Melbourne bar and pub reviews

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. Melbourne's pub landscape is now awash with elevated offerings, harking back to the kitsch of old-school iterations – with cleaner plating and higher price tags. While there's certainly a time and place for ironic white tablecloths and fancy parmas, the Rochey is your spot if you're after a solid, no-frills pub experience. Since opening in the '70s, the venue has undergone several transformations – it’s now operated by Castle Group, the team behind Arcadia, Green Man’s Arms, Añada, and Brewsmith – yet it’s always stayed true to its roots as a reliable spot for drinks and live music. Not much has changed, and that’s the point. You’ll still find music upstairs, trivia on Wednesdays and a daily selection of specials. The $22 steaks and $25 Sunday roasts were tempting, but I went for the Monday night parma deal – $25 for a parma and a pot of house beer – because a) it’s great value and b) who else is open on a Monday? “Had one parma, had ‘em all,” I usually think, but this one stood out with its thick, buttermilk-brined, panko-crusted chicken; high-quality ham; and the unexpected salty bits of what I think was pancetta mixed into the sauce. The new owners pride themselves on their meat-free options, so the veggie burger was another natural choice. The smoky grilled mock meat patty won’t fool you for beef, but...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. Gigi’s Frenchy fare is playfully kitsch and glamorously cute. Gigi is fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s dressed to impress and targets a crowd who are keen to frock up, pay up and take plenty of pics. Pop in before heading across the road to sister restaurant Entrecôte, or make an afternoon out of it – we hear High Tea à la Gigi is now being served every Sunday from noon (expect free-flowing French bubbles and wines, and the likes of ribbon sandwiches, vol au vents, lemonade scones with creme chantilly and profiteroles).  Sitting pretty perched above Greville Street, Gigi talks a big game. The menu invites you to “indulge in a little mischief and escape into a sultry Parisian dream”. It promises thrills and secret-keeping, of being pulled into the shadows and losing track of time. Perhaps it happens to be a particularly tame evening on the Thursday night we visit, but the atmosphere in the quiet parlour doesn’t seem to quite match the description of being “a portal to a world where the night feels endless, and anything – everything – feels possible”. Nevertheless, whether in this world or elsewhere, Gigi is a perfectly pleasant place to yap over drinks and slices of warm baguette spread thick with French butter.  And we’ve got to give it to...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. There's a reason that Albert’s Wine Bar has earned its reputation with locals as the spot to hang out. Just as the ideal neighbourhood wine bar should, it serves as the perfect place for a plethora of purposes: a leisurely lunch on a Saturday afternoon; an afterwork drink; a midweek catch-up over a quick but excellent meal. Bring your mates or your mum, bring a colleague or a first date, bring your pup to potter around the patio or even just a good book. Albert’s is achieving everything you expect from your local wine bar, plus a little more. There's a warm and cosy feeling of subtle sentimentality that accompanies the moreish snacks and stylish drinks at Albert’s. Perhaps it's due to the light pattering of rain outside on the evening we visit, contrasted with the glowy warmth and convivial conversation inside. Or it might be owing to the feeling of palpable history pervading the place. That history itself is memorialised in this winner-of-a-wine-bar’s name: Albert’s Wine Bar is named for the famed Australian artist Albert Tucker, who presided nearby, and chose this wine bar’s home, a 19th century building tucked behind a heritage listed arcade, as the subject for one of his 1937 landscape paintings.  Spanning a tight but welcoming intimate bar space,...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. At my core, I’m a simple woman. I enjoy a fancy cocktail and love sharing small plates, but when it comes down to it, it’s the no-muss, no-fuss experience that really speaks to me. And beloved Abbotsford watering hole Lulie Tavern delivers exactly that: effortless dining and drinking, with zero fuss.  I'd be lying if I said I hadn't spent a few Saturdays here in my younger years — holed up in the always-buzzing front smokers' area or tucked in a corner, cradling a beer and some wings. But weekends at Lulie are a different ball game from the quiet Monday night I've turned up for dinner. The first thing I notice is how curated the space is. To be clear, I don't mean that in a contrived way, but rather, a curation of sensibility — every detail feels like a love letter to rock and roll, the '70s, music, food and good drinks. Tom Petty croons over the speakers, memorabilia covers the walls, and patrons chat to staff from the stools that line the bar while a disco ball spins slowly, casting flickers of light from the ceiling. It’s a common refrain that most bars don’t hold up in the cold light of day. What feels sexy and cool at 3am becomes a horror show of sticky floors and mystery stains once the last drinks are called. But co-owners Jon-Lee Farrell and Brendan...

April 2025 update: Much-loved Lygon Street eatery and bar Heartattack and Vine turned 10 this year. They've been sharing some nostalgic throwback content on their Insta as of late, so take a walk down memory lane here. Congrats, guys! - Lauren Dinse Read on for our original review of Heartattack and Vine by Fred Siggins from 2016 ***** No offence, Lygon Street, but you needed some help. Heartattack and Vine is just the ticket - by Fred Siggins, November 2016 There’s a lot to like about Heartattack & Vine. Even if you’ve never set foot inside, you can appreciate a venue named after a Tom Waits album.  And it feels like this is the place that Lygon St, needed. It's inspired by Italy, the country who’s immigrants gave Melbourne hospitality its heart, but unlike the old-school Italian cafes that define this strip of Carlton, Heartattack looks forward to a bright future of casual eating and drinking, not back to a nostalgic past. The tiny shotgun venue manages to feel bright and open, with antique glass lights hanging from old metal window frames lending warmth and depth to the room. During the day it operates as a café, serving simple breakfasts, coffee, sandwiches and interesting options like a Spanish iced chocolate with hints of chili and orange for a spicy jaffa effect. But we’re here for a drink, and after dark they deliver in spades. Service is a bit cold and patchy at first, but as they ease into nighttime service, the crew relaxes and gets chatty about the trickle of...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. It’s hard to imagine a Melbourne where Apollo Inn doesn’t exist, such is the impact this handsome and swanky spot has had on the city’s bar scene in its short lifespan so far. Andrew McConnell’s first standalone cocktail bar – which swung open its leatherbound doors in June 2023 – has seamlessly settled into its location at McDonald House on Flinders Lane, maintaining a strong and steady stream of visitors nightly, all hoping to squeeze into one of just 30 highly coveted seats.  I’m reminded of its magic when I pop in on a Thursday evening with a friend from Sydney in tow. I’ve walked through the enormous doors, into the cosy waiting corridor and through the plush velvet curtains to the main bar a few times now, but there is still something special about sauntering in for the very first time – as evidenced by my pal’s “oohs” and “ahhs” as she films our grand entrance. We snag the last two perches at the bar – in my opinion, there’s no better spot to sit at Apollo Inn than here – and let the cosy cocoon of warmth, chatter and the occasional clinking of glasses wash over us. The space is intimate and dimly lit, with gorgeous Art Deco details, teeny tabletop lamps and a splash of graffiti from Hosier Lane peeking in through the sheer curtains. “It’s just so...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. It normally takes a lot for me to cross the river (yep, typical northsider I can hear you all saying), but if there’s one thing I can’t resist it’s the siren song of a slick and sexy wine bar. So it’s on a near 40-degree day that my partner and I find ourselves on High Street in Armadale, in desperate need of a cold drink and something to eat. Auterra provides our sweet escape from the heat, and we slip into a table backed against the two-tone exposed brick wall. Located on a shopping strip chock-full of fancy designer boutiques, this unassuming (from the outside, at least) and unpretentious spot is the brainchild of chef-owner Clinton McIver, making it the little sibling of his highly regarded fine diner Amaru.  But while Amaru encourages you to go on an extravagant dining odyssey across multiple courses, Auterra is the chilled-out and charming companion – ideal for arvo wines, a cute date or long, lazy Sunday lunches.  Speaking of arvo wines, in the midst of umming and ahhing over a Tassie riesling or rosé from the Barossa, our waiter points to a note on the wine list about off-menu bottles on pour and suggests the day’s chosen tipple: Blind Corner’s ‘Orange *in Colour’ – a natty wine that can only be described as pure sunshine in a glass. Vibrant in...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. Birra. Biscotti. Bolognese. Bresaola. Bruschetta. There are countless awesome Italian things that begin with the letter ‘B’, but if you love wine, barolo has got to be near the top of the list. And now we can also add Bar Olo – a snazzy new Carlton bar playfully named after the Piedmont grape varietal. Both locals and curious passersby have been smitten from the moment its mysterious sheer white curtain was first swept back in April 2024. So what’s all the fuss about? Well, first of all, there’s the Scopri connection; the bar’s big sister restaurant is a short walk down the road, and is one of Carlton’s longtime favourites for old-school Italian hospitality and special occasion dining. Bar Olo may have been fated to be just another restaurant outpost (a recent trend that’s seen many venues add little bars next door as a kind of footnote to their central offering), but it’s immediately clear that this one plays no second fiddle.  Upon entry, you’ll fall in love with the beautiful classiness of the 40-seater. It’s stylish and sophisticated with white cloth-draped tables and a tastefully warm and handsome design, plus a welcoming team of well-groomed staff ready to make sure you’re taken care of right away. In a similar vein to fellow recent-ish openings like...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. If you were the type of old club head to trawl the pubs on Brunswick Street for pints, chats and boogie opportunities, you’ll probably remember the Punters Club of yore. While it was gone for a while, we can now confirm: yes, it’s back – and better than ever. A beloved live music venue from the time before anyone had a mobile phone, and before it was Bimbo (and then Kewpie), the Punters Club has come back to the future with a fresh lick of paint, stacked live music program and an inspired menu of nostalgia-inducing pub grub. For the latter, think a salt and vinegar chip packet full of tuna tartare (trust us, it's better than it sounds), South Melbourne Market dim sims with Lao Gan Mai chilli oil and an old-school banana split for dessert. If that all sounds too fancy, you can also order a 'roo schnitty, fried chicken or a damn tasty cheeseburger.  While it might not be exactly the same as the good ol' days (I mean, do we really miss smoking inside?), trust that the new owners are a formidable team. There’s Jason Cameron of Near and Far, Matt Francis from Garage Project and Marquis of Lorne, head chef Dylan Marshall (formerly of the Scenic Hotel in South Australia and Marquis of Lorne), musician Mark Wilson, creative agency specialist Britt King, and Nathan...

Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here. It's been almost eight years since Mr West swung open its doors to astonished Footscray locals. Some, rightly so, feared the young bar marked the beginning of the 'cray's dangerous edging into hipster territory. Others, also rightly so, encouraged naysayers to live a little. The latter camp welcomed a new casual drinking home for excellent craft beer, cocktails and locally produced wines – a friendly place where staff could talk tipples with anybody and everybody curious enough to step in for a drink. So how does Mr West fare in 2025? Has it seamlessly woven its offering into the colourful patchwork of Footscray's spirit? It certainly has, and it's still, simply, one of the best in the west. What started as a humble watering hole has transformed beautifully into a jack-of-all-trades: an indie bottle-o (if you're a lover of low-intervention drops and crafty brews, this is the place to shop), a cocktail bar shaking up more interesting spirits than most and a BYO dinner joint. Importantly, this venue supports local restaurants and eateries around Footscray by allowing visitors to order takeaway directly to their tables. Broken rice, bánh mì, dumplings? You got it. And maybe that's part of the reason why it's fit in so well. My partner and I have swanned in on...