Sloth Bar

When Lianne George and Stephen Glackin opened Sloth Bar in 2017, they wanted it to feel like a house party at all hours.

That certainly shows. Walking into the eclectic, den-like bar is like entering someone’s lived-in front room mid-party. Locals are huddled around low tables in their velvet armchairs and sofas, nursing their cocktails and conversations. And much like an old share house, the furniture and trinkets are many and varied. Vintage mirrors and posters line the walls. And books are stacked up on the old-style blue electric fireplace, which burns through Melbourne’s cooler months.

In keeping with the house party vibe, you never know what (or who) you’ll find in its maze of rooms, from the snug pool room to the leafy beer garden, or the relaxed lounge upstairs with booths, armchairs and a balcony overlooking Barkly Street.

There's no shortage of good drinks to enjoy while you explore these wallpaper-clad rooms. Beers by Stomping Ground Brewing Co, Moon Dog Craft Brewery, Guinness and Melbourne Bitter are on pour, along with a few rotating taps. There’s also cider and seltzer, as well as classic and more inventive cocktails – like the Green Fairy Godmother, which brings together absinthe, elderflower and a melange of pineapple, lemon and lime juice. While there’s no kitchen here, you can order food from the nearby restaurants or takeaway spots. There’s certainly no shortage. And if you’re settling in for the night, there are board games to while the hours away with.