10 Best Pubs in Melbourne
Melbourne’s pub scene in this comparison spans Irish music and poetry, craft beer, whisky-led bars, rooftop dining, interactive games, cocktails and bottomless brunch. The right choice depends on whether you want a quiet drink, a meal, live entertainment or a planned group occasion.
Our method for this guide
This guide does not try to list everyone. It is our pick of pubs in Melbourne, built on each business's public reputation and on how central this service is to what it does.
Featured positions are clearly marked and only offered to businesses that already earned their place in the guide.
Full Comparison of 10 Pubs in Melbourne
Ballers Clubhouse
Ballers Clubhouse is a Melbourne CBD entertainment venue built around interactive games, food, drinks and events. With six bars, a patio, virtual reality, private karaoke rooms and bookable group packages, it suits team building, birthdays, date nights and lively group outings. Its event offering includes per-person packages and function bookings.
Notable strengths: Brings interactive games, dining and dancing together
Team-building sessions and workplace eventsBirthdays, date nights and group nights out2 Coverlid Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000, AustraliaWhisky and Alement
Whisky and Alement is an intimate Melbourne bar built around a rotating selection of more than 1,000 whiskies. Staff provide knowledgeable recommendations, and the venue runs whisky classes alongside its bar service. A bottle shop adds the option to buy rare single malts, while beer, wine and cocktails broaden the choice beyond whisky.
Notable strengths: More than 1,000 rotating whiskies are available
Whisky enthusiasts exploring a large rotating selectionPeople wanting guided whisky recommendations or classes270 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000, AustraliaWhisky Den
Whisky Den is a cosy Melbourne bar focused on whisky, with cocktails, beer, wine and spirits also available. Its intimate yokōchō-inspired setting supports quiet drinks and guided exploration, while staff discuss flavour profiles and regions and recommend options to suit individual tastes. The selection includes whiskies from Japan, Scotland, Australia and other countries.
Notable strengths: Offers a selection of nearly 400 whisky expressions
Whisky drinkers wanting to explore international and Australian expressionsVisitors seeking knowledgeable guidance by flavour or regionPeople after an intimate spot for a quiet drink2B/27 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000, AustraliaBouvardia
Bouvardia is a small cocktail bar on level two in Melbourne, with couches, wall seating and a relaxed atmosphere shaped by lounge music that allows conversation. Its drinks menu takes an experimental approach, pairing carefully curated cocktails with unusual flavours and ingredients. Bartenders also provide recommendations, including suggestions for nearby bars.
Notable strengths: An experimental cocktail menu with distinctive flavour combinations
Conversation-led drinks in a relaxed settingDrinkers interested in experimental cocktailsSolo visitors or pairs seeking bartender recommendations2/169 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, AustraliaThe George on Collins
The George on Collins is an upmarket Melbourne restaurant and bar serving contemporary Asian-inspired dishes. Its menu has included Chifa and Nikkei cuisine, Thai dishes, dumplings, ceviche, seafood fried rice, crispy barramundi and contemporary desserts, alongside cocktails and a broad wine selection. Bar seating and a bar menu make it a flexible option for a long dinner or drinks-led visit.
Notable strengths: The menu brings together Asian-inspired styles including Chifa, Nikkei and Thai influences
Long dinners centred on contemporary Asian-inspired foodDiners wanting cocktails, wine and bar-top service alongside a meal162-168 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, AustraliaThe Drunken Poet
The Drunken Poet is a snug West Melbourne pub built around Irish music, poetry, Guinness and trivia, with portraits of famous authors shaping its literary atmosphere. It suits visitors after an unpretentious pint, live gigs, a jukebox or a cosy place to spend time with friends.
Notable strengths: Irish music and poetry are central to the pub’s identity
Guinness drinkers seeking an Irish-themed pubPeople interested in poetry, literature, trivia and live musicVisitors wanting a relaxed late-night drinking spot65 Peel St, West Melbourne VIC 3003, AustraliaCaretaker's Cottage
Caretaker's Cottage is a Melbourne bar focused on cocktails, beer and wine, with live performances and dancing. Its cosy, characterful setting suits groups, pre-drinks and high-energy nights out. Bartenders create distinctive cocktails, and some performances include DJs working behind the bar, giving the venue a social, music-led feel rather than a quiet drinking-room atmosphere.
Notable strengths: Cocktail bartenders may also DJ during service
Creative cocktails and lively pre-drinksGroups and high-energy nights outVisitors wanting live music, dancing and a social bar setting139-141 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, AustraliaThe Local Taphouse
The Local Taphouse is a St Kilda pub built around craft beer, live music and comedy. Its roomy tavern combines old-school furnishings with a bocce court, while the venue also offers a rooftop or outdoor area and a food menu. A tasting paddle can be selected from five beers, making it useful for exploring the tap list.
Notable strengths: The venue combines craft beer with live music, comedy and a bocce court
Groups meeting for craft beer, food, live music or comedyBeer drinkers who want to sample several tapsVisitors looking for indoor and outdoor pub areas184 Carlisle St, St Kilda VIC 3182, AustraliaMarquis of Lorne
Marquis of Lorne is a Fitzroy pub serving global bar bites, craft beer, pub favourites, wine and sit-down meals across a characterful venue with exposed brick, an upstairs dining room and rooftop tables. Its function offering suits small groups, birthday celebrations and after-work drinks.
Notable strengths: A combination of global bar bites, craft beer and rooftop seating
Small groups and relaxed pub dinnersGluten-free, vegetarian and vegan diners411 George St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, AustraliaState of Grace
State of Grace is a Melbourne cocktail bar, restaurant and cellar bar serving Modern European food in a highly visual setting that includes a mounted giraffe. It suits drinks, rooftop brunches and relaxed meals, with cocktails ranging from Amaretto Sours and Margaritas to Martinis and Negronis. Bottomless brunch includes unlimited cocktails and drinks for a two-hour sitting at $80 per person.
Notable strengths: Kitsch decor, including a mounted giraffe, gives the venue a memorable identity
Cocktails and Modern European dining in a distinctive settingRooftop brunches and group celebrationsA two-hour bottomless brunch with selected food, cocktails, wine and beer27 King St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
The numbers on the map match the positions in the list.
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What the listed pubs offer
- Craft beer and tastingsThe Local Taphouse is built around craft beer and offers a five-beer tasting paddle alongside food, music, comedy and outdoor areas.
- Whisky explorationWhisky and Alement lists more than 1,000 rotating whiskies, while Whisky Den offers nearly 400 expressions and guidance by flavour or region.
- Cocktails and conversationBouvardia offers experimental cocktails in a small lounge setting, while Caretaker’s Cottage brings cocktails together with live performances and dancing.
- Pub meals and diningMarquis of Lorne serves global bar bites, pub favourites, craft beer, wine and sit-down meals, while The George on Collins offers Asian-inspired dining.
- Games and group eventsBallers Clubhouse combines interactive games, six bars, virtual reality, private karaoke rooms, food and bookable functions.
- Rooftop and brunch occasionsState of Grace offers rooftop brunches and a two-hour bottomless brunch with selected food, cocktails, wine and beer.
How to choose a pub in Melbourne
- Pick the main reason for goingChoose between a focused drink, a full meal, live entertainment, a tasting experience, a date night or a group event.
- Consider the sound and energyThe Drunken Poet and Whisky Den suit more intimate drinking, while Caretaker’s Cottage and Ballers Clubhouse are more social and lively.
- Match drinks to your tasteCompare craft beer, whisky, experimental cocktails, wine or broader bar menus before deciding where to go.
- Check seating and group fitRooftops, patios, upstairs rooms, private karaoke and function options suit different group sizes and occasions.
- Plan around bookings and timingSome compact venues recommend bookings when busy; Marquis of Lorne also recommends booking for larger groups and busy dining periods.
Frequent questions
Which listed pub is known for Irish music and poetry?
The Drunken Poet in West Melbourne is built around Irish music, poetry, Guinness and trivia.
Where can I try several craft beers?
The Local Taphouse offers a tasting paddle selected from five beers.
Which venues focus on whisky?
Whisky and Alement and Whisky Den are the dedicated whisky-led options, with recommendations and, at Whisky and Alement, whisky classes.
Is there a pub option for interactive group entertainment?
Ballers Clubhouse offers interactive games, virtual reality, private karaoke rooms, food, drinks and bookable group functions.
