Miscellania’s Vibey Rooftop Bar Is Back Open

Three floors above Swanston Street’s Miscellania, Misc Rooftop is a quieter counterpoint to the club below. Originally the venue’s smoking area, last summer it was reworked into an open-air bar with free entry, ready to host events run the city’s creative community including trivia nights, chess clubs, markets and more. After a closure over winter, the space has reopened for the warmer months with subtle upgrades. 

Improvements include updated lighting, more comfortable seating, and an upgraded sound system that fills the space without dominating it. They’re changes aimed not at spectacle, but at creating a more welcoming space. “The rooftop isn’t about scaling things up or chasing a party,” says co-founder Sasha Logan. “It’s about making space. We wanted something open, low-pressure and genuinely community-led, where people can show up in the afternoon, connect, or just hang out without needing a ticket or a late night.” 

Trading from Wednesday to Saturday, the rooftop operates independently from the live music and club nights downstairs, with its own intentionally relaxed pace and energy. Local and international DJs play alongside all those community pop-ups and events, often stepping away from club-focused sets to explore more experimental sounds. You’ll also find non-dance DJs and livestreamed sets, taking cues from international platforms like Kiosk Radio in Brussels and The Lot in New York. When no one’s behind the deck, the soundtrack turns inward with Miscellania-curated playlists spotlighting Australian music. 

Food is set to become another pillar of the space. Rather than formal residencies or ticketed pop-ups, the rooftop hosts chefs and groups – such as Malaysian collective Anak Bangsa Malaysia and Maurician chef Matisse Laida of queer community collective We Eatin’ Good – in a flexible, low-pressure way. “Bringing cooks and chefs onto the rooftop felt like a natural extension of the space,” Logan says. “We want it to be a platform for cooks and chefs to test ideas, collaborate and feed people without the costs or expectations of a full pop-up. It’s about nourishment as much as nightlife.” 

Behind the bar, the approach mirrors the broader philosophy. “We’ve thought about the rooftop the same way we think about hospitality,” says co-founder Georgia Vokes. Expect easy spritzes, natural wines, $6 schooners on Wednesdays and Thursdays, classic cocktails including Mimosas and Espresso Martinis, and cocktail special such as a Pandan Gimlet. “Keep it generous and unfussy. The drinks are flavour-driven and accessible, the music never overwhelms the open-air space, and the aim is for people to feel like they can settle in, whether they’re here for one drink or the whole evening.”

Misc Rooftop
3/401 Swanston Street, Melbourne
No phone

Hours:
Wed to Fri 4pm–1am
Sat 2pm–1am

@miscrooftop