For when you need the bar to come to you
Photograph: Gareth Sobey
It's time like these you need a drink, but not just any drink, something that involves the premium ingredients or artistry you can't easily mimic at home.
Which is why we're thanking the entrepreneurial types who came up with the idea of delivering booze straight to our doorstep.
Food delivery services have hopped on board with the idea, making it that much more convenient to have a glass of vino or a beer with your delivery lunch or dinner. With next-day delivery or wait times, we advise you get on to ordering now so you can get on the beers later.
Need something to line your stomach? Check out the best restaurants now doing delivery in Melbourne.
You're a lucky human if you live in the inner city. Romeo Lane is delivering its fine cocktails to your door, sealed in individual portions. All you need is ice and a vessel. Order individually, or treat yourself to the Seven Day Weekend pack with ten of your favourite cocktails. That's right, upon checkout, you get to pick.
Order online. Delivering daily.
Australia's darling whisky distillery Starward Whisky has recently released three bottled cocktails for you to sip on at home. Each of the three cocktails in the line-up, (New) Old Fashioned, Coffee Old Fashioned and Whisky Negroni, contain its award-winning whisky and carefully chosen locally sourced ingredients. The (New) Old Fashioned features Starward's award-winning whisky with distillery-concocted wattleseed syrup and orange bitters for a burst of citrus and spice. The Coffee Old Fashioned pairs Mr Black's acclaimed cold brew coffee liqueur with Starward's whisky while the Whisky Negroni will convince lovers of the classic Negroni to spike theirs with whisky in place of gin.
Order here.
Made in the Shade are all about the experience of a fine beverage. Founded by husband-and-wife-team Michael and Zara Madrusan, the group not only owns some of our favourite bars in Melbourne (Heartbreaker and The Everleigh are just a couple of the feathers in their cap), it also offers the Everleigh Bottling Co., which is where you'll find a one-stop shop for all your favourite Everleigh cocktails, including its new range of spritzes.
Order here.
Ugly Duckling offers crowd pleasers in the ‘Tall, Chilled, And Swizzled’, ‘Short, Sour, and Punchy’, ‘Classic Cocktails’, and ‘Old Favourites’ categories, but for best results dive headfirst into the drinks under the ‘Rethought, Reworked’ heading. The Pavlova Fizz is a burst of sour apple flavour, with a crisp, burnt sugar froth topping a mix of gin, sour apple liqueur, kiwifruit syrup, egg white, lime juice, and orange bitters. Now you can shop these cocktails in bottle form and get them delivered to your door.
Order here.
The only single-storey house remaining in the CBD is home to a gin distillery, and that distillery is Little Lon. Now you can bring a slice of it into your home with any of its handcrafted, small-batch Little Lon gins or cocktails. You can buy your tipple of choice through Little Lon's walk-up 'gindow' (that's gin window) or order via the website.
Shop online here.
Wine-loving mates Alex Byrne and Cam Nicol have joined forces to bring Noisy Ritual, a winery in Melbourne's Brunswick East. Championing Noisy Ritual's "grape to glass" philosophy, the venue serves a multi-purpose role, where visitors can learn about winemaking from Byrne (who has years of winery experience), have a glass of wine at the bar, and buy a bottle to take home for a dinner party. The winery makes a few sparkling wines, a few whites, a rosé and a range of reds.
Order here.
This classy little venue on High Street Armadale is doing the bottle shop/bar hybrid thing well. Dan Taranto, formerly of 5 & Dime Bagels, has brought a really great range to an area pretty devoid of delicious beer. Expect a great selection of modern, local styles, all chilled for drink-in or takeaway. Think bright and cheerful offerings from Abbotsford’s Bodriggy – like their lactose and mango Space Milk sour – and Moon Dog’s new trio of mullet-wearing celebrity cans Melon DeGeneres, Billy Ray Citrus and McGuava.
Order here.
It’s no secret that the hospitality industry is a huge producer of waste. Think about those plastic straws, empty bottles, plastic-wrapped napkins, cardboard coasters, paper menus and food waste. Ends and Means opened with a vision of being a low-waste and sustainable cocktail bar, and true to its word, it produces less than one bag of landfill a day. Now, the venue is slinging its cocktails in cans to those in lockdown. There's two full servings per can that are designed to be shared and they can be shipped Australia-wide.
Order here.
Ben Carwyn’s eponymous Thornbury bottle shop is a pilgrimage all beer enthusiasts must take, no matter what part of the city they hail from. The beer selection is incredible – rarities like Tassie brewery Two Metre Tall’s Seven Years At Sea (a dark ale aged for seven years) and Boatrocker’s Dramjet (a 17.6% imperial stout fortified with Starward Whisky) are just some of the gold you'll find at Carwyn.
Order online.
Welcome to Trouble in Dreams, Footscray's latest moody watering hole. The cocktail bar is helmed by Aaron Donato (who also owns Footscray institutions Bar Josephine and Pie Thief) and bartender Chad Parkhill (Eydie’s, Heartattack and Vine). The venue has recently started offering IKEA-style cocktails that require assembling at home.
Order online.
After becoming popular mostly by necessity during lockdown, pre-mixed cocktails are hitting their stride. And with that, Melbourne-based incubator Worksmith is launching Home Grown, a range of locally-inspired and high-quality cocktails. You can choose between the summery Ginger and Mango Spritz using Geelong-made Anther Gin, the creamy Soda Highball using Melbourne-made NED Whisky and the refreshing Strawberry and River Mint Spritz using local Grainshaker Rye Vodka. Each cocktail is available in both 750ml bottles and in 20L kegs. The bevs are all mid-range ABV, making them smashable without fear of things getting too out of control, and are simple to prepare. All you need is a glass of ice, and if you’re feeling fancy you can add a fresh garnish.
Check it out via the website.
Hospitality veterans Liz Carey and Paul Guiney set up a minimal intervention wine distribution company in their spare time. What underachievers. The wines in the portfolio grace the lists of restaurants like Embla and Anchovy, and now you can get them delivered to your doorstep. If you know what is good for you, you'll sign up to the newsletter which blasts out new bottles and specials.
Order online.
Halle Aux Vin is another wine distributor going direct to you with its fantastic portfolio of French, Italian and Australian wines. Wines can be delivered nationally on weekdays, and six days a week in the Melbourne metro area. Wine packs are available for specific tastes, but you can also purchase individual bottles.
Order online. Get 10% off your first order with the code FIRSTORDER20
Melburnians never needed the succession of big international awards to know that the Black Pearl is where you go for a bloody good cocktail – though undoubtedly those accolades benefited the travellers who now flock to the bar as a checklist destination. And now it comes to you once again.
Order online.
Is there anything quite as heavily contested in 2021 as 'natural' wine? We think not. All wine is natural, but what people refer to here is the addition of sulphur dioxide to wine, which in turn extends its shelf life. At Public Wine Shop 'sulphur dioxide' is the enemy, and the result is an extensive range of locally and internationally sourced minimal intervention wines to have delivered to your door.
Order here.
Rascal brings something new to Sydney Road: a serious cellar, an ambitious team and a sophisticated place to unwind with a glass of something and a couple of snacks. The venue's bottle store component has gone online and now you can source anything from a bottle of Avani Wines' Skin Contact Pinot Gris to Matso's Mango Beer. Take advantage of free local delivery or pick your bounty up in-store.
Order here.
Brought to you by Jerome Borazio's Get Notorious group responsible for city drinking holes Sister Bella, Ponyfish Island and 1000 Pound Bend, Footscray's Back Alley Sally's brings the crew's signature good time bar vibes to the west. Now the venue is dishing out pre-mixed bags of cocktails (complete with garnishes) for you to enjoy at home.
Order via Harry and Larry's General Store here.
Independent start-up Curatif pairs with some of the world's best bars to deliver their premium cocktails in a can. These pocket rockets range from tequila experts Tromba's Tommy's Margarita to Black Pearl's Toreador. A four pack will set you back just $45 (a reasonable price for four premium cocktails) and a slab costs $230. Shop online here.
These guys have established themselves as Melbourne's go-to whisky purveyors since 2010, with an ever-changing menu of over 1000 casked creations. They're making sure you won't go without the 'water of life' by delivering their products to your door.
Order on the website.
Richmond's favourite little wine bar is now a wine shop. The entire range of wines, from cheapies you drink on a Monday night, to big-ticket numbers from its 'Pool Room' is up for grabs.
Order online.
Key to this speciality bar’s success is the immense goodwill banked by owner-bartenders Yao Wong and Kelvin Low among the whisky-loving community. They’ve painstakingly built a 350-strong back bar of rare and independently bottled whiskies. Each bottle has been hand-selected, resulting in an eclectic collection full of one-offs you won’t find elsewhere in the city.
Order online.
This Footscray favourite doesn't want the people of Melbourne going without a good tipple while we have to stay home. The contactless 'click and collect' service has you covered. Browse a range of good wines, crafty cans, and cocktail 'bagnums' including a 1.5L bag of Espresso Martini.
Order on the website.
Dilly Delly offers ten different cocktails to choose from including; Margarita, Honeysuckle Daiquiri, Cosmo, Expresso Martini, White Lady, Dilly Delly Daiquiri, Gin Daisy, Old Fashioned, Boulevardier, and Negroni. All bottles are created fresh on the day they are delivered, priced at $27.50 each and come with two servings per bottle.
Orders can be made here.
The folk at San Telmo group are also importers of Argentinean and other European wines. In its direct-to-consumer store, you'll not only find popular varietals popular to Argentina like malbec and torrontes, but vermouth, pisco, sherry and cava.
Order online.
This multi-purpose venue in Collingwood is equal parts delicatessen, boutique food store, restaurant and bar. The multi-level venue hosts an onsite micro-brewery, distillery, cured meats and cheesemaking rooms and a coffee roaster. The natural by-product of all these activities is booze – gin, wine, beer, you name it. The shop is live online and shipping nationally.
Order online.
Andrew McConnell’s specialty butcher and wine store is a one-stop-shop for dinner in a pinch. The chef opened the butcher with ex-Peter Bouchier butcher Troy Wheeler, who has been a business collaborator with McConnell for a number of years (Wheeler teaches McConnell's staff to butcher meats in-house at his restaurants). Throw in some locally produced wine, beers, and even great non-alcoholic bottles next time you put in a meat order.
Order online.
Named for the fearless Captain Baxter who is responsible for the parcel of land that is what we now know and love as Fitzroy, this bar is known for giving you a really good time. Find a range of beers; cheap and cheerful wines; and cocktails in a jar on its online store for takeaway and delivery.
Order on the website.
This 'online cocktail experience service' will send you everything you need to whip up beverages worthy of the coolest cocktail bars in town. Hankering for a fresh Espresso Martini? What about Rasberry Mint Mojitos, or Whisky four ways? They'll sort you out. If you're feeling a little less hands on, the Cocktail Porter can also hook you up with a range of bottled cocktails. Maybe the Elderflower Gimlet or Salted Honey Old Fashioned will take your fancy?
Order via the website.
These craft beer legends don't want you going without during isolation, so they're bringing their canned goods from the brewery to your doorstep. You can quench your thirst with their range of classic core varieties as well as bespoke special varieties, so there's no missing out on quirky brews like Pineapple Fritter and Blueberry Gose.
Order on the website.
You can now get this bar's forward-thinking mixology bottled and delivered to your door. There are ready mixed cocktails as well as bottles of their seasonal, house-made spirits such as a gin infused with Victorian strawberries and foraged fig leaves. Can't decide between the wattleseed negroni and fennel-pollen sazerac? Get a tasting flight of all their offerings in 100ml or 500ml sizes.
Order online.
Since you're unlikely to be heading down the Great Alpine Road within the next few days, Bright Brewery is bringing its craft beer to you. Purchase them by the single brew or in mixed cases.
Order online.
Bottled cocktails from Ugly Duckling's At Home series are available for takeaway and delivery, along with cheese and charcuterie for a tinge of that cocktail bar experience. Tipples include a lavender gin spritz, jalapeño margarita, salted caramel old fashioned, guava cosmo, dry gin martini and a bread and butter hot toddy.
Order online.
Some participating restaurants with Deliveroo are offering alcoholic beverages, although some will request that you purchase food as well as those beers you're ordering.
Order online or through the Deliveroo app. Within delivery hours only.
Jimmy Brings is an alcohol delivery service that promises the delivery of beer, wine and spirits within just 30 minutes. What’s more, Jimmy brings only the good stuff from a curated list. We’re talking your favourite beers and fine wines (plus Dom Perignon and Moët for extra special celebrations) and event extras.
Order through the Jimmy Brings app.
Menulog's bicycle army could be whizzing past with more than a pad thai on board. Some restaurants are also offering tipples with their nibbles, and there's some local bottle shops are also jumping in on the deliveries.
Order through the Menulog app. Within delivery hours only. Minimum orders vary.
This liquor delivery service has it all. Tipple promises to deliver wine, a six-pack or a case of beer and cider, or spirits to your door within 60 minutes. The beers feature a nice selection of classics (VB, Coopers, Carlton Draught) and craft numbers (4 Pines, Mountain Goat, Stone and Wood); while you can go from cheap drop to mid-range bottles with the wine range. The service really shines when it comes to cocktails – they stock The Everleigh’s range of classic bottled cocktails and Melbourne Martini’s Espresso Martini in a jar. Prefer to mix your own cocktail? They’ll deliver cocktail packs like the Margarita, Negroni, or Old Fashioned sets with enough mixers and spirits to get you started.
Order through the Tipple app.
When it comes to purveyors of fine froffs, look no further than Craft Cartel Liquor. With more than 700 craft beers on offer – including international brands, small batch brews, seasonal specials and award-winning favourites – it’s pretty clear these guys know a thing or two about sourcing a decent drink. And it’s not just crafties on the menu either, there’s also a selection of ciders, wines and spirits to choose from as well. Craft Cartel Liquor delivers Australia-wide, and membership options are available for the true beer enthusiasts – if monthly shipments of hand-picked bevs and other boozy goodies are your thing.
The name says it all, really. Get Wines Direct is a family-run biz that shares the best deals on vino from around the globe, and delivers it direct to your doorstep. The team have worked in all aspects of wine production – including grape growing, exporting and sales – and pride themselves on curating a diverse range of top-notch drops. All the famous names in booze are here, but there’s plenty to try from emerging winemakers, too. Get Wines Direct also offers a 100 per cent money-back guarantee if something’s not up to scratch, and there are no membership requirements.
Who said alcohol-free drinks have to be boring? If you’re a non-drinker, taking a break from booze or simply a tad sober curious, Sans Drinks has got your thirst quenched. From zero-alcohol rosé for those upcoming summer picnics to low-calorie, low-sugar beer that tastes just like the real thing, prepare to be impressed by the depth of non-alcoholic options. And because no good mocktail is complete without a mixer, Sans Drinks also boasts an extensive range of tonics, sodas, ginger beers and even kombucha to go with your gin, whiskey and absinthe alternatives. And best of all, there's no chance of a hangover.
Browse South Australian reds, Tassie sparklings and cool climate varietals from the Yarra Valley when you visit the online home of top-quality Aussie vino: Wine Selectors. All handpicked by an expert tasting panel, the wines are a delightful blend of boutique drops and big-name classics. Make the most of some of the exceptional deals on offer and stock up on your staples, or take a chance on one of the mixed cases and discover a new fave. Plus, every bottle you purchase helps support the Aussie wine industry – if that’s not a good enough reason to drink up, we don’t know what is.
Want the secret to making tasty, bar-quality cocktails at home? Mr Consistent, of course. With just the click of your mouse you can get everything you need to make one mean Margarita – including the mixer, shaker, strainer, measuring nip, cute glassware and even some fancy garnishes – delivered straight to your home in time for happy hour. All you need to do is then add the libation of your choice. Not a fan of Margs? Lucky for you Mr Consistent also happens to do Cosmos, sours, Espresso Martinis and sangria, and each bottle contains only the freshest ingredients.
Make your next delivery of frothies a special one, by treating yourself to a bouquet of beer from Brewquets. Like the boozy equivalent of a bunch of flowers, Brewquets do fun, eye-catching hampers that feature tinnies from some of Australia’s best craft breweries. You can upgrade by adding nuts, jerky or chocolate, or even swap out the beer for cider or wine. Most importantly, Brewquets have adopted a number of sustainable practices – like purchasing goods in bulk where possible and using fully recyclable materials like cardboard, glass and aluminium – so you can order without the environmental guilt.
Say hello to low-cost bevvies and goodbye to ever having to visit a bottle-o again when you order from Hello Drinks. This independent online liquor retailer promises competitive prices across its entire range, which includes everything from limited edition spirits and non-alcoholic drinks, to top-shelf champagne and seltzers (the cool new kid on the booze block, FYI). All orders are shipped within one business day, and for added convenience there are two buy now, pay later options: Zippay and Afterpay. There’s even an official Hello Drinks app, available to download for Apple and Android users.
Same-day delivery. We repeat, same-day delivery in Sydney and Melbourne (it's next-day for those in Brisbane, and up to five days in Adelaide and Perth). Prepare to rejoice, because the next time you have a hankering for an ice-cold Aperol spritz that simply won’t go away, Boozebud can have a bottle of the good stuff dispatched to your house quicker than you can slice a wedge of orange. Boozebud also offer a price match guarantee if you find your drink of choice at a lower cost elsewhere, otherwise there is often a special deal or promotion running to make the most of. But our favourite bit? The personalised recommendations, which are based on your answers to their online quiz – it’s a super-fun way to discover a new bevvie.
Wine, glorious wine. We imagine that’s the motto at Just Wines, one of the largest online vino retailers in the country. Beginning with a vision to support Aussie grape growers, Just Wines now deals exclusively in wines produced both locally and in New Zealand. There are more than 1,000 wineries affiliated with the website (many based in some of the most remote or burgeoning wine regions in Australia), and more than 6,000 tipples to purchase – talk about having options! Other perks offered by Just Wines include VIP membership, refer and earn benefits and frequent wine auctions.
Introducing Jimmy Brings, AKA your new best friend. He’s the guy that’s going to save you the next time you’re having a dinner party and drink all the wine, or when you can’t be bothered getting out of your daggiest pyjamas to do a late-night beer run. As a premium alcohol delivery service, Jimmy Brings is all about convenience – and it doesn’t get much more convenient than an average drop-off time of 24 minutes. To get in on the action, all you need to do is download the free app, select your drinks (extras like ice, chips and beer cups are also available) and wait for Jimmy to deliver the goods.
Our Click For Vic hub showcases fresh food deliveries, coffee roasters, gift ideas and future regional travel ideas so that you can show our state's producers some love and treat yourself while you're at it. Click 'Read more' to explore.
We've collected the best ways for you to experience Melbourne while staying at home here into this hub, so you can stay sane, comfortable, fed, watered and entertained at home – while helping small business owners, hospitality workers and creative people who desperately need your business.
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