Bars & Pubs
Navigating Melbourne's best bars, pubs, breweries and drinking holes
Where to drink right now
The best late-night bars in Melbourne
Just because it's the small hours and you're up for a drink, it doesn't mean you want to be yelling over the music in a nightclub. Thankfully, there's plenty of places in Melbourne to enjoy a quiet(ish) beverage until sunrise – and with the 24-hour public transport network operating on weekends, it's easier than ever to get home. For more nocturnal fun, check out our guide to late-night bottle shops and late-night dining.
The best bars for drinking alone in Melbourne
Look, we're not here to judge. Maybe you just want to treat yourself to a little alone time and a good bottle of wine, or maybe you've clocked off early and need to kill some time before meeting up with friends. Maybe you're freelancing and coffee just isn't going to cut it any longer (oh yeah, we've been there). Whatever the reason, here's where to get a cheeky bevvy on your own in Melbourne. For more ideas, check out our guides to Melbourne's best wine bars, cocktail bars and hidden bars.
The best bars in Melbourne
The best whisky bars in Melbourne
Whisky (or whiskey, if you prefer the American varietals) isn't just for hardcore drinkers with stomachs of steel. There are so many types of whiskies – from dark smokey drams to smoother malts – that all a drinker needs to do is find one that suits their individual palate. One of the fastest ways to do this is to find a bar with staff who know how to make a great recommendation. Still thirsty? Here are Melbourne's 50 best bars and the best places to drink a decent cocktail.
The best laneway bars in Melbourne
It's pretty safe to say that the more difficult a Melbourne bar is to locate, the better it is (once you're finally in there). Knowing where to find drinking institutions like EDV and Lily Blacks is pretty much a prerequisite for all cocktail-loving locals. For an even closer look into the city's bar culture, browse our guides to Melbourne's best wine bars, whisky bars and cocktail bars.
Choose your favourite drink
Melbourne's drinking hotspots
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San Telmo
San Telmo doesn’t muck around. This gaucho steakhouse run by a bunch of Melbourne hospo gringos lays its carnivorous scene at the entrance, where some impressive bits of cow sit dry ageing behind glass. It’s a memorable welcome, the voluptuously marbled fat a promise in writing of good things to come. Step further into this temple de carne in Melbourne’s parliament barrio and you’ll come face to face with the open kitchen and its centrepiece parilla, where glowing hot coals are shovelled around by a brow-mopping chef who really ought to be paid danger money. The people have spoken, and the people want meat. They want meat in a lair that’s just like being transported to Buenos Aires, where cowhide in its various forms covers the menus and every other available surface. The people also want fried broccoli. The must-order dish at San Telmo is their contribution to the oeuvre known as good veg gone bad: florets of broccoli fried in batter until they scream for crunchy mercy and buried under a salty cheese blizzard of grated pecorino. You could easily sit down with a plate of these babies, a glass of something off the all-Argentinean wine list and call it lunch. But there are more strings to the San Telmo bow than steak and fried broccoli. There’s a vitello tonnato playing tribute to the nation’s significant Italian population; tissue-fragile pieces of eye fillet, dabbed behind the ears with tuna mayo and given a classical kick with capers and parmesan. There’s a born-to-be-mild
Hallelujah! The Smith has launched a bottomless, gospel-inspired brunch
Bottomless brunches are more common in Melbourne than ticket inspectors on trams (though decidedly more enjoyable). In a city filled with avocado toasts and piddly Mimosas, there’s one place that’s doing the weekend staple a little differently. Starting November 10 the Smith is hosting Brunch with Soul, a new bottomless brunch with a divine difference. Every Saturday while you’re enjoying your endless drinks and the brunch menu, the Smith will be switching things up Sister Act-style with a live gospel choir roaming throughout the Prahran venue. Praise be – finally a brunch that lets you enjoy music from the hallowed halls while downing a sweet selection of spritzes. The Smith’s brunch drinks menu features six pretty-as-can-be spritzes to try plus house wine, beer and sparkling. For a hit of citrus try the Pamplemousse Spritz, a zingy mix of grapefruit, pinot gris and soda. Or for something botanical try the Lavender Bomb: Bombay Sapphire Gin with lavender, prosecco and soda. While the choir spreads the gospel (music) you’ll be enjoying one of the dishes on the Smith’s heavenly brunch menu. Go classic with the Smith’s almost hangover-curing egg and bacon burger (it somes sandwiched with a salt and vinegar hash brown). Those wanting to balance out their drinks with some wholesome fare can opt for the vegan and gluten-free coconut rice pudding, which comes topped with roast banana and berry compôte. Or just lean into the boozy brunch and get the Aperol French toast with gr
Sydney for the curious
With a sculptural facade that gleams like a multifaceted jewel, the West Hotel sits on the western side of the city centre near the waterfront at Darling Harbour and Barangaroo. This new boutique hotel is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton and boasts brilliant designer touches including an atrium 'jungle' enjoying all-day sunshine; sophisticated dining at Solander Dining & Bar; and guest rooms with Wi-Fi, 49-inch TVs, Bluetooth speaker systems and Google Chromecast, so that guests can stream their own music and movies. The Curio Collection conducted research and found that curiosity plays a major role in travel choices. They narrowed down travellers into five archetypes: food-loving epicureans; arts-inspired culturalists; nature-seeking pathfinders; thrillseeking challengers; and switched-on spiritualists. With that in mind, Time Out has teamed up with West Hotel to curate five different lists of essential Sydney experiences, taking the five archetypes as inspiration. Know yourself, choose your own adventure, and explore the best of this city. And whether you're from out of town or a local seeking a staycation, you can book a weekend getaway at West Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton. Rooms start at $218 per night.
Enjoy stars and cars at Mercedes me
There’s something compelling about a snapshot of a celebrity in front of a beautiful car, like a glimpse into another world. It’s an image we’ve seen a thousand times before and we’ll see a thousand times again, but few have the same timeless look and feel of a Mercedes. Commencing Monday, November 26, Mercedes me is marking the one-year anniversary of the launch of their CBD concept store with a gala and exhibition showcasing some of its classic cars and the prominent people who have owned and driven them. Several famous faces from old-school Hollywood including Sophia Loren, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Lee and Elvis, as well as modern day celebrities like Tom Hanks, Rowan Atkinson and F1 driver Lewis Hamilton have all owned and driven Mercedes-Benz cars. The week-long display will run until Saturday, December 1, with celebrations coming to a head with the gala on Friday, November 30. It takes place at the Mercedes me Melbourne store at 525 Collins Street. Entry to the Stars and Cars exhibition is complimentary. This exhibition and gala are the latest in a series of events by Mercedes me Melbourne. Each week the store puts on something new in celebration of its values, including sport, art, design, innovation, food, wine, fashion and community leadership. Find out more about Mercedes me Melbourne's gala and exhibition here.
