Let’s be real, Melbourne is bloody cold once it gets its winter groove on, which means leaving your house under any circumstance sounds like fresh hell to all of its inhabitants. Fortunately, some of our favourite bar and dining hot spots tend to agree and have decided to make nights out in our CBD more appealing by adding a certain heated beverage to their menus.
Here’s everywhere you can get mulled wine in Melbourne this winter.
Gewürzhaus
CBD/Carlton
You can now get your cold little hands on some complimentary mulled wine tastings from 12pm every day at the spicy Gewürzhaus stores in Melbourne (Carlton, the Block Arcade and Queen Victoria Market). This delicious winter brew features their signature Glühwein Spice blend, plus you can also give their collection of over 350 single-origin spices, herbs, salts, peppers, teas and sugars a sniff too.
Riverland Bar
CBD
If you’re heading home from a footy game or trying to burn some time before boarding a train from Flinders Station, make a stop of Riverland Bar—one of Melbourne’s best Yarra-side watering holes. This winter they’ll be adding a delicious mulled wine to their menu which means impressing your out-of-town mates is as easy as scooting past Fed Square.
Section 8
CBD
You can do a lot with a shipping container, including turning it into one of the hottest bars in town this winter. Section 8 is literally that, with its mish-mosh of wooden pallet seats, potted plants and bright fairy lights, all complemented by a steady stream of live tracks from some of the city’s best DJs. But this little laneway oasis just earned double brownie points with the introduction of mulled wine to its menu.
Left Bank
Southbank
Over on the other side of the river, Left Bank has been busy perfecting the mulled wine recipe themselves. This little number includes an infusion of shiraz with flavours of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, orange, apple, pomegranate and a whisper of star anise. Basically, it’s fancy AF and a great place to burn a hole in your wallet and line a warm wine-y blanket in your tum.
Bohemian Wine Bar
South Wharf
How does rum shiraz infused with cinnamon and orange sound? We thought so. Skip along to Bohemian Wine Bar in South Wharf and you can wrap your lips around a steaming glass of it. Other winter beverages that might change your skip to a sprint include a marmalade mule, and honey and lavender prosecco. Plus, there are also whispers of baked camembert with thyme, confit garlic and fennel pollen…
Common Man
South Wharf
Common Man itself is turning into a bit of a winter wonderland as we speak. Right now they’re actually boasting a pop-up fire garden to celebrate its arrival. But what’s hot on everyone’s lips is their Racey Rosé mulled wine of vanilla and strawberries and cream with macerated strawberries. There’s also the smoked Aberlour whiskey with a chaser of hot cinnamon cider, and a Cabernet mulled wine for the fancy pants among us.
Monk Plonk
Melbourne Public, South Wharf
From June 28 to August 12, Melbourne Public will be home to an Alpine-themed takeover called Mont Plonk. This ritzy setup will feature snuggly fur blankets, sheepskin rugs, cosy fire pits, alcoholic hot chocolate, signature warming cocktails and, of course, amaretto injected mulled wine. If this isn’t a great excuse to get outside, we’re not sure what is.
ReWine
Winter Night Market
If you can stand the crowds, one mulled wine hotspot is ReWine at the Winter Night Market. Simply look for the big neon sign in Shed A and ask for a tall glass of the good stuff. You can even get some mulled syrup to spice up your own mulled wine at home.
The Hof Downtown
Docklands
The Hof is home to the famous homemade Gluhwein (the German equivalent of mulled wine), as well as a menu jam-packed with warm winter favourites, and of course—a long list of bier and schnapps. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to get a bit of culture in ya, this is it.
Hello José
West Melbourne
Just when you thought Mexican cuisine couldn’t get any better, one of its Melbourne-based institutions Hello José goes and adds a classic mulled wine full of cloves, cinnamon and star anise to its menu. PLUS, there’s the José’s Hot Shot, which is half tequila and half ginger syrup. Word on the street is it’s better than a flu injection (it’s definitely not, but the sentiment is there).
Bonus: Arbory Bar & Eatery
CBD
While not mulled wine, Arbory Bar & Eatery are currently serving up hot Willie Smith's apple cider at the moment to beat the cold. It's mixed in with a house-made spice syrup, and you can add Sailor Jerry's rum, Applejack Brandy, or Apple & Chestnut Liqueur if the mood takes you.
Need to warm your hands after warming your insides? Here are Melbourne's best bars with open fireplaces.
Image credit: Riverland Bar