Melbourne’s bar scene continues to thrive with new and exciting venues that cater to diverse tastes and preferences. Whether you’re a fan of cocktails, whiskey, or natural wines, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant city. Here, we explore eight new bars that have recently opened their doors in Melbourne, each offering a unique experience.
Best New Bars in Melbourne You Must Visit
1. Torino Aperitivo
Torino Aperitivo is the latest addition to Melbourne’s bustling bar scene, brought to you by the expert team behind Beneath Driver Lane. This new bar aims to introduce Melbourne to the delightful culture of aperitivo, a cherished Italian tradition of enjoying light, flavorful bites alongside a few drinks.
The focus here is on creating a perfect balance between the sweetness of aperitifs and the vibrancy of Melbourne’s unique food scene.
As you step into Torino Aperitivo, you’ll be greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere that instantly makes you feel at home. The bar has an impressive selection of local, Italian, and tap beers, along with two custom-installed Torino Negroni and Torino Spritz taps, ensuring that the drinks keep flowing all evening.
The cocktail menu is a delightful mix of refreshing new creations, such as the Galliano milk punch and the Friuli sour, which are sure to entice your taste buds.
The menu is thoughtfully curated with a range of Aperitivo, Amaro, and Digestivo options, all sorted by flavor profile, making it easy for you to choose your preferred drink.
Whether you’re a seasoned cocktail enthusiast or new to the world of aperitifs, Torino Aperitivo has something for everyone.
Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: 2 pm – 12 am
Closed on Sundays and Mondays
Location: 2 Driver Lane, Melbourne 3000
Contact details:
Phone: 0468 300 353
Email: ciao@torinoaperitivo.com.au
Visit website: Click here
2. Cameo
Take your drinks sky-high at Cameo, Melbourne’s most chic and intimate cocktail bar located inside the Ritz Carlton.
Crowned a finalist in the Best Hotel Awards for 2024, Cameo blends the elegance of Melbourne with the sophistication of New York in its sleek and stylish space. The bar features dark wood panelling, mirrored walls, and soft furnishings throughout, creating a warm and elevated area to chill in style.
Cameo is on the 80th floor of the Ritz, offering jaw-dropping views of Melbourne sparkling below. The bar’s menu is evidence of its dedication to quality, featuring world-class spirits, vintage drops, expertly shaken cocktails, and select wines by the glass.
At Cameo, you can taste a variety of antique cocktail list that transport you back in time. For example, the 1917 Sidecar is made using Calvet Grande champagne cognac from 1917, the 1930 Old Fashioned uses Hiram Walker’s fine bourbon from 1930, and the 1931 Manhattan features Barclay Gold rye from 1931.
The combination of delicious drinks and breathtaking views makes Cameo, one of the best new bars in Melbourne. It is a must-visit destination for cocktail lovers and anyone looking to experience a touch of luxury.
Opening Hours:
Sunday, Wednesday to Saturday: 5 pm – 11 pm
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Location: Level 80, The Ritz Carlton, 650 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Visit website: Click here
3. Pour Diane
Pour Diane is a 1970s-inspired bar that takes you on a nostalgic journey back in time. Created by Andy and Tina Buchan, this eclectic bar is decorated with unique items such as porcelain panthers, a rotating tiger bed, and a backroom cellar stocked with rare Jura wines.
Walking through the bright red front door of Pour Diane feels like stepping into the vibrant and playful era of the 1970s.
The interior features a wall of French, European, and Australian natural wine list, vibrant green chairs centred around a cherry-red table, chrome lamps, a chess set, a fireplace, and a wood-panelled bar.
The eclectic shop boasts an epic selection of somewhere between 200 and 300 cellar bottles, focusing on small, boutique wineries.
Natural wine lovers can enjoy their drinks by the glass or bottle, with a flat corkage fee. The bar snacks menu is simple yet delightful, featuring bread, tinned seafood, cheese, and the occasional terrine or tapenade.
Pour Diane is one of the best new bars in Melbourne that offers a cosy and nostalgic atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy a glass of natural wine in good company.
Opening Hours:
Thursday to Saturday: 5 pm – 9 pm
Sunday: 2 pm – 9 pm
Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
Location: 472 Victoria Street, North Melbourne
4. Goodwater
Goodwater is a watering hole that takes its whiskey seriously, offering more than 250 American whiskeys. However, this bar is not just for whiskey lovers. With playful cocktails on tap, imported beers, and an American bar snacks menu, Goodwater caters to a wide range of tastes.
Behind the heritage fronting, you’ll find a space with warm light, high ceilings, huge windows flung open on sunny afternoons, and a covered outdoor area at the back.
Goodwater’s whiskey selection includes classic big names, newer craft distilleries, special bottlings, and experimental releases. For cocktails, you can find three versions of each flavour profile: boozy, a longer and lower ABV version, and a non-alcoholic option.
The beer selection features imported American brands and Australian brews in American styles. The wine list includes Australian drops from Yugen, Hey Tomorrow, and Unico Zelo. Beside the back bar, a baby blue Smeg fridge dispenses drinks on tap, such as a Nitro Espresso Martini.
The food menu perfectly fits the American bar vibe, offering crinkle-cut fries with Old Bay Seasoning and smoked oyster aioli, shrimp po’ boys, deep-fried pickle chips, French onion grilled cheese sandwiches, and classic artichoke and spinach dip.
Goodwater provides a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, making it one of the best new bars in Melbourne to unwind with friends.
Opening Hours:
Sunday: 2 pm – 12 am
Wednesday to Thursday: 5 pm – 12 am
Friday: 5 pm – 1 am
Saturday: 2 pm – 1 am
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Location: 300 High Street, Northcote 3070
Visit website: Click here
5. Aster
Aster is a cocktail and wine bar that offers a completely updated experience from its ancestor, Ferdydurke. Located in a loft space, Aster blends warm lighting, wooden finishes, and whitewashed brick walls to create a cosy and modern atmosphere.
While the fireplace and glass brick window sills remain the same, the rest of the space looks and feels completely different.
The menu, designed by Public Works executive chef Jarrod Moore, features a range of delicious dishes. Highlights include fire-roasted peppers with smoked tomato and goat’s cheese and a poached prawn roll with pickled celery and burnt butter aioli.
Aster also hosts DJ nights on Fridays and Saturdays, where you can enjoy live music and perhaps even a bit of dancing, despite the absence of a designated dance floor.
Aster’s cocktail and wine list is sure to impress, offering various options to suit different tastes. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic cocktail or something new and exciting, Aster has you covered. The combination of great food, drinks, and a cosy ambiance makes Aster a must-visit spot in the CBD.
Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Thursday: 5 pm – 12 am
Friday and Saturday: 5 pm – 2 am
Location: Levels 1 and 2/31 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne
Visit website: Click here
6. Santana Rooftop Bar
Santana Rooftop Bar brings a touch of Latin flair to Melbourne’s CBD. Located on the rooftop of a building, this bar offers a sultry and sophisticated atmosphere with South American wines and a selection of brown spirits.
At night, the Santana neon signs illuminate the whole bar in a hazy red light, while plumes of smoke from fine cigars float out into the cityscape, creating a captivating mood.
There’s no need to bring your own cigars to Santana. Operations Manager Jack Tennant has curated a smoking menu featuring everything from Cohiba Shorts ($18) to Partagas Serie D No. 4 ($94). With no food menu, guests can smoke anywhere on the rooftop without being confined to a designated smoking area.
Santana is the perfect place to unwind with a glass of fine South American wine or a premium brown spirit, all while enjoying the vibrant city views. The bar’s relaxed yet sophisticated ambiance makes it a great spot for an evening out.
Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 4 pm – 11 pm
Location: Level 3, 169 Melbourne Place, Melbourne
Visit website: Click here
7. Enoteca Zingara
Enoteca Zingara, brought to you by the team behind Nigella Lawson-approved Alta Trattoria, is a charming wine library that offers a delightful selection of wines and Italian-inspired dishes.
Located just down the road from Alta Trattoria, Enoteca Zingara combines the romance of an elevated wine shop with the comfort of a bar with great bar snacks.
The menu at Enoteca Zingara features dishes from across Italy, with a particular emphasis on Italian bread. Highlights include sardenaira, a cheese-less pizza-like bread from Liguria topped with tomato, olives, capers, and anchovies, and a crostini selection with toppings like whipped salted cod, braised chicken livers, and raw spiced veal sausage with preserved broccoli tops.
The wine list is mainly Italian but also features selections from France, Spain, Austria, and Australia, offering something for every palate.
The bright, light-filled space at Enoteca Zingara is decorated with industrial holophane lights, a long marble-top bar, wine shelves and fridges, and two Lewis Miller paintings of an oyster and a plate of sardines.
Most of the enoteca’s 34 seats are at the bar, but there are also tables to the side and back of the dining room, at the window overlooking Brunswick Street, and on the footpath.
Opening Hours:
Sunday: 12 pm – 11 pm
Monday, Wednesday to Friday: 4 pm – 11 pm
Saturday: 12 pm – 11 pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Location: 334 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Visit website: Click here
8. Le Martini
Le Martini is the world’s first Grey Goose Martini Bar, offering a sophisticated and stylish setting to enjoy expertly crafted martinis and cocktails. Located on the ground floor of Crown Melbourne, this bar promises a perfect blend of sophistication and relaxation.
Le Martini is open for a limited time and aims to guide guests on a sensory journey to a celebration of pleasurable perfection with one of the world’s most iconic cocktails – the martini. The bar features a 34-seat watering hole where visiting bartenders, starting with New York’s Dale DeGroff, will whip up their favourite cocktails.
DeGroff’s career dates back to the Rainbow Room in the 1980s, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to Le Martini.
The menu at Le Martini is not just about one variety of vodka; it celebrates the art of mixology with a variety of crafted cocktails. Guests can indulge in a range of martinis and other drinks, all expertly prepared by renowned bartenders.
Opening Hours:
Thursday to Sunday: 5 pm – late
Location: Ground floor, Crown Melbourne, Southbank
Visit website: Click here
Melbourne’s bar scene is ever-evolving, and these eight new bars in Melbourne offer unique experiences that cater to various tastes and preferences. Whether you’re a whiskey fan, a natural wine lover, or simply looking for a chic spot to enjoy a cocktail, these new bars in Melbourne are sure to impress. Explore and enjoy the vibrant nightlife that Melbourne has to offer!
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