The best new places to drink this summer in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs
On the hunt for some places to drink in the sun? We’ve found some of the best new bars for you to visit this summer in Melbourne and across the state.
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There’s already an abundance of bars in Melbourne’s city and surrounds.
But nothing is more enjoyable than checking out new (or revamped) watering holes.
Here’s where you can order your next drink.
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THE ESPY
It’s baaack. And how. The Espy will open its doors on Friday after three years and many, many zeros spent on giving St Kilda’s grandest dame a whole new lease on life.
St Kilda’s 140-year icon has been born anew thanks to the Sand Hill Road Group, which is nodding to the Espy’s history and acknowledging its past while keeping eyes firmly on the future.
A new generation is about to discover the joys of long days and lost nights at one of Melbourne’s most important pubs.
The vibe: The famous Gershwin Room will be again the home of world-class gigs, while a smaller basement stage takes care of more specialist tastes. That’s the music taken care of.
A huge open-air terrace (with retractable roof, natch), public bar (where thongs and singlets straight off the beach are welcomed) and expansive main bar take care of the crowds, while a top floor cocktail lounge — named the Ghost of Alfred Felton — takes good care with refined cocktails and sunset views across the palms to the bay. It’s a multifaceted wine-dine-goodtime playground with spaces and places for the 2000-strong crowd to discover.
Thirsty? Not for long. House barrel-aged spirits join an extensive worldly array of booze in the Ghost’s sophisticated apothecary surrounds, while taps pour tank-fresh beers downstairs. The cocktail, beer and wine game is strong no matter where you are, thanks to wine guy Matt Skinner who’s ensured the fridges are filled with accessible interest at every level.
Hungry? Chef Ashly Hicks has all bases covered, whether meats from the huge rotisserie, pizzas from the wood-oven, a smart selection of classics — including a cracking parma, of course — while Mya Tiger is a mod Cantonese restaurant that promises Chongqing wings and charsiu bao and XO pipis to go with the all the roasted duck, pork and crisp-skinned chicken.
What are you waiting for? The Espy is back for summer and not a moment too soon. Pay her a visit, she can’t wait to see you.
11 The Esplanade, St Kilda. hotelesplanade.com.au
JOHNNY’S GREEN ROOM
It’s been many years in the making but Carlton’s multifaceted King & Godfree wine dine emporium is finally ready to launch and the rooftop bar, Johnny’s Green Room that’s named after a popular 60s late-night Carlton haunt, will open in Dec.
The vibe: The new rooftop version of Johnny’s swaps the notorious pool hall vibe for unmatched 360-degree views over Melbourne, with neon, terrazzo and tunes adding to the Roman rooftop party feels.
Thirsty? Johnny’s will serve up classic cocktails, beer on tap, easy drinking wines.
Hungry? A simple offering of burgers and cheese platters keeps snacker happy, with gelato from Pidapipo a perfectly sweet full stop.
Rooftop, 293 Lygon St, Carlton. kingandgodfree.com
BOMBA ROOFTOP
One of the city’s hidden gems of a drinking spot high on Lonsdale St, Bomba’s rooftop reopened mid-year with a new look that includes a second, covered, terrace that doubles the capacity of the space, with the central copper bar as much a focal point as the striking cityscape.
The vibe? Bomba’s Spanish style comes shaken with a good shot of Melbourne.
It’s no longer the coolest kid on the block, and that makes Bomba even better for a spontaneous top-end-of-town drink. The welcome is warm, the beer is cold and the food is excellent.
Thirsty? A new focus on gins — paired with bespoke tonics and garnishes, the range includes their own made in collaboration with Kyneton’s Animus Distillery — augments the always-strong line in sherries and a cracking Spanish cellar filled with good drinking. Six taps pour all-Vic crafties, including the smashable Bomba lager.
Hungry? Named after the Barcelona music venue where they were first served, the Catalan toasted sandwich known as a bikini is on top-shelf snacking duties here.
The traditional smoked ham and cheese is joined by a posh version made with Iberico jamon and truffle, as well as a pickle-spiked, cheesy confit chicken number that’s outrageously good. Plates of cheese and jamon, crunchy croquettes and patas bravas all prove unsurprisingly good friends to sangria.
103 Lonsdale St, city. bombabar.com.au
TRINKET
When you want to escape the long-light nights and the sweaty heat of summer, Trinket offers welcome respite. Walk past the life-size trinket in the mirrorball-lit entry (her name’s Gen, apparently), skip the plush emerald velvet couches twinkling under chandelier light and instead push past the bookcase door and descend the stairs where a world of after-dark delights awaits.
The vibe? Smartly attired staff here in this cellar bar will bring you spiked cordials and classic cocktails, with this table-serviced cocoon the quieter cousin to the DJ-decked soundtrack above. It’s cool, calm and very sophisticated.
Hungry? A range of flatbreads are on booze-sopping duties and come with an array of terrifically tasty toppings. A generously topped meatball number is a classic of the genre, while fig and goat’s cheese teamed with diced black pudding is alluringly sweet and heady.
87 Flinders Lane, city. trinketbar.com.au
RED PIGGY
Melbourne might be most famed for its wealth of hidden laneway bars, but drinking high in the sky looks set to be the next thing our tourism bodies shout from the rooftops. And why would we tire of seeing the city from heights anew? Red Piggy is the latest to offer a new vista to drink in, a three-week old eat-drinkery with a SE Asian bent.
The vibe? A yet-to-be-discovered gem, this handsome space has dropped shoppers and seasoned sippers sorted alike, its walls of living greenery giving tropical greenhouse appeal to the outside, while cheeky neon adds Insta-appeal to the geometrically tiled inside.
Thirsty? Fruit-driven cocktails continue the tropical theme, while beers from Laos, Vietnam and Thailand slake summertime thirsts.
Hungry? A share-plate friendly menu from chef Kim-Maree Moore (Seamstress, Botherambo) turns up the sweet, sour, salt and spice across dishes that include mini bahn mi, pretty little prawn-topped crisp rice paper, tofu in a spicy, sticky caramel and wagyu with hot-sour pineapple. The $30 a head feed me option is great value.
Level 3, 263 Lt Bourke St, city. redpiggy.com.au
DUKE ROOFTOP
What was the Dutchess restaurant at the Duke of Wellington — Melbourne’s oldest pub — has been revamped into the Duke rooftop bar, where the heated balcony enjoys views across the treetops to the Forum and a new pub-style snack menu complements the cracking cocktails.
The vibe? Sport on big screens has replaced the large luxurious leather booths that were such a drawcard for Dutchess — a few are still here but they’re now joined by tall stools inside and tables on the covered balcony outside. Its central location on the route to Melbourne Park makes this a perfect pit stop to and from the tennis.
Thirsty? The team make an excellent Aperol spritz that’s even better at a happy hour $10, you’ll find Furphy for $12.50 a pint and a tight list of mainly local wines served by two sizes of glass — normal and very thirsty (250ml).
Hungry? They had us at “chicken parma burger”. Also “lasagne croquettes”. The former is everything you’d expect of a parma just in easy-access bun form; the latter are garlic-crumbed, mince-layered pocket rockets of flavour. No carbs for you? There are a few raw/poke bowls that come guilt free.
Rooftop, 146 Flinders St, city. dukeofwellington.com.au
CAPTAIN BAXTER
Long St Kilda’s favourite spot for a good ol’ Sunday session in the sun — and still is — the good Captain has had a marvellously bright and breezy makeover in time for this summer.
The expansive deck is the spot to soak up the rays, while in the Hamptons-chic dining room the retractable roof lets the sunshine in.
The vibe: The dress code’s been loosened — coming in off the beach is now encouraged — but the team runs a tight ship. The young and pretty are here for the Pornstar martinis, while the rest of us are here to drink in the incredible view.
Thirsty? There’s a nice line in suitably themed cocktails — a Tiki-style Captain’s punch; a smoky “gunpowder margarita” — are augmented by clever booze-free creations, while $13.50 CUB pints and bright, local-leaning wines take care of bigger thirsts.
Hungry? No one’s going wanting thanks to a large menu of summertime faves given inspired Asian twists, while the seafood platter and fish and chips are classics done with real class. See this week’s restaurant review for the full rundown of the great eating to be done.
St Kilda Sea Baths. captainbaxter.com.au
MORGAN’S
Morgan’s Beach Shack is the opening salvo in the transformation of Sorrento’s foreshore that the huge Continental Hotel development will herald when it opens next year. But for this summer, the refurbished Morgan’s will be the place where the chic and cheerful go for beachy bites and bottles of sav blanc on ice.
The vibe? A bright, light, breezy delight, Morgan’s caters to families with kids by day at the beach shack and those seeking respite from their charges in the wine bar by night.
Thirsty? Mornington Peninsula Brewery takes care of the taps while a tight list of well-chosen local drops by bottle and glass is all class.
Hungry? Seafood platters, lobster rolls, mussel pots, local calamari — that’s the thrust of the menu created by Dave Stewart (Ascot Food Store) that’s elegant in its simplicity.
1/3 The Esplanade, Sorrento. beachshacksorrento.com.au
BAR NOIR
Hidden in plain sight on Mornington’s Main St is Bar Noir, where streetside tables and veranda seating provide prime people-watching sipping spots, while inside a menu of punch-above-weight share plates provide as compelling a reason to stop by as the excellent cocktails.
The vibe? A cross section of pan-generational locals sharing their new favourite discovery with their friends are joined by weekenders who’ve hit the jackpot by lucking into one of the peninsula’s best new spots.
Thirsty? Owner Ben Townsend is behind the bar putting his two decades of shaking and stirring to excellent use. The signature noir martini is a black-and-white evocation of Australia that’s a showstopper on the two-dozen deep list. A couple of beers on tap and a short wine list round it out.
Hungry? These plates are up there with some of the best you’ll find anywhere down here — kangaroo threaded on smoking bluegum, lamb kataifi cigars, and whipped white taramasalata with warm flatbread are just some of the don’t-miss hits. The cooking is both playful and precise — and undeniably delicious.
Bar Noir, 37 Main St, Mornington. facebook.com/barnoirbarnoir
ARBORY AFLOAT
This 69-metre floating behemoth has docked for summer on the banks of the Yarra. Last year’s surprise hit has returned even bigger, with two levels of pontoon drinking and dining offered from 11am until 1am daily — with bookings taken at lunchtime.
The vibe: It’s a colourful slice of Italian riveria with a crowd whose frocks are floaty, whose polos are popped and where socks are definitely an endangered species. Sure to be a firm fave with office Christmas parties.
Thirsty? Gins and tonic are a focus — eight worldly drops each come with bespoke tonic and garnishes — while wines are no slouch, either. Aperol Spritz on tap makes it too easy to say yes to aperitivo hour.
Hungry? The craned-in woodfired pizza gets a workout and those pizzas are damn good. Other Italian-inspired fare from chef Nick Bennett is equally well executed.
Arbory Afloat, northbank Yarra River, city. arboryafloat.com.au
ADMIRAL ARKLE
From the same team from Mornington’s beloved wine bar Brass Razu comes this first floor English-style tavern.
The vibe: Boasting an expansive open-air balcony with water glimpses, inside is decked out in sea-shanty chic. Providing quiet respite from the busy Main St below, it’s a top spot for sips in the sun.
Thirsty? The Admiral’s Ale — a crisp lager — is a quenching winner on a warm day, while thanks to the Brass Razu’s cellar, the wine list is filled with an excellent selection of local heroes.
Hungry? By day the crumbed fish finger sandwich is not to be missed — though there will be many who can’t go past the chip butty — while the Ploughman’s Platter is a generous selection of mini pork pies, pate, Red Leicester and quail eggs.
Upstairs, 25A Main St, Mornington. admiralarkle.com.au
AND A FEW MORE
— Richmond’s much-loved National Hotel (344 Victoria St) has refurbished its expansive beer garden into a handsome outdoor dining room, where katsu Wednesdays are a hump-day hit.
— Hoegaarden has taken over The Osborne rooftop (119 Commercial Rd, South Yarra) with a menu specially created to pair with the popular wheat beer.
—In the city, a few drinks on the Heroes rooftop (188 Bourke St) provides ample fuel to fire the karaoke below.
— Down on the west coast, expect more of the same natural wine/crafty brews and rocking chicken from Aaron Turner’s Anglesea outpost of his Hot Chicken Project.
— MoVida has the sangria sorted and terrific tapa at the Lorne Hotel this summer.
— And finally, the boys from Preston’s Dexter, who have moved into the city with their worldly barbecue restaurant Cheek, are getting ready to add two more floors of fun above.
Come summer, Peaches will include a rooftop bar and a menu of “fun, fatty, rich booze sopping food” (301 Swanston St).
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