The best laneway bars in Melbourne

If you like cocktails, whisky, blues, good service and eating Reuben sandwiches at 2am, Beneath Driver Lane is your heaven. Occupying an old bank vault in the CBD, this bar has a Harry Potter feeling that’s rare in a city whose subterranean spaces are sorely underused. The fit-out, the soundtrack and the sharp service give this place a feeling that’s equal parts Melbourne, Chicago and Diagon Alley. The folks behind the bar are all practised professionals; personable, knowledgeable and looking sharp in black chef coats.

The austere design of Above Board – with a simple wooden benchtop and all the alcohol hidden away in drawers in unmarked decanters – has bartender Hayden Lambert standing at the 12-seater bar like a blackjack dealer doling out drinks instead of cards. The difference here is that whatever you bet on from the short, thoughtful menu will be a winner. The end result of climbing the stairs to Above Board from the graffitied Chopper Lane is you feel like you have dropped over to your mate’s place, if he was a cocktail prodigy with a penchant for Scandinavian design. 

Melbourne's 'Little Lon' laneway is the former red-light district and slum between Exhibition and Spring. Once infamous for Madame Brussels' famous brothels and grog houses, all of the brick cottages have long since been knocked down – bar one. Number 17 remains, and it's where a boutique gin distillery and tasting bar now gracefully operates. Pop in for a top-notch gin cocktail and soak up the historic vibes. 

This jazz-infused shrine to the cocktail on Malthouse Lane stands for inevitable moral destruction – and one hell of a good time. It boasts science lab gadgetry, casual good-time vibes and one helluva whisky collection, all rolled into one dark-hued leather-bedecked den of fine drinks.

Dating back to 1837, this heritage-listed pub is a handsome and reliable laneway stalwart perpetually buzzing with city suits, curious tourists and the after work drinks crowd. If you can find a seat, you'll feel at home right away with the relaxed service and a drinks list that caters to all tastes. This cosy gingerbread cottage-like drinking den is also apparently haunted by a ghost. Bottoms up! 

Don't come for us - surely the fact that you have to enter this four-concept mega-venue from the laneway classifies it as a worthy contender for this list? The street-level space sells itself as a daytime cocktail bar, although it slings French 75s and Dirty Gin Martinis until 3am. (If you’re an early bird, the doors swing open at 7am for pastries, lobster omelettes and Market Lane coffee.) It’s a snug spot with a seductive salon vibe – think honey-toned walls, a rattan ceiling and a commanding zinc bar with fluted glass and timber liquor cabinets.

We're not sure who loves Troika more - design and arty folk, people who used to live in Berlin, or those looking for a hip, low-key place to sit and have a drink. This grungy lair may be a bit less fashionable than some of the newer bars on Melbourne's nightlife scene, but we think that sort of makes it a bit cooler. Dingy, dark and a magnet for moody regulars, it's a little bubble away from the world and a middle finger to the passing of time. 

An independent arts space and bar, Loop has hosted an eclectic mix of curated screen, sound and performance based art projects since opening in 2003. On weekends, Loop transforms into an intimate club featuring minimal, immersive dance music. In other words, all the cool kids come here. But it's not just all talk. The bartenders know what they're doing and upstairs hosts a slightly more refined rooftop bar with sweeping city views.

Laneway bars are synonymous with Melbourne, and Union Electric has effortlessly woven itself into the fabric of the city. Owners Huw Griffiths and Shane Whiteley have been part of institutions like Madame Brussels and the Royal Saxon, so when they struck out on their own, it’s no surprise they captured the hearts of city drinkers. Fresh produce is serious stuff at Union Electric. While many bars may avoid using too many raw ingredients, Union Electric uses daily pressings of fruits, micro herbs and housemade vinegars and syrups to bring its menu to life. 

Sake comes with a side of anime at this quirky, cartoon-covered Japanese bar. Kick back on one of the ruby-hued banquettes and you'll be presented with a fan of food and drinks menus. There's a stellar selection of sakes served chilled, at room temperature or warm, each presented in a curvaceous ceramic flask with dinky little cups for sipping – not shooting – this savoury-sweet rice wine. Hungry for nibbles? The food menu here keeps it interesting with Japanese-inspired fusion pizzas and golden takoyaki balls. 

This fashionable art-scrawled bar inspired by the 1930s boasts a long absinthe menu, modern dishes and snacks and a sci-fi aesthetic. It was dreamt up by the same guy behind fellow cocktail bars Madame Brussels and Gin Palace, so you know the energy's going to be A-class. Italian Futurism colours the decor and drinks list, but the concrete walls don't detract from the warmth at all. Pop in for a cosy one. 

Take a seat at the three-sided bar or settle into a dark leather booth amongst the art deco lamps and potted palms and do your best to work through the drinks list at Lily Blacks. It's all custom cocktails and personal service here: you’ll be served by a wisecracking crew who know a thing or two about a good drink, make their own bitters and hand-cut ice to order.

If you can get past the occasional mosquito bite, Section 8 is a brilliant place to spend an evening. The drinks selection is solid and ranges from top-shelf spirits to longnecks for the student boozer, and you can even get your dance on once the evening wears on a little. It's popular all-year round, slinging mulled wines in winter and a more refreshing selection of bevvies when the sun comes out to say hello. Prefer to cosy up with a drink indoors? Simply head upstairs to Ferdydurke.

Gently lit by lamps and candles, this easily missed little bar offers a cosy hideaway from the fuss and noise of the big, mean city. Part of Murmur’s attraction has to do with the friendly, skilful staff, but the bar itself embodies old-fashioned charm and the drinks menu is thicker than War and Peace. Listen to a piano tune and cast your mind back to a simpler time.