Best Happy Hours in Melbourne: After Work Drinks Sorted

Whether you’re chasing cheap TGIF thrills or a celebratory round, this list of the best happy hours in Melbourne is bound to have something for you.

From rooftop bars to cosy courtyards or friendly pubs, you’ll find some of the city’s most generous food and drink specials all week long. We’ll drink to that!

Sushi Baby

This new sushi spot and pastel-coloured dreamland makes one seriously delicious inside out salmon aburi roll...but did you know that will you're feasting on fresh finesse you could also be indulging in one of the best happy hours in Melbourne? 

Tuesday through Sunday from 5.00pm to 6.00pm, Sushi Baby offer their delicious cocktails for next to nothing - $10 a pop! The best part? They're magically delicious!

414 New Street, Brighton

Odd Culture Fitzroy 

An exploration of fermentation on Melbourne's Brunswick Street - Odd Culture is a wine bar and bottle shop in one, serving up some of the best snacks and tipples for you and your friends to enjoy.

This local watering hole for the weird and wonderful is a fantastic spot for happy hour in Melbourne, where you can enjoy schooners for the price of pots, $12 sour Negronis, and $8 glasses of orange wine and pet nat, every day of the week!

Happy hour: Daily, 3pm to 6pm

296 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Post Office Club Hotel 

A St Kilda bistro-pub plus a modern convenience store, the Post Office Club Hotel has been trading since 1871.

Beautifully restored, the team are here to bring you the best dishes from Europe and across the Mediterranean, and it's also a cracking spot for your next happy hour in Melbourne.

Think a cocktail of the week for $15, plus selected tap beers and wines for $8. We recommend a few freshly shucked oysters for $3.50 each and going on a Wednesday so you can time it alongside their $25 steak and frites special. 

Happy hour: Daily, 4pm-6pm

306 St Kilda Road, St Kilda 

Happy Hour with The Lucas Group

Cocktail hour has arrived at Lucas Restaurants, with $9.50 cocktails and other exclusive specials to enjoy every Thursday from 4.00pm to 6.00pm.

Each venue's (that's Chin Chin, Society, Grill Americano, Kisume, Yakimono, Hawker Hall and Baby Pizza, for reference) bar area serves signature cocktail hour offerings.

Nab a spot downstairs at Chin Chin Melbourne's GoGo bar and kick back with a cocktail, or, over at Yakimono, this fantastic cocktail hour activation will see you devouring specials like $9.50 Harajuku cocktails.

Happy Hour: Thursday, 4pm to 6pm

Multiple locations across the city

Prince Alfred Hotel 

Richmond's best beer garden and pub, the Prince Alfred Hotel is a favourite among locals, with weekly pub specials that include some of the best happy hour deals in Melbourne.

From 4pm to 6pm on weekdays you can choose from $10 pints, $8 house wines and $8 basic spirits; it would be rude not to!

Happy Hour: Monday - Friday, 4pm to 6pm

619 Church Street, Richmond

Dolly 

If you haven't been to Dolly yet, this is your sign to do it! Located within the chic Le Méridien Melbourne, Dolly has become a must-visit fine-dining venue and cocktail bar in the CBD, and now with a decadent weekday happy hour.

From 5-7pm each weekday, this is the perfect spot if you're looking for a glamorous after-work or pre-theatre drink.

Descend the Art Deco staircase and nestle into the 1930’s-inspired décor to enjoy $15 specials on some of Dolly’s most cinematic cocktails, as well as premium wines by the glass for just $10.

Happy Hour: Monday - Friday, 5pm to 7pm

20 Bourke Street, Melbourne 

Chancery Lane

This is happy hour in Melbourne, elevated.

Every Wednesday to Friday, Chancery Lane is serving up happy hour in Le Jardin, with glasses of $15 champagne or $6 Moon Dog lager paired with a selection of delicious treats like $3 Southern Rock oysters.

Name a more perfect way to kick start your evening, or debrief over a long week in the office. Walk ins only. 

Happy Hour: Wednesday – Friday , 5pm - 7pm

430 Little Collins Street

The Village Belle Hotel

Kick back with a cold one at the historic Village Belle Hotel, beautifully renovated and bursting with good vibes and an even better happy hour in Melbourne.

We're talking $6 selected tap beers and $7 house wine, sparkling and basic spirits, $10 spritzes and $12 espresso martinis and select cocktails.

All you have to do is round up your best crew and choose which area of the multi-level venue you'd like to relax in, favourite drop in hand.

Happy Hour: All day Monday, Tuesday-Friday, 3pm-7pm

202 Barkly Street, St Kilda 

Le Bon Ton

New Orleans-inspired Le Bon Ton is an adored Melbourne institution known for late-night boozing.

You may not have known, but they also serve up daily happy hour specials along with a side of their good old Southern-style hospitality – the perfect remedy for a day in the office.

Dive into $12 Hurricane cocktails (a classic New Orleans tipple), $6 house wines and $9 pints of selected beer to drown your midweek blues.  

Happy Hour: Daily, 4pm–6pm

51 Gipps Street, Collingwood

Copycat 

Elsternwick's Copycat raises the happy hour bar by offering $15 cocktails, 30% off all wine, $10 pints and small plates and $6 pots every afternoon from Tuesdays to Sundays.

Order a classic or pick from a long list of inventive signature cocktails, and if you’re looking to spice things up, try the ‘Copycat Margarita’ made with house-infused jalapeño tequila, ginger, lime, passionfruit and agave. Fancy!

Happy hour: Tuesday–Thursday, 5pm–6pm, Friday-Sunday, 4pm - 6pm

9B Gordon Street, Elsternwick

Baby Pizza - Seasonal Aperitivo Sessions

Baby Pizza is bringing ‘la dolce vita’ to Richmond with their seasonal aperitivo held every day of the week.

Serving up your faves with $9.50 cocktails (hello, Lemon Sgroppino) and Aperol spritzes, $6.50 Bird in Hand rosé and $6.50 Peroni Red, it’s no wonder Baby is a forever favourite.

Happy Hour: Daily, 4pm to 6pm

631–633 Church Street, Richmond

Newmarket Hotel

Round up your mates and head down to this St Kilda gem for pub classics and happy hour Melbourne sips in the (dog-friendly) beer garden at Newmarket Hotel.

During the week you can get $8 pints, house wines and basic spirits or grab a cocktail for just $15. No need to wait for the weekend to have a little fun. Consider booking to secure your spot.

Happy Hour: Tuesay–Friday, 4pm–7pm

34 Inkerman Street, St Kilda 

Good Heavens 

Get out of your office and into good spirits at Good Heavens: a retro rooftop bar in the heart of the CBD.

Happy hour is delivering the goods with $8 wine, bubbles and pints of beer or cider on weekdays. If you happen to stop in Sunday, you'll be delighted by the $10 Spritz specials. Walk-ins welcome.

Happy Hour: Monday–Friday, 3pm–6pm

2/79 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Evies

It’s happy hour every day of the week at Evies, Fitzroy’s colourful disco diner inspired by New York City in the 80s.

Wind down with $6 wine, bubbles, beer, cider and seltzers – or get revved up for the night with $10 espresso martinis. While you’re there, grab some diner-style comfort food with vegan options available for almost everything on the menu. 

Happy Hour: Daily, 4pm–7pm

230/232 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

The Moat 

Escape the city rush at The Moat: an iconic hideaway and intimate haven in the city’s literary hub. 

Book-lined walls and dark wood furnishings set the scene for stirring conversation over a gin martini, making The Moat a perfect spot for after-work catch ups.

Happy hour specials should keep the discussions flowing with $12 cocktails, wine from $8 and beer from $7.

Happy Hour: Tuesday–Saturday, 4pm–6pm

176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Hardimans Hotel 

Built in the 1870s, historic Hardimans is one of Melbourne’s most iconic venues and, like any good pub, they’re serving up some sweet happy hour specials.

Kick back with deals on beer, wine and spirits from Monday to Friday while enjoying the welcoming atmosphere of a local hotspot.

Keep an eye on Hardimans socials to see when you can catch some live comedy too. 

The Happiest Hours: Monday–Friday, 4pm–7pm

521 Macaulay Road, Kensington

Temperance Hotel

Temperance, your local South Yarra pub, is less neighbourhood boozer and more effortlessly chic drinking establishment with a lively atmosphere and swanky Southside vibes.

Chill out after work with happy hour specials like $9 select pints, wines and spirits and $12 Spritzes. They have some awesome food specials too, like $25 steaks on Monday and Wednesday that are sure to put a smile on your dial.

Happy Hour: Monday–Friday, 4pm–6pm

426 Chapel Street, South Yarra

Prahran Hotel 

This historic Melbourne pub is now a modern watering hole, updated with a sleek industrial interior and a contemporary food and drink offering.

Knock off and head to the Prahran Hotel for one of the best happy hour's in Melbourne with $4 pots, $6 house wines, $8 pints and $10 Aperol Spritz.

Did we mention the Aperol's are $10 all day, every day?   

Happy Hour: Tuesday –Friday, 4pm–6pm

82 High Street, Windsor 

Republica 

There’s nothing like a beachfront bev to wind down after work. Settle in at Republica, a relaxed St Kilda bar and restaurant with a courtyard that’s sought-after real estate on sunny days.

Republica’s got happy hour sorted with $12 Aperol Spritzes and $15 espresso martinis – perfect prep for beach volleyball on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6pm. 

Happy hour: Monday–Friday, 4pm–6pm

10–18 Jacka Blvd, St Kilda

Made your way through the best happy hours in Melbourne? Continue your exploration of the city's vibrant nightlife with our roundups of the coolest pubs and underground bars in town.