Melbourne’s CBD is a treasure trove for bar lovers, home to some of the best you’ll find in the country. Whether you’re chasing a hidden laneway bar, soaking up the sunset at a rooftop, or settling into a cozy wine bar, there’s something for every vibe.
From classic cocktails to cutting-edge creations, Melbourne’s CBD bars have you covered for any occasion—be it a casual knock-off drink, an afternoon aperitivo, or a full-on night out.
Best Melbourne CBD Bars At A Glance
- Best New Bars In Melbourne CBD
- Most Iconic Bars In Melbourne CBD
- Most Vibey Bars In Melbourne CBD
- CBD Bars That Are Guarnateed To Impress
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Here’s your ultimate guide to the best bars Melbourne CBD has to offer in 2025, according to Urban List.
Best New Bars In Melbourne CBD
Baby Driver
2 Driver Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image: Baby Driver | Supplied
Above Melbourne favourite, Beneath Driver Lane, is its new sister venue Baby Driver. Where Beneath Driver Lane is all underground whisky and blues, Baby Driver is wine, cocktails and DJs spinning 70’s jazz & deep funk. It’s slightly more pinkies out and a little less rock and roll but every bit (or even ‘more’, dare we say it) awesome.
INSIDER INTEL
- On the food front, there’s a new street food pop-up each month. You’ll never get bored of the menu.
- The Lady T Margarita involves earl gray and marmalade. The Midnight Slushie has peanut butter whiskey and housemade cold brew. We cannot pick a favourite.
- Closed Sunday to Tuesday.
Most Iconic Bars In Melbourne CBD
Gin Palace
10 Russell Place, Melbourne CBD
Image: Gin Palace | Supplied
At the very beginning of Melbourne's laneway bar revolution, entrepreneur Vernon Chalker opened Gin Palace on Russell Place in 1997. From day one, gin martinis were the drink of the day and this basement CBD bar quickly became one of Melbourne's most established drinking dens. If that doesn't get you, their gin selection will — it’s the largest in the Southern hemisphere with over 330 gins from all around the world.
INSIDER INTEL
- Save this place for the late night hangs, it closes at 3am every day.
- Wrap your hands around one of their famous chicken sangas.
- Gin and tonics hit different here. Try one.
Cherry Bar
68 Little Collins Street, Melbourne CBD
Image: Cherry Bar Melbourne | Supplied
The embodiment of Melbourne’s rock n roll culture, Cherry Bar may have shifted from its very aptly titled ACDC Lane to Little Collins Street, but there’s still plenty of soul at this live music hub. Follow the neon-lit cherry into one of Melbourne's nightlife Institutions, where blood, sweat and beer is all par de course.
INSIDER INTEL
- Not one for the light hearted, this raucous bar is open ‘til 5am on Friday and Saturday nights, 3am every other night.
- See what gigs are coming up on their website here.
- Entry downstairs is always free.
Section 8
27-29 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne CBD
Set in an old vacant car park, Section 8 is an essential fixture in the Melbourne bar scene. Back in 2006, the owners dropped in a couple of shipping containers, several pallets and wooden crates, started slinging drinks, and it's been a hit ever since. One of the many things that makes this place special is that it’s one of the few open-air bars in the CBD (the others being rooftop staples like Goldilocks and Rooftop Bar.) There aren’t many better drinking spots when the weather’s nice, and the beer’s flowing.
INSIDER INTEL
- Expect to be waiting in line during peak times. It’s a rite of passage.
- It might be outdoors but with the heaters blasting and shared body heat, you’ll be plenty warm enough.
- Head to Section 8 every Tuesday for free underground music by rotating guest DJs.
Caretaker’s Cottage
139-141 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD
You'll find Caretaker's Cottage nestled behind Wesley Place Church in a blue stone heritage listed building. Staying true to the label, this pot-sized watering hole was in fact once a Caretaker's Cottage. Come 2025, the spot resembles something not too dissimilar to a (very small) pub with what could be considered one of Melbourne's most dialled cocktail lists—and with the calibre of the team, it makes sense.
INSIDER INTEL
- A silky pint of Guinness will never go astray here, their pours are picture perfect.
- Tuck yourself away in the nook under the stairs, Harry Potter style.
- Getting in for after work drinks becomes a competition here, arrive early or miss out on a spot. Although you can sprawl out onto the pathway.
Most Vibey Bars In Melbourne CBD
Workshop
1/413 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne CBD
Melbourne will make any available space into a bar, so a motorcycle repair shop would fit the bill. Workshop, located on Elizabeth Street in the CBD, is a tried and tested venue, with cool industrial-chic interiors and a balcony that rivals a rainforest with its plethora of plants. DJs spin the night away and there are always a ton of cheap drink specials so you don’t even have to break the bank.
INSIDER INTEL
- Get $8 schooners of lager, pale ale and cider every Monday to Friday.
- They host gigs, art exhibitions, and markets. Follow their Insta for updates.
- Live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
HER
270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD
This five-storey labyrinth, HER, is up there as one of the best bars in Melbourne CBD. From the collective team behind Arbory and Arbory Afloat, it features its very own Parisian-style restaurant and cocktail bar, a music room, a Thai BBQ diner and a Euro-inspired garden rooftop bar. Take your pick.
INSIDER INTEL
- Aperitivo hour at the bar runs from 4pm to 6pm every day with $10 vinos, $12 fizz and $16 negronis.
- The rooftop has in-floor heating, so no excuses for staying in over winter.
- Level 2 is open for all of July featuring some of Melbourne’s best artists and DJs, and entry is free.
Rooftop
Level 7/252 Swanston Street, Melbourne CBD
A flagship amongst the best CBD bars in Melbourne, Rooftop has long stood as the destination for a quick drink or a long afternoon session that rolls into the night. Atop the iconic Curtain House, Rooftop has open air city views with plenty of wooden nooks and crannies to plant yourself in.
INSIDER INTEL
- Be warned, the multiple levels of stairs did not come to play, take them at your own risk, you’ll be gasping for a well-earned pint at the top. Or take the elevator.
- There’s plenty of seating, a smoking area and when it's chilly, stacks of heaters.
- Happy hour is 4pm to 6pm weekdays, with $10 Stone & Wood pints, $14 peach spritz and $18 watermelon negroni.
Union Electric
13 Heffernan Lane, Melbourne CBD
Union Electric ticks all the boxes of a classic Melbourne hot spot — it’s a laneway rooftop cocktail bar. They’ve been slinging cocktails for over 10 years, so you know they know what they’re doing. An unassuming exterior leads into the rooftop bar where every nook and cranny is typically brimming with eager revellers.
INSIDER INTEL
- Aperitivo hour is 5pm to 7pm every weekday. Get $10 Aperol spritz, $8 gin and tonic, and $9 XXX Gold.
- The soundtrack is old school hip hop and RnB classics.
- Party shirts are the uniform here.
Whitehart
22 Whitehart Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image: Whitehart | Supplied
A multi-level container bar decked out with enough plantlife to turn it into an inner city oasis, Whitehart is a top contender for the best bar in Melbourne's CBD. Throw in plenty of live music to fill your ears and lift your spirit (check their Insta for weekly lineups), and you’ve got a party. Set up shop with a cocktail in one of the green corners or get on the dancefloor to bust a move.
INSIDER INTEL
- They run masterclasses every Monday at 3pm.
- Live pianists set the mood every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
- The seasonal cocktails slay. Like the Teaches Of Peaches, with Buffalo Trace, Marionette Peach, peach nectar, fresh lemon and soda.
Cookie
252 Swanston Street, Melbourne CBD
One of Curtain Houses' many treasures, the combination of Thai food, beer and cocktails is the premise behind Cookie. The result is an atmospheric and bustling space with people lining the opera-style balconettes that offer city views and parked up around the bar that centres the entire space.
INSIDER INTEL
- Turn left when you walk inside to get to the Beer Hall. Tucked inside the hall is where you’ll find the cocktail bar.
- Happy hour means $10 beers and wine, and $15 cocktails, weekdays from 4pm to 6pm. Did someone say after work drinks?
- DJs every Friday and Saturday night until late.
CBD Bars That Are Guaranteed To Impress
Embla
122 Russell Street, Melbourne CBD
Embla is the epitome of quality Melbourne wine bars, a small intimate space that is always filled with punters and an array of wait staff who are well-versed in guiding you through the entire evening. It may be a tighter space than others, but the charm of Embla is what’s made it such a popular spot. Their food and wine is an award-winning pair that established Embla as one of the best bars in Melbourne CBD.
INSIDER INTEL
- They’ve been awarded a Good Food hat, why not have a meal alongside your drinks.
- The wine list is stellar.
- Open until midnight every night except Sunday, when it closes at 5pm.
Eau De Vie
1 Malthouse Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image: Eau De Vie | Supplied
One of Melbourne’s former best-kept secrets, Eau De Vie has handfuls of swank. The semi-prohibition-style bar, with its difficult-to-find and strong old world charm aesthetic, has cemented it as one of Melbourne’s best bars. The trick with Eau de Vie is getting there early and carving out your space. That, or make a booking.
INSIDER INTEL
- There’s a hidden whisky lounge behind a bookcase.
- Get a seat at the bar so you can watch on as the bartenders create their masterpieces.
- Their meat and cheese boards are the perfect drinking snack.
Siglo
2/161 Spring Street, Melbourne CBD
Siglo isn’t your everyday drinking hole. It’s a place to level up your evening, and celebrate special occasions: a big promotion, your first house, or an anniversary nightcap. In a city that chases trends, Siglo sticks with quality instead. The terrace views over Spring Street and Parliament House don’t hurt, and nor do the attentive staff, who can literally answer any alcoholic curveball you throw at them. Come here late, after midnight, light a cigar and enjoy one of CBD's best spectacles.
INSIDER INTEL
- If you indulge in a puff, you can get Cuban cigars straight to your table.
- Lock yourself in for a long-one here, there’s a strict no bookings policy.
- The penicillin cocktail lives up to its name.
Gimlet
33 Russell Street, Melbourne CBD
Image: Gimlet | Supplied
Poised with enough early 20th-century charm to transport you right back in time to a New York or Paris of yesteryear, Gimlet is a cocktail destination like no other. The Andrew McConnell diner is famed as an eatery but also serves as one of the best bars in Melbourne. Adorned in checkered tiles, dark-stained wood, booth seating and a wrap-around bar, it glows with warmth.
INSIDER INTEL
- Here to dine? Make sure you start or finish your experience at the bar.
- Bar snacks involve gnocchi fritto, caviar, and a cheese service.
- Their Campari Seltz is made using a ritual unchanged since 1915. It’s divine.
1806
169 Exhibition Street, Melbourne CBD
Bar 1806 (named after the year in which ‘cocktails’ first appeared) sits alongside Gin Palace and Black Pearl as one of Melbourne’s OG renaissance bars. It opened back in 2007, when most Victorians considered a dirty martini pretty avant-garde, and everything about it, from Tikki and John’s Crazyhouse setting to the stage-cum-bar layout to the 110 whisky bottles behind the bar, everything spoke to a new generation of Melbourne drinkers.
INSIDER INTEL
- If you want something more private, check out The Understudy—a private drinking room with its own menu.
- Their cocktail masterclasses are the perfect drinking adjacent activity.
- There's live jazz every Thursday and Sunday night.
Byrdi
211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne CBD
Simple. Refined. Elegant. In just three words you know all you need to know about Byrdi. The Melbourne CBD bar has a unique approach to its menu, integrating local and native ingredients. Drinks-wise, you’ll find experimental cocktails and highballs with dynamic blends including the fermented, fortified, and smoked.
INSIDER INTEL
- We’re obsessed with the Super Golden Happy Time on the menu right now.
- All cocktails are $30.
- You can these bad boys to-go in glass bottles. Night in plans sorted.
Main Image Credit: Baby Driver
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