Melbourne bars you need to try

1 Malthouse Lane, Melbourne CBD

If you’re a fan of theatre, you’ll love Eau De Vie where cocktails are served with everything from liquid nitrogen to fire. 

Eau De Vie is not easy to find, and you’d be forgiven for walking past it altogether, tucked so far down an alley way with only a single vintage streetlamp hanging above the door to signify the entrance. 

This bar is perfect for an after-dinner drink to see the night out. 

501 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD

If you love trying locally made beers, as well as other delicious wines, cocktails, and fresh Victorian produce, Bourke Street Green is the place for you.  

Nestled right in the heart of the city, the emphasis of this place is ‘local’, showcasing market leading dishes that are unique to our great city 

With big share platters, an open-air roof, it’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon or evening catching up with loved ones with a martini in hand.

111 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD

Bar Margaux sits underneath a French bistro and is only accessible via a staircase that has a simple sign reading ‘MGX’.

This basement bar is one of the best cocktail bars in Melbourne’s CBD, with a drinks list so long, it would take you an entire night just to read it from start to finish.  

Open late and serving French dishes like snails and duck fritte, this is a great bar to sit long into the night enjoying a place of privacy amongst a bustling CBD.   

Level 4/264 Swanston Street, Melbourne CBD

Because most cult bars are underground or in unassuming alleyway, you might be surprised to know Goldilocks is on a rooftop. 

You’ll sit five stories high above the city with uninterrupted views down Swanston Street, allowing you to watch the Melbourne CBD light up at night while sipping your favourite drink.  

And don’t worry, the rooftop is covered, so it's a great spot even in the winter and rainy summer days. 

389 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD

With red neon lights and wooden booths, Golden Money takes its style inspiration from old school Shanghai. 

Unlike some other must-visit bars where the emphasis is on the cocktails, Golden Monkey places just as much importance on music and dancing, making this a great bar to dance the night away with family and friends after a dinner out.  

87 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD

Getting into Trinket is designed like a maze and feels like it’s been plucked from a fantasy film. 

On the ground floor you have a luxurious cocktail bar, but not too far from the entrance, the secret awaits.  

First, you enter a wardrobe, then push past the hanging clothes and the back door magically slides open. You then head down a flight of stairs into a small cocktail lounge where the seating is very limited – so try heading there outside of peak hour to ensure you get the full experience. 

Now you know of some of Melbourne’s best bars, get out and about in the CBD and discover the theatre that awaits down those unassuming laneways and streets.