This tranquil bolthole amid the bustle of Chinatown is built on the motto “drink less, drink better”. It’s pouring small-batch whiskies and a tight list of cocktails. Why not stay for just one – or two?

In a timber-panelled room that feels of another time, get ready for four types of Martini, a daily menu of shellfish on ice, and a stand-out crème caramel dessert.

Three Gerald’s Bar alums run this wine bar, which is bursting with personality. Its ever-changing menu includes a daily staff meal, as well as drinks like the Cookie Monster cocktail and “Butter Beer” served warm.

Is it a cocktail bar? A wine bar? A bistro? It’s all of that, depending on your mood and the occasion. Visit for standout Martinis with creative house twists, plus devilled eggs, veal schnitties and the possibility of making good friends.

Two former winemakers are behind this schmick, hard-to-find brewery, which just reopened after a big revamp. Set in a 19-century former factory, it has experimental beers, lagers pulled from specially designed taps and, for the first time, a pizza chef on-site.

Hit this airy warehouse for natural wine and limoncello slushies on tap, pop-up kitchen takeovers, late-night DJ sessions and rotating artist residencies – all courtesy of Nic Coulter, co-owner of the adjacent Neptune Food & Wine.

The dark, moody bar highlights American wines alongside greats from Australia and France. Stop by for a glass and bar snacks, and experience part of the historical CBD space.

The Sydney staple’s first Melbourne outpost is pouring wild ales, natural wines and sour Negronis. Come to the hybrid bottle shop and bar for beer-infused cocktails, Belgian lambics and a snack-driven menu.

This retro antipasti bar made a name for itself on Tiktok before it even opened. Come for its entirely-vegan menu that includes cheese fondue, an array of arancini, fun cocktails and lots of Abba. Stay for the ’70s aesthetic and good vibes.

Cafe by day, socially-conscious brewhouse by night. You can feel good ordering the hoppy lager, tropical XPA or jam-doughnut stout here – a meal is donated to charity for every four-pack or pint sold. Plus, there are fun cocktails, hearty toasties and a cafe out the front.

At this 1857-built art deco pub, enjoy a meal cooked on the hotel’s parilla grill and English-style ales served from hand pumps. Plus, stunning Sunday roasts and a record player spinning Dolly Parton and the Beatles.

You can sample just about every bottle at this moody wine venue, which uses a Coravin to preserve opened bottles. Sit around the horseshoe bar and try drops from Italy, Hungary, Greece, South Africa and beyond. Plus, snacky plates like oysters, roasted celeriac and kingfish aguachile.

Everyone (and their dog) is welcome at this bar, inspired by a short-lived Italian micronation from the ’60s. BYO food, enjoy Victorian brewers on tap, have a glass of natural wine and hang out with the locals.

This colourful 350-capacity outpost for the beloved Beechworth brewery offers 30 taps, two bars and a jet-setting menu of crowd-pleasers. And it’s a working brewery, too, which means all of the Bridge Road favourites, plus site-exclusive special releases.

This neighbourhood wine bar isn’t just a special-occasion spot. Stop by the casual front bar for mostly Victorian wines, the chef’s table for Euro-leaning snacks, or the stocked pantry for a bottle to go.

This wine bar and music hub, in a heritage-listed theatre, feels like a hidden cave. Come for its lo-fi wines, DJs and fun vibes. The best part? The vintage Altec Landing sound system that once graced the Sydney Opera House.

Watch chefs prepare Italian dishes at this upstairs wine bar, from the team behind the longstanding family-run grocer downstairs. Select a drop from two cellars’ worth of imported Italian wine. And consult the official head of cheese on the extensive selection of formaggio.

This dark and moody spot celebrates a bygone era of late-night drinking and dining. Come for an inventive cocktail menu inspired by Beethoven’s fifth symphony, rare spirits and wild boar croquettes.

This corner pub is from some of the crew that revamped the Royal Oak Hotel and The Marquis of Lorne. Visit for a retro menu filled with fun takes on pub staples – plus an outdoor bar with a retractable roof.

Bookmark this cocktail-forward Mexican diner for date night (or drinks with the crew). The bold cocktails have traditionally made agave spirits. Hot sauce bottles and modern Mexican wine bar food fill the neon-lit venue.

At 24 storeys high, this bar and diner boasts some of the finest views of Melbourne, extending from the CBD as far as the Dandenong Ranges. The retractable glass rooftop ensures you can enjoy its Cali-cool style and al fresco dining all year round.

This all-day eatery, bar and florist is the relaxed sibling to La Pinta, the buzzy Spanish-style bar over the road. Come for wine by the litre, house-made charcuterie, delicious things on toast and seasonal floral arrangements.

At this neighbourhood pub, enjoy traditional English fare – including Scotch eggs, fish finger sandwiches, and classic roasts – while sipping on a cocktail inspired by a cup of tea.