while a seasonal snack menu by Michelin-starred chef Ryan Spurrell elevates the experience.
With its lush greenery, sun-soaked rooftop, and cosy indoor lounge, it's the perfect spot for an afternoon escape or evening out. Enjoy Happy Hour, "Margs on Margs" Wednesdays, or their bottomless brunch, all set to the backdrop of a live DJ on weekends. A magical hideaway in Melbourne's skyline.
Level 3/209 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne
Beverly Rooftop
Beverly Rooftop is a luxurious foodie escape bringing the glamour of Beverly Hills to Melbourne, dishing up a previously untouched 270-degree view of the city. Plus, it's completely enclosed - so you're guaranteed a good time, no matter the weather. No unpleasant winds or cold shivers here, just pretty views and good vibes!
Don't let that hunger go unnoticed - the food and drinks are just as striking as the scenery, with a Southern Californian-influenced menu given a modern Australian approach.
Goldfields House, Level 24, 627 Chapel Street, South Yarra
Johnny’s Green Room
Sitting atop the King and Godfree complex, Johnny’s Green Room offers 360 degree vistas extending to the city and beyond.
Tap into a little slice of Italy with imported beers, wine and Aperol spritzes on tap, plus snacks including salumi, arancini and even choc tops from Pidapipo right next door.
It’s one of Melbourne's best rooftop bars and our favourite spot for Sunday sessions and after-work drinks. Plus, they're fully prepared for the winter months, with heater galore around the rooftop and blankets at the ready in case you get cold. It doesn't get much cosier than that!
Level 2/293-297 Lygon Street, Carlton
Bells Hotel
This low-key South Melbourne stalwart is a surprising location for one of the best rooftop bars in Melbourne. Enjoy delicious pub grub in the sprawling Bells Hotel, replete with a rooftop terrace, a beer garden, and a lively sports bar.
This easy-breezy spot is guaranteed to hit the spot, where you can enjoy a post-work sundowner with colleagues or toast celebratory Prosecco towards the views of the city.
157 Moray Street, South Melbourne
Tetto Di Carolina
A rooftop bar exuding Italian charm and the well-heeled Melbourne style of Toorak Road, Tetto di Carolina is a hidden South Yarra gem, set above sister restaurant Bar Carolina.
With a strong focus on cocktails and European sensibility, Tetto was designed to evoke the good life and is the perfect spot for soulful afternoons in the sun.
The atmosphere is effortlessly sophisticated, yet friendly and for the people.
48 Toorak Road, South Yarra
Rufio
Say hello to Rufio, a brand-new Latin fusion and 100% gluten-free restaurant, bar and rooftop that’s opened in St Kilda.
Visit the beautiful dining space and outdoor jungle for one of their fantastic signature cocktails and a specially crafted menu of delicious food boasting Latin-American flair with European influences.
188 Carlisle Street, St Kilda
Runner Up
Few rooftops are as fun right now as Runner Up in Collingwood. Located in the Collingwood Yards precinct, the space is made up of a cosy brick bar and an open-air courtyard that shines come golden hour.
There’s a gentle Mediterranean feel about the place, with Italian and Australian wines pouring, cumquat and fig trees blooming and a stay-all-day vibe.
Come for a limoncello spritz and stay for DJs on the weekend.
Level 2/35 Johnston Street, Collingwood
The Emerson Rooftop Bar
A venue perfect for many occasions, The Emerson is a bar, eatery and nightclub notorious for its vibrant dance floor.
If it’s casual vibes you’re after, the Emerson Rooftop boasts picturesque views, with a generous drinks menu and their Japanese-inspired kitchen serving up hearty mains and tasty plates to share.
141-145 Commercial Road, South Yarra
Golden Fleece Hotel
Having undergone a significant refresh, Golden Fleece Hotel is brimming with Mediterranean vibes for days.
The space is a Greek Islands-inspired paradise, where white stone walls, tables and booths, cacti, alcoves filled with ornate ceramics and a marvellously sunny rooftop transport you far away from Melbourne.
Sips in the sunshine have never looked so good.
120 Montague Street, South Melbourne
The Provincial
The Provincial’s rooftop bar has only been open for a year, but already it’s become a favourite for lazy Sunday sessions.
Bar snacks bounce between the familiar and the fun, while classic cocktails get the remix treatment.
It’s even a go during winter months, with plenty of heaters and mulled wine to keep you toasty at one of the best rooftop bars in Melbourne.
299 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
The Corner Hotel
Richmond’s favourite spot for live gigs and post-footy drinks also boasts a fabulous rooftop, where there’s an outdoor barbecue firing away and DJs soundtracks that scream summer.
With the sun setting, taps flowing, and live music setting the tone, this is a rooftop that’s hard to beat.
57 Swan Street, Richmond
Naked For Satan
After filling up on pintxos at Naked for Satan take the rickety lift up to their open-air terrace, where 360° views of Melbourne and an always buzzy crowd await.
Drifting above Fitzroy means you get to enjoy a full vista of the glittering city skyline from a distance, all while sipping Spanish wines and house-made infused vodkas under colourful fairy globes.
285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Captain Baxter
If you like your margaritas backdropped by the ocean blue, Captain Baxter calls your name.
This beachside hangout boasts one of Melbourne's best rooftop bars with a sweeping view of Port Phillip Bay, making it an extra hot spot during the warmer months.
Fruity cocktails are paired with equally refreshing, fusion-leaning snacks like zesty coconut kingfish ceviche.
10/18 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Loving our list of the best rooftop bars in Melbourne and looking to continue the fun? Be sure to check out our edits of the best new restaurants around the city. We've also rounded up the best boozy brunches that are guaranteed to bring you back to life the morning after.
