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Sunset State of Mind: The Best Rooftop Bars in Melbourne
When Melbourne runs warm, the city heads up. Rooftop bars become our collective lounge room — a constellation of terraces where breeze meets glassware, where skyline and spritz make easy friends.
Spring and summer in Melbourne beg for a higher perch. Up you go — above tram bells and laneways — to where ice clinks, breezes flirt and the skyline shows off. Rooftops are the city’s sweet spot: hidden terraces draped in greenery, hotel eyries with glassy horizons, bars where a crisp spritz tastes a shade brighter in the sun. Slip out of the underground, take the lift, and step into the glow.
Cool drinks, warm light, easy company — cheers to the sky-high haunts serving views with a side of vibe. Here are the best rooftop bars in Melbourne right now.
The Best Rooftop Bars in Melbourne CBD
Cleo — HYDE Melbourne Place Rooftop (Coming December 2025)
Mid-Air has taken its bow; Cleo is the summer sequel. The twelfth-floor perch remains, but the brief shifts sunnier: an Eastern-Med menu built for sharing, a spritz-forward bar, and service tuned to golden-hour ease. Expect a refreshed terrace with more greenery and shade, a reworked central bar for faster pours, and a wine list leaning bright, saline and coastal. Mezze, charcoal-kissed seafood, warm breads and citrus-herb accents set the tone; design keeps the mid-century lines and adds softer, sun-washed textures. Doors open this summer — the skyline will do the rest.
130 Russell Street, Melbourne
Santana Rooftop
A sultry Latin-leaning lair serving Havana energy without the airfare, Santana keeps the lights low and the rhythm high. Timber, neon, and a smouldering skyline; cigars at the ready for those inclined. The Dominicana (dark rum, coffee liqueur, cream) is velvet in a coupe, backed by South American pours and snacky plates with swagger. Slide into a banquette, let the bass hum through the glassware, and watch Melbourne glow a shade warmer.
Level 3/169 Melbourne Place, Melbourne
Hotel Nacional
Hardware Lane gets an inclusive high note with Hotel Nacional: a rooftop that’s 100% gluten-free without broadcasting it on a megaphone. The kitchen plays tapas with confidence — crisp, generous, properly seasoned — while the bar shakes bright, modern classics and a few tropical detours. It’s breezy and convivial up here, the city fanning out in silver and slate. If “GF” usually feels like compromise, this flips the script — flavour first, fuss nowhere in sight.
23-25 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Inuman
A rooftop that reads Melbourne now: Filipino-Kiwi verve, tight technique and a playful grin. Order a Tito Ray (their brawny Mai Tai riff) or the Sari Sari Sparkle with lemongrass gin and feijoa; line it up with duck-liver parfait, feijoa jam and that cult crispy chicken “skinato” sandwich with tangy inato sauce. The view is widescreen, the mood generous, and the flavours punch above the clouds. Inuman is a city bar with a passport and purpose.
167 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
The Q
The Q does altitude like a seasoned traveller: a handsome room, ice-cold G&Ts, and Thai bar snacks that carry proper heat. Pacific oysters with red nahm jim and fried shallots steal the opening scene; chilli-salted school prawns keep it rolling. From mid-week daylight martinis to weekend nightcaps, the tone is relaxed, self-assured and a touch cheeky. Happy hour Wednesday–Saturday, 4–6pm, is a standing date with the skyline.
Level 28, 509 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Fleet Rooftop
Level 22 and pleased about it, Fleet frames the Melbourne skyline like a widescreen epic — retractable roof, moody glow, river and city fanned out beneath your glass. The back bar roams widely (rums, gins, local brews aplenty) and the negronis are genuinely excellent. The menu throws proper shapes: smoky bay oysters, half-shell scallops with shiitake XO and lemon balm, moreish fried chicken with fermented chilli and pickled daikon, even a 450g dry-aged sirloin with green pepper sauce. After-work slides into after-dark; golden hour hands the baton to neon and live DJs.
1 Queen Street, Melbourne
Rooftop at QT
High style without the hard edges. Rooftop at QT lifts the mood with a Mediterranean-leaning menu, smart booths and a back-bar that speaks fluent fun. Dress codes ask you to turn up “sharp,” but there’s warmth in the hospitality and a DJ who understands tempo. In summer it’s spritzes and laughter; winter tucks in under awnings with a generous pour of red. People-watching? World-class. Your martini will not be lonely.
QT Melbourne, 11/133 Russell Street, Melbourne
Fable
Fourteen storeys up, part Manhattan lounge, part Melbourne soul. Fable’s retractable roof keeps the party weatherproof; the room glows like dusk in a glass. Small plates move Mediterranean — grilled things, brined things, bright things — and the cocktails read elegant rather than fussy. Nab a booth, let the city rearrange itself beyond the glass, and lean into that delicious moment when golden hour hands over to neon. Calm, glamorous, quietly heady.
13/168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Dom’s Social Club
Dom’s is where the action happens, three stories of pizza, pool, and panoramic views. Start with a smoky wood-fired pie and a generous spread of charcuterie—perfect fuel for the night ahead. Then, it’s off to the pool room, where the competition heats up and the drinks flow freely. But the real magic? That rooftop bar. A slice of city skyline and good vibes, where you can kick back, sip a cocktail, and soak it all in.
Unit 1/301 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Goldilocks
Slip past a blink-and-miss doorway and ride the lift to a hush above Swanston Street: a wisteria-draped, festoon-lit terrace with the city murmuring below. Classic cocktails land clean and confident; snacks skew crisp, salty and habit-forming. There’s semi-cover for Melbourne’s moods, soft corners for conspiracies, and a golden hour that flatters everyone. You promise a quick one, then the skyline tilts, conversation stretches, and suddenly it’s decidedly not an early night.
5/264 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Farmer’s Daughters
Gippsland goes city-smart on this rooftop bar in Melbourne: timber warmth, herb pots, and a retractable roof that makes Melbourne’s moods a non-issue. House-made cocktails lean garden-fresh — start with a Farmers Collins (Gippsland vermouth, elderflower, cucumber) — while the wine list tours the region with pride. Snack your way through clever, produce-led plates and let that easy country confidence meet Collins Street polish. Calm, textural, quietly luxurious — it’s the country weekender pressed into a golden-hour glass.
6/80 Collins Street, Melbourne
Sojourn
Bold, blue and a little clandestine, Sojourn sneaks a breezy rooftop above New Chancery Lane and pours like it means it. Spritzes sparkle, martinis land ice-cold, and the wine list keeps faith with Victoria’s finest. Downstairs, a tidy bistro handles the appetite — upstairs, golden hour does the flirting. Order something citrus-forward, share something grilled, and let the skyline soften your shoulders. It’s the after-work detour that you need when the weather is sublime.
501 Bourke Street, New Chancery Lane, Melbourne
HER Melbourne
Four floors of appetite, topped by a terrace that does Euro-summer without the airfare. Up here, it’s Italian marble underfoot, French mid-century curves, citrus trees nudging the skyline and cocktails that land bright, polished, perfectly chilled. Order something spritzy, then raid the Thai barbecue snacks piped up from BKK below; the match is wickedly good. Drift past the music room, surface at sunset and settle into that flattering, rose-gold light. Effortlessly cool and a little decadent, HER is utterly Melbourne.
Rooftop, HER, 270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Siglo
A terrace with old-world manners and a Melbourne pulse, hovering above the Princess Theatre. Linen, cut crystal, a cellar with conviction and Cohibas for traditionalists. The service steps lightly, the view is all Spring Street romance, and conversations seem to land in italics. Order a classic — whisky, martini, Bordeaux — and let the night take the long way home. Civilised, charming, and quietly addictive, Siglo is an essential rooftop bar in Melbourne.
Level 2, 161 Spring Street, Melbourne
The Stolen Gem
A rooftop jewel box with 260-degree city views, The Stolen Gem plays New York loft against Melbourne skyline and wins. Cocktails are playful without being precious — picture bright, polished builds with just the right swagger — while modern share plates keep pace (crisp, salty, moreish in all the right places). It’s a post-work magnet that happily becomes your whole evening, and yes, the outlook absolutely justifies getting a little dressed up.
Level 8, 388 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Rooftop Bar
You take the stairs, you earn your sunset at Swanston Street’s iconic Rooftop Bar. Up top: astroturf underfoot, cult burgers and an Aperol that arrives like a friendly forecast. The crowd is democratic — office exiles, art kids, tourists who’ve done their homework — and the view drops Swanston Street at your feet. It’s open-air holiday energy in the thick of town, tuned to shed the workday and say yes to whatever’s next.
Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Bomba
Bomba is Barcelona by way of Melbourne, with treetops and sunset for company. Tapas lands salty, crunchy and perfectly timed — jamón croquetas, anchovy things, patatas with attitude — while cava does what cava does. The terrace is compact, the mood open, and the staff navigate it like a seasoned crew. Ideal for pre-dinner drinks that become dinner, or a late bite when the city is still wide awake.
103 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Best Rooftop Bars in Melbourne: Inner Suburbs
Slowpoke Lounge & Lookout
High above Collingwood, Slowpoke Lounge & Lookout feels like a fever dream brought to life — part rooftop reverie, part 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-spilled corners. Harry Costello’s cocktails lean playful yet polished: a hazelnut espresso martini, coconut margarita, yerba maté spritz, and the signature Picante laced with chilli, coriander and honey. Add 360-degree views, DJ-spun nights and a come-as-you-are spirit, and you’ve got Melbourne’s freshest rooftop playground — nostalgic, decadent, and impossible to leave.
Level 4/50 Gipps Street, Collingwood
Amatrice Rooftop
If you’re chasing that sweet spot to escape the summer heat, Amatrice Rooftop’s got you covered. Think penthouse pasta vibes with a side of Melbourne’s skyline. With killer cocktails and mouthwatering dishes, you’ll never look at pasta the same way again. Sugo all’Amatriciana? Check. Creamy lasagne bites? You bet. As well as magically good seafood dishes and tramisu so velvety, it’ll have you coming back for more. Grab your mates, soak up those killer views, and let the good times roll. This place is where summer in Melbourne gets real.
Level 10/16 Stephenson Street, Cremorne
Mirror Mirror Rooftop Lounge
South Melbourne’s fairest of them all? This Snow White–coded aerie above The Clarendon says yes. Wisteria and greenery frame a skyline view; the cocktail list winks happily — Poison Apple, Queen of Witches — while Michelin-starred chef Ryan Spurrell sends out seasonal, snacky spells. Slide in for Happy Hour, say “yes” to Margs on Margs Wednesdays, or level up with bottomless brunch as weekend DJs set the tempo. Sun on the terrace, glow inside, mischief everywhere — a fairy tale with better lighting.
Level 3/209 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne
Beverly Rooftop
Beverly is the Chapel Street aerie that treats weather like a rumour: fully enclosed, 270-degree outlook, hair unruffled. The room purrs with Beverly Hills polish; the kitchen brings Southern California ideas via modern Australian produce — bright, pretty, confident. Cocktails travel citrus-forward and clean; service keeps the energy buoyant without the volume. It’s a dress-up night that still feels like you. Take a window table and let the city sparkle for you.
Goldfields House, Level 24, 627 Chapel Street, South Yarra
Johnny’s Green Room
Johnny’s Green Room is a Lygon Street darling with 360° views and aperitivo in its veins. Imported beers on tap, spritzes that arrive like sunshine, and Italian snacks that know exactly when to be salty, saucy or both. Blankets and heaters make winter perfectly plausible; DJs and that long western light make summer compulsory. Sundays hum, weeknights glide, and the dome of sky over Carlton does half the heavy lifting.
Level 2/293-297 Lygon Street, Carlton
Rufio
A rooftop bar in St Kilda with jungle-green energy and a completely gluten-free menu that reads like a party. Latin-leaning flavours kiss European technique — zippy ceviches, smoky vegetables, meats with proper sear — while tequila and mezcal take star turns at the bar. The soundtrack leans warm, the crowd leans happy, and the bay breeze sneaks up the street when it’s behaving. Rufio is a southside favourite for nights that want colour and momentum.
188 Carlisle Street, St Kilda
Runner Up
Collingwood Yards supplies the creative bones; Runner Up adds sunshine and sound. A brick-and-timber bar spills to an open terrace threaded with cumquat and fig, where limoncello spritz finds its natural habitat. Weekends bring DJs and soft-edged euphoria; weekdays deliver that golden hour where plans expand. Casual, clever and lightly Mediterranean, it’s the rooftop equivalent of a grin you didn’t know you needed.
Level 2/35 Johnston Street, Collingwood
The Emerson Rooftop Bar
By day it’s cabanas, sashimi and long pours; by night it cues the soundtrack and flirts with the dance floor below. This Melbourne rooftop bar captures South Yarra’s best angles — broad sky, city shimmer — and the menu keeps things nimble with Japanese-leaning bites and share-friendly plates. Heaters help when Melbourne tests you; jugs and magnums help when your friends do. Choose sun, shade or the in-between and stay a while at The Emerson.
141-145 Commercial Road, South Yarra
Golden Fleece Hotel
A Greek-islands daydream rendered in white stone, terracotta alcoves and enough cacti to declare a theme. Upstairs, the rooftop is all sun and conviviality; downstairs, the dining rooms echo with clink and chatter. Drinks lean Mediterranean — ouzo, amaro, spritzes that taste like afternoon — while the kitchen keeps the comfort high and the garnish low. Golden Fleece Hotel is unabashedly fun and deftly run, which is why tables go quickly.
120 Montague Street, South Melbourne
The Provincial
The Provincial is Fitzroy’s friendliest vantage point, built for lazy sessions and casual reunions. The terrace perches over Brunswick Street’s theatre, heaters at the ready when the season overreaches. Drinks keep to the classics with a few cheeky remixes; the snack list understands the assignment (fried things, saucy things, crispy herbs). A neighbourhood crowd, a buzzy energy, and a true northside essential.
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
Ocean in front, party behind. Captain Baxter pours beachside ease across a roomy deck with Port Phillip Bay doing the heavy lifting. Margaritas are bright and saline; seafood leans fresh and citrus-happy — coconut kingfish, char-grilled octopus, herbs everywhere. It’s the kind of place where lunch becomes late afternoon and the horizon claps at sunset. Bring sunglasses and low intentions.
10/18 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Outer-Suburb Rooftop Bars in Melbourne
The Cornish Arms Rooftop
Sydney Road’s easygoing rooftop with beach-stripe umbrellas, a city-skimming outlook and one of Melbourne’s most accommodating menus. Vegan icons share space with pub classics; pints travel happily between both. Service is brisk and friendly, the crowd is delightfully mixed, and afternoons have a habit of stretching. It’s democratic in the best way — bring everyone, order widely, and let the northside do its sunny, chatter-rich thing.
163A Sydney Road, Brunswick
Olympia
Olympia is a suburban rooftop bar in Melbourne with island DNA: white-on-white architecture, olive trees, late light bouncing from every surface. Drinks riff on Mediterranean fruit and herbs; share plates bring dolmades, warm focaccia and salty little joys. The energy is relaxed and sociable — dates to one side, family tables to the other — with the train line below feeling faint and far away. Summer lives up here; autumn hangs on greedily.
19 Portman Street, Oakleigh
Harvie
An old dairy polished into an art-deco daydream, topped with a slimline rooftop that hoards sunset like treasure. Spiral up the terrazzo stair, land at a perch that feels secret, and order the overflowing lobster-and-prawn roll or something crisp and green to play nice with the spritz. The neighbourhood view is charming, the soundtrack conversational, and the hospitality as soft-edged as the light. Harvie is understated glamour, southside style.
109 Wattletree Road, Armadale
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.
