The Best Suburban Melbourne Rooftop Bars

While many Melburnians regularly make the commute into the CBD for their nine-to-fives, we know there is a sizeable handful of us who are continuing to work from home or their offices in the ‘burbs. And just because you don’t mingle with the corporate world in the city doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a well-earned knock-off drink in the sunshine and/or rain, right?

From unexpected escapes above shopping centres to unassuming pubs with a top-floor oases, here are the best rooftop bars in Melbourne’s outer suburbs for you to uncover and unwind in. 

On Top: Fitzroy’s Coolest Rooftop Just Went Public at The StandardX

You heard it here first — On Top at The StandardX is finally opening to everyone. Once reserved for hotel guests, Fitzroy’s most design-forward rooftop is stepping into the spotlight just in time for summer. Picture this: a Hecker Guthrie fit-out of warm tones and mid-century ease, cocktails like the Cloud Cover (Aperol, apricot brandy, ginger, lemon), and a vending machine serving pre-batched drinks because, of course, it does.

There’s prawn rolls, wagyu sliders, and DJs spinning sets that move from Brooklyn rooftops to Lagos sunsets. With skyline views, a retractable roof and just the right dose of sass — On Top is officially the place to be seen this summer.

62 Rose Street, Fitzroy

Slowpoke Lounge & Lookout

High above Collingwood, Slowpoke Lounge & Lookout feels like a northside fever dream brought to life, a rooftop reverie if you will, a disco-soaked daydream. From the crew behind Daybreak Festival, it channels retro Italian glamour and brutalist edge into a lounge that’s all plush booths, terrazzo tables and sun-spilt corners. Harry Costello’s cocktails are playful yet polished: a hazelnut espresso martini, a coconut margarita, a yerba maté spritz, and the signature Picante, laced with chilli, coriander, and honey. Add 360-degree views, nostalgia-inducing cheeseburgers, DJ-spun nights and a come-as-you-are spirit, and you’ve got Melbourne’s freshest rooftop playground.

Level 4/50 Gipps Street, Collingwood

Uday Restaurant & Rooftop Bar

Spotswood just got its moment in the sun — literally. Sitting pretty atop Odette House, Uday is the west’s newest rooftop bar and restaurant bringing Thai-inspired flair and skyline views to the suburbs. Downstairs, the menu leans modern and bold; upstairs, cocktails meet golden hour in all the right ways. Order the Massaman beef-cheek pie, grab a spicy margarita, and take in the glow of the Westgate. It’s relaxed but refined, stylish without trying — a new spot that’ll make you want to stick around all night.

43 McLister Street, Spotswood

Gardiner Hotel

The Gardiner Hotel is Malvern’s answer to the rooftop renaissance. A century-old bank turned social playground, it’s where history meets happy hour. Up top, the terrace glows golden against the leafy skyline, cocktails in hand and conversation easy. Inside, it’s all polished brass, marble and the perfect buzz of good taste without the pretence. The menu is generous and modern: stracciatella with green tomatoes, crisp croquettes, smoked beetroot tartare — food that asks for another round. Smart and oh-so-stylish, The Gardiner is suburban sophistication redefined.

84 Glenferrie Road, Malvern

Gigi Rooftop Bar

High above High Street, Gigi Rooftop feels like a secret whispered between friends — a pocket of golden light and good taste tucked over Umberto Espresso Bar. It’s intimate, a little nostalgic, and effortlessly chic, with cocktails that flirt between fun and refined, from Italo Disco spritzes and smoky pineapple punch. The snacks are pure joy: fried ’nduja soldiers, ricotta-stuffed zucchini flowers, sardine skewers kissed by the grill. Arrive before sunset, stay long after — Gigi isn’t loud, but it knows how to leave an impression.

Level 2/917 High Street, Thornbury 

Cornish Arms Hotel

At the Cornish Arms Hotel, the vibes are high and the menu’s plant-powered. This Brunswick icon has mastered the art of easygoing afternoons — beachy umbrellas, good tunes, and cold drinks flowing as the sun dips over Sydney Road. It’s one of Melbourne’s most inclusive rooftops, where vegans and carnivores unite over loaded fries, stacked burgers, and crisp wines. The all-vegan menu is a knockout, but there’s something for everyone here — even your steak-loving mate.

163A Sydney Road, Brunswick

Olympia

Perched above Oakleigh, Olympia feels like summer on a Greek island — if that Greek Island was set atop a carpark — all whitewashed charm, golden light, and good company. The rooftop bar exudes Mediterranean ease, serving generous share plates of cured meats, dolmades and focaccia alongside seasonal cocktails and crisp wines. With panoramic views and serious Instagram appeal, Olympia brings a touch of the Aegean to the suburbs, proving that you don’t need a boarding pass to feel worlds away.

19 Portman Street, Oakleigh

Rombe

Rombe has fast become the eastern suburbs’ daytime darling — a rooftop café where brunch goes luxe and the sunlight hits just right. Floating above Burwood Brickworks, it’s all leafy surrounds, local produce and effortlessly stylish plates — from salmon pastrami with soft egg to ricotta hotcakes worth the hype. The vibe is relaxed yet refined, with golden hour drinks, good tunes and Dandenong Ranges views to match. Come for the coffee, stay for the calm — Rombe is rooftop perfection, daylight edition.

T38-39/70 Middleborough Road, Burwood East

Amatrice

Hello, sky-high Italian star! Perched above Cubitt Place, Amatrice Rooftop brings a slice of la dolce vita to Cremorne. With panoramic views stretching from the city skyline to the Dandenongs, it’s part trattoria, part dream date spot. Roman-style pastas twirl beside crisp cocktails as the retractable roof opens to catch the sunset — all golden light, laughter and just the right amount of glamour. The vibe? Effortlessly elegant but a whole lot of fun. Cacio e pepe and Negronis at dusk, anyone?

Level 10/16 Stephenson Street, Cremorne 

Johnny’s Green Room

Fresh from a stylish revamp, Johnny’s Green Room is a glorious slice of Italian rooftop cool set high above Lygon Street. Designed by Dion Hall with warm terracotta tones and timber accents, it’s where golden hour melts into midnight effortlessly. Karen Martini’s menu pairs perfectly with Matt Bax’s cocktails — think spritzes, pizzas, salumi and Pidapipo soft-serve to finish. With a retractable roof, skyline views and live DJ sets curated by Hope St Radio, Johnny’s is pure Melbourne magic, season after season.

Level 2/293-297 Lygon Street, Carlton

Lulu Bar

Lulu Bar has quietly cemented itself as go-to suburban Melbourne rooftop for golden hours done right. Sitting pretty behind The Preston Hotel, this Euro-leaning hideaway nails the balance between casual and chic — spritzes and slushie cocktails flowing, share plates landing just when you need them. When the sun’s out, grab a spot under the sky; when it’s not, slide inside to the warm, velvet-lined lounge.

With skyline glimpses, easy energy, and a playlist that never misses, this rooftop bar is where Preston plays it cool.

635 High Street, Preston

The Skinny Dog Hotel

Once Kew’s best-kept secret, The Skinny Dog Hotel has fully come into its own — thanks to a rooftop that brings Palm Springs cool to Melbourne’s inner east. Upstairs, it’s all sun, style and a touch of bougie charm, with pastel tones, open-air lounges and 44 beers on tap. Order a round of fresh oysters or a Negroni sour and let the afternoon roll. Big enough for a crowd yet relaxed enough for a lazy session, The Skinny Dog’s rooftop is easy, breezy perfection… no RSVP required.

155 High Street, Kew

Suburban Dining & Rooftop

High above Eastland Town Square, Suburban Rooftop is where Ringwood locals come to play. Spread across three levels — restaurant, public bar, and courtyard — the climb ends in a leafy rooftop garden built for long lunches and golden-hour catch-ups. One of the few sky-high beer gardens east of the city, it’s all about easy bites, good tunes, and glasses that never stay empty for long. Come summer weekends, bottomless brunch takes over, spritzes sparkle, and suddenly you’re very okay with staying put till sunset.

Eastland Shopping Centre, Shop R10/171-173 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood

Harvie

Some rooftops are loud; Harvie just lets its charm do the talking. Sat above Wattletree Road, this sleek Armadale rooftop bar delivers skyline views with a side of sophistication. Sip a Sunny Arvo Spritz or a glass of something natural while sharing lobster rolls and jamón croquettes under the fading light. The vibe? Effortlessly refined. With its spiral staircase, velvet booths, and sunset glow, Harvie isn’t chasing the scene — it is the scene. Rooftop elegance, Armadale style.

109 Wattletree Road, Armadale

Hobsons Bay Hotel

It’s been around for 100 years, and hopefully, it will be around 100 more. The Hobsons Bay Hotel has undergone a delicious refurb thanks to Rustica founder, Brenton Lang, and his partners, Drew Gibbs & Matt Cook. Spread over three levels, the neighbourhood pub in Williamstown comes complete with a cosy rooftop deck and views of the Melbourne skyline across the water. It’s a magical spot for sundowner spritzes with friends.

28 Ferguson Street, Williamstown

Full Moon Fever

The legends behind Lulie Tavern have taken things sky-high with Full Moon Fever — a rooftop made for good tunes, good mates, and seriously good margaritas. Sitting above Johnston Street, it channels that sun-baked, California-meets-Outback energy: warm terracotta tones, desert styling, and cold tins served with a grin. Old Fashioneds, peach iced teas and rock ’n’ roll spirit set the vibe, while the crowd keeps it effortlessly local. It’s equal parts saloon and summer session, and one of the best suburban rooftops in Melbourne.

225 Johnston Street, Abbotsford

If you’ve loved our guide to the outer suburb rooftops in Melbourne and are now itching for your next post-work bevvies sesh, these happy hours and beloved cocktail bars will also have you in good stead. Cheers!