Mates Bar & Bottleshop

You’ll see the friends gathered out front before you spot the bar at this neighbourly spot. Mates Mordialloc is all about letting locals enjoy craft beer and wines from boutique, small-batch producers – maybe making a few new friends while they’re at it.

The cosy red-brick space has booth seating, high tables and pared-back furnishings across two levels. And it leaves ample room for a corner of fridges that home more than 400 unique beers, as well as 16 taps behind the bar. Many of the brews are made right here in Victoria, from Boatrocker down the road to Blackman’s Brewery on the other side of the bay in Torquay. You can either shop-and-stop with a corkage fee or grab a six-pack to go.

For non-beer drinkers, there’s a tidy selection of wines by the glass, which are updated on the blackboard daily. Drops come from across Australia, including Brunswick’s Noisy Ritual and Adelaide Hills’ Vinterloper. Plus, find spritzes, cocktails and plenty of spirits.

For snacks, there’s a selection of Melbourne’s famed Chappy’s Chips. Or you can BYO from the many local food spots and enjoy it amid the bustle of Main Street out front.