The Melbourne CBD is a labyrinth for hidden bars, whether they be upstairs, underground or tucked away at the end of a laneway. You don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to suss them all out though, we’ve done the detective work for you.
Some of these are well and truly hidden, others are hidden in plain sight — ones you could walk right past without realising there’s a bangin’ bar behind the utterly nondescript door.
We want you to be the first in the know. Join Urban List Insiders, we’ll shoot you all Melbourne’s best things to eat, drink and do every week.
We’ve scoured all the nooks and crannies and come up with the best hidden bars Melbourne has to offer in 2025. All you need to do is turn up and find the door.
Apollo Inn
165 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image: Apollo Inn | Supplied
Apollo Inn is the very swish sister venue to Gimlet on Flinders Lane. The 30-seat clandestine bar sits behind leather doors within a 1920s neo-renaissance building, and provides a prohibition-era feel reminiscent of a New York speakeasy-style bar. Inside, the white-jacketed bar staff shave ice by hand and mix cocktails behind the bar, from established classics including four types of martini and speciality aperitifs like the French Picon Biere (Chinotto, blood orange and beer).
INSIDER INTEL
- Martinis are the thing here, just don't ask for yours shaken.
- Their spin on an espresso martini is an absolute belter, it's a lot more subtle and perfect for dessert.
- Check out the snacks including hand-shucked oysters, prawn cocktail, and potato focaccia.
Eau De Vie
1 Malthouse Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image: Eau De Vie | Supplied
Eau De Vie is an award-winning speakeasy bar with great tapas, soft lighting, private booths and soulful jazz to take you into the night. Like a boozy babushka doll, they’ve even got a secret whiskey room hidden behind a bookcase, and that's probably why it's considered one of the best hidden bars in Melbourne in 2025. Taking inspiration from the 1920s, Eau de Vie will transport you back in time to prohibition America—think Gatsby and art deco opulence.
INSIDER INTEL
- Can’t find the entrance? Go through the discreet, unmarked black door.
- They host masterclasses in the whiskey room, so you can impress a date and up your cocktail game at the same time.
- Make sure you reserve a table to avoid disappointment.
Bar 1806
169 Exhibition Street, Melbourne CBD
Home to some of Melbourne’s best cocktails, Bar 1806 is hidden behind a single illuminated doorway among the theatres and restaurants on Exhibition Street. Here, top shelf spirits are king and cocktails are flowing, with faves like an espresso martini taking pride of place on the menu, as well as a classic whisky sour.
INSIDER INTEL
- After something more private? Check out The Understudy—a private drinking room with its own menu.
- Their cocktail masterclasses are the perfect drinking adjacent activity.
- Live jazz every Thursday and Sunday night.
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Loch and Key
34 Franklin Street, Melbourne CBD
Image: Loch And Key | Supplied
Hidden up a rickety staircase behind a bookcase at Captain Melville—one of Melbourne’s oldest bluestone pubs—Loch and Key is a dimly lit bar with quasi-gentleman’s club vibes. If you don’t consider yourself a gentleman, then still head there for The Thistle cocktail—Amaro Montenegro, rye, calvados, PX sherry, Angostura bitters, lemon juice—or keep it simple with a craft beer, of which they have quite an impressive selection. A hot contender for one of the best secret bars Melbourne CBD has to offer for 2025? We think so.
INSIDER INTEL
- One of the best things about Loch & Key is its balcony terrace, with views of the city and music from Melbourne DJs.
- Planning a big one? It’s open ‘til 7am on Friday and Saturday, 5am every other day.
- Order the signature pork belly slider brought from downstairs if you’re feeling peckish.
Berlin Bar
Level 2/16 Corrs Lane, Melbourne CBD
If you can see the Berlin lion, you’re in the right place. Climb the stairs, ring the doorbell and you’ll be permitted entry into Berlin Bar. Apart from being a great hidden spot, it’s also everything you’d want from a Berlin-themed bar, complete with a wall separating the opulent west, from gritty east. On the west side, you’ll find plush booths and on the east, war-stricken crates and grenades—don’t worry, they’re fake. All the drinks are Berlin-themed too, naturally.
INSIDER INTEL
- Up for a chill night? Go for the The Split States house sangria.
- Ready to go all out? Get the Brandenburg Gate — passionfruit and rhubarb with sweet bourbon, citrus fruit and subtle notes of absinthe and carrot. It’ll hit you like a falling wall.
- Happy hour is 5pm to 7pm Monday to Thursday, and you can get $12 steins.
The Attic At Black Pearl
304 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Image: The Attic | Supplied
The Attic is a not-so-secret, hidden Fitzroy bar, tucked upstairs above Black Pearl. Inspired by the speakeasies in America’s deep south, the decor at The Attic definitely fits the bill. They’ve got timber furnishings and dark leather accents, hanging antique lighting and of course, top notch liquor.
INSIDER INTEL
- Try the whisky tasting or go all in with the infamous Death Flip cocktail.
- Check their Instagram for monthly cocktail menus.
- Bookings are recommended, you can make one here.
Jungle Boy
96 Chapel Street, Windsor
Image: Jungle Boy | Supplied
One of the most well-hidden bars in Melbourne, Jungle Boy doesn’t have a sign or even a regular door—you just have to know about it. Make your way through the sandwich shop, walk behind the counter and open the cool room door. Inside is Jungle Boy. As the name suggests, it’s a bar with a jungle feel and an impressive collection of tiki glasses and indoor plants to match. With a wall to wall exposed brick fit-out and a selection of jungle-themed cocktails, this place is like an escape to the wild—minus the spiders.
INSIDER INTEL
- Our top cocktail picks are the Nuclear Colada and Bird Is The Word No.2.
- You’ve got to try their zombies.
- Over 40 rums to choose from, take your pick.
Goldilocks Bar
Level 5/264 Swanston Street, Melbourne CBD
Goldilocks is a hidden fairytale bar tucked away above the Denyer Building on Swanston Street. They’re not too big, they’re not too small, they’re just right in our opinion. With a focus on sustainability and recycling, the bar is committed to bringing local Victorian craft beers and wines to you, alongside their signature fairytale-themed cocktails and bar snacks which are mostly vegan. No big bad wolves allowed, strictly wholesome vibes only.
INSIDER INTEL
- How does $10 pints, spirits and wines sound? Head there for happy hour, 4pm to 6pm.
- Keep warm over winter with boozy hot choccies, mulled wine and blankets.
- All food is provided by vegan favourite Gong De Lin downstairs.
Above Board
306 Smith Street, Collingwood
Image: Above Board | Supplied
Not just one of the best hidden bars Melbourne has to offer, but also one of Melbourne’s best bars hands down. Nestled down a laneway atop Beer Mash in Collingwood, you simply wouldn’t find Above Board if you weren’t looking.
“There's a distinct air of mystery around Above Board with no labels on display really letting you just enjoy the experience. This bad boy has featured on global long lists for world's best bars," says Urban List Melbourne Editor Navarone Farrell.
INSIDER INTEL
- You can’t go wrong with the drinks, perch up and work your way through a cocktail list.
- It’s tricky to seat groups larger than four, save this one for more intimate outings.
- Open 6pm to 1am daily.
Fall From Grace
27 King Street, Melbourne CBD
Below the bustling bar and restaurant, State Of Grace, is this little European-flavoured, hidden cellar bar. Go through the library, locate the hidden door and descend the staircase into Fall From Grace, where the fun really begins. With deeply vintage decor and warm candlelight, it’s a cosy abode you’ll be more than happy to set up shop in.
INSIDER INTEL
- Hint: find a certain book on the bookshelf to open the door.
- The pandan cocktail is a big fave.
- While you’re here, check out State Of Grace's rooftop and main level.
Beneath Driver Lane
3 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Image: Beneath Driver Lane | Supplied
Soul-stirring blues, late-night revelry, and dangerously good cocktails are on the menu at this underground den. Beneath Driver Lane is modelled on the grungy blues bars of New Orleans and the late night music haunts of Paris. The vintage decor, burning candles, and warm lighting work together to create the type of funky atmosphere that makes it very hard to leave. But then again, why would you want to? Probably only to go upstairs to check out their sister venue Baby Driver which is slightly more pinkies out and a little less rock and roll but every bit (or even more, dare we say it) awesome.
INSIDER INTEL
- Live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9pm.
- Follow their Instagram for the monthly music lineup.
- The non-alcoholic cocktails are on point, for those abstaining.
Dessous
164 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image: Dessous | Supplied
Dessous. If you don’t speak French you won’t get the joke: it means under. And Dessous is under its stunning sister venue Hazel on Flinders Lane. But that’s the only thing it’s under.
The maximalist salon chic downstairs sets the mood for the venue, with champagne, wine bottles and kitsch in every nook and cranny, as well as peeps of light from Flinders Lane above. You feel like you’ve found an actual hideaway in the CBD, a place so special no one else knows about it—but that’s definitely not the case, especially come happy hour.
INSIDER INTEL
- Visit on Monday evening for $29 steaks.
- The Thai spiced negroni will put some pep in your step.
- They have an awesome vegan menu as well.
Pizza Pizza Pizza
16 Meyers Place, Melbourne CBD
Image: Pizza Pizza Pizza | Supplied
New York-style jumbo pizzas are hard to come by in Melbourne's CBD, but if you're a sucker for a late-night slice, you'll want to hot-foot it down to Meyers Place to check out Pizza Pizza Pizza. Ask to see the ‘special menu’ (wink wink, nudge nudge) and you might just get to see the behind-the-scenes action. Yep, hidden behind this take-away venue is a retro-inspired bar serving up hard liquor. Pizza AND pina coladas? We’re sold.
INSIDER INTEL
- Open until 3am on Friday and Saturday, the perfect late night hangout.
- The meatball sliders are bang on.
- Get the pizza by the slice or order an entire pie.
Main Image Credit: Dessous | Supplied
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