The best new bars in Melbourne
Melbourne, you deserve a drink. Add these new places to your watering hole rotation and it’ll be almost as good as a holiday. Opening hours might be a little different right now, always check with venues before visiting.
Curious
Just opened in Melbourne’s $1.24 billion Collins Arch Building is the city’s first ever W Hotel. After you’ve checked out the top floor pool and cocktail bar, head all the way downstairs to Curious. Wander past walls of ticking clocks and emerge in a neon-lit, cocoon-esque cocktail wonderland. You don’t even have to be a guest to visit.
Sojourn Melbourne
Part rooftop bar, part local produce diner, 100% your next laneway cocktail destination. Wander up Little Collins Street and let the royal blue façade of Sojourn sneak up on you out of nowhere. The uniquely designed shipping container-style spot is one of Melbourne’s newest hidden gems, right next to Scott Pickett’s Chancery Lane.
Farmer’s Daughters rooftop
Farmer’s Daughter is a three-storey culinary wonderland dedicated to all things local. Go upstairs for a lush green rooftop space, serving all Australian spirits with garnishes grown on site. Think spicy margaritas, signature martinis, grapefruit soda spritzes and more. Bar snacks include house made soda bread, cultured butter and seasonal cheeseboards.
Nick and Nora’s
Champagne towers, nitro cocktails and a ’70s inspired fit out. Nick and Nora’s is extra in all the right ways. Head in for a night out and enjoy smoke-filled bubble cocktails, espresso martinis served in a frozen haze and more. Hungry? Oysters, lobster rolls and charcuterie boards are available for snacking.
Cathedral Coffee Wine Bar
Days at Cathedral are filled with Italian sandwiches, Portuguese tarts and espresso. But we’ll be hanging around after hours for their new late-night bar. Order natural wines from local producers for a unique, tart twist on your usual drop. Pair with refined small plates like white anchovy on fennel slaw, aged cheese plates and more.
Summer’s Garden Bar
With limited seating and lantern-lit decor, Summer’s Garden really feels like you’re in a tiny Tokyo laneway bar. The team sources ‘super rare’ whisky (like a 100+ year-old bottle of Nikka), along with a great range of sakes and wine. For a relaxing time, make it a Summer’s Garden time.
Bijou
In the site of a 100+ year-old building comes Bijou, the latest boozy expedition by the team behind Gin Palace. Pop in for a takeaway bottle of something fancy (like local dry gin from the Melbourne Gin Company) or hang around for cocktails and crudités.
Handpicked Cellar Door at 80 Collins
Cheese and wine. We really can’t name a better duo, and Handpicked pairs them to perfection. The Melbourne outpost of this five-star winery is the perfect spot for luxe knock offs, pre-theatre drinks or after dinner nightcaps. Experience the vineyard range with a wine and cheese flight, or peruse the fridge display for your fave new fromage.
Reopening soon
Stay tuned for announcements.
The Barrel Room
The Barrel Room is Next Hotel’s very own wood-ageing program for spirits, cocktails and herbal liquors. Visit to see the decanting process, arrange an exclusive tasting or request something to be barrel-aged on site. Want the full experience? Book one of a mere eight seats at the table and get immersed.
If you would like more information, head over to the official What’s On Website where we sourced this information from:
