The way a local bottle shop should be; fully stocked with every alcoholic beverage you can buy at…read morethe big outlets, and not much more expensive than somewhere like Liquor Works. The difference is it's right around the corner, and the service is always friendly. Open seven days per week, til 9pm most nights and 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights. Awesome!!

Rosanna Liquor Store (also known as The Bottle-O) may be small but it is filled with more liquor,…read morewine and beer then you could want or need. The staff are friendly and have great beverage knowledge and as a result they have a loyal customer base. They must be doing something right as they have their competition cut out for them with liquor barns and local retail chains alike all vying for your dollar, and still this independent retail outlet maintains it's presence in Rosanna Village. I drop by occasionally as they do have great specials and sometimes I find something new to try, plus my wine tastes better when I have supported a local business...well I like to think so anyway!

This store is well laid out for it's small size and kept clean and tidy. They stock most popular…read morebrands and types of alcohol, sometimes its on special, that's about it really, if you want a much better range and advice go to the huge supermarket sized Dan Murphys just 5 minutes walk away.

Whenever my friends and I are heading off camping or to a BYO music festival, our first stop is…read morealways McCoppins. Here you will find ENDLESS supplies of beers in cans - perfect for a 'no glass' music festival or if you are headed to the bush for a weekend. They bring in more stock over busy weekends such as Easter or before Meredith Music Festival and stock more than just Melbourne Bitter. You'll find heaps of delicious imported and craft beer in cans. They also have an extensive wine area but really, it's all about the beer. Sure, McCoppins isn't as cheap as, say, Dan Murphys, but you'll find a way better selection here (and for only a couple of coins more, it's worth it.)

McCoppins is the biggest bottle shop in the area by quite a long way. It can be fairly expensive…read morefor beers as other reviewers have pointed out. One of the best beers they do value wise is the Mexican Lager Tecate. You can get a slab of cans for around $40. It's refreshing, tasty and way cheaper than other beers. The level of choice is what sets McCoppins apart from other bottle shops. The space is massive and you can get a huge range of boutique beers. Their selection of wines is also very large and the prices are not that expensive. The dudes that you always see at McCoppins are very relaxed and make it an extremely friendly shop to be in.

Good place for a cheeky 6 pack or bottle of wine on your way to a Fitzroy house party. They are…read moresurprisingly cheap (carlsburg 6 packs were on sale for $14!) and have a nice range of imported and craft beers - really something to suit everyone. The staff really don't care that much and who can blame them because they get a lot of crazy customers being on smith st but whoever orders their stock knows their stuff! Fast and convienient

Smith Street Cellars may not be the biggest bottle shop I've seen, but it…read moremakes the most of catering to most needs, with a good selection of beers ciders and wines. Sure there's still the cheap stuff, and the longneck range isn't that great, but there's still some great finds for pretty good cash monies. A four pack of mountain goat in cans is $16. otherwise the pricing is average for Melbourne. They stock an interesting range of lesser known and boutique products. Given the area and location, I'm sure it attracts all kinds of attention, but usually seems to be okay. Even with their extended opening hours until 10pm, which is really quite handy. All in all, probably the best destination in the near by area, if you're needing to pick up some byo alcohol for an event, or want a traveller.

Harvest Wine & Liquor Store is the quintessential boutique alcohol shop. It stocks almost every…read moreboutique beer you can imagine from Australia and around the world (Europe in particular), a range of top quality wines (including preservative free, organic and biodynamic) and a good range of top shelf spirits and liqueurs. It is certainly not a cheap place where you would go to pick up a case before heading off to a party or barbeque. But if you want serious quality or have a particular taste for quality booze then Harvest is the place for you. The man who owns and works at Harvest is very very knowledgeable and friendly. He is passionate about quality liquor and wants to pass on his knowledge to anyone who wants it. Harvest is also a great place to go to buy presents for friends and family who enjoy a good beverage from time to time. And they also stock a range of class European canned beers for those who are heading to festivals like Meredith and Golden Plains and don't want to drink either VB or Carlton Draught.

If, like me, cheap wine makes you sneeze and splutter so much that you turn from a cheap date into…read morea sick date with barely any warning, Harvest Wine & Liquor is the place to go. Stocking an incredible range of wines, beers, ciders, spirits and more, Harvest Wine & Liquor is hands down the best off license in the area and boasts probably the best range of organic wine that I've yet found in Melbourne. As well as retailing, Harvest Wine & Liquor arranges roughly two tastings a month either within the shop itself or at neighbouring High Street bars, and there are invariably excellent offers available on the night on bottles of cider and wine. Predictably, Harvest Wine & Liquor isn't cheap. This isn't the place to nab yourself cheap cleanskin or cooking wine. But if you're looking for an excellent selection of high quality booze, Harvest Wine & Liquor is the place to go. Bar none.

There's an abundance of these 'specialist' bottle shops springing up around the place and until…read morerecently I was less than convinced. But then a friend took me on a tour of the Mountain Goat brewery and we talked beer and, specifically, ales for a couple of hours. From that conversation (I'll spare you the details), I have not gone back to drinking lagers at all and I don't think I ever will. The Twisted Vine stocks many fine ales and has a shit hot wine selection. They have running deals, none of that changing prices on a whim kind of shit, and do awesome specials and tasting sessions. They also have an open fire in winter and the place just has this rad vibe about it like they're happy to serve you piss, no matter your budget. On a few occasions I've been in and asked what they'd recommend for wine under ten bucks. They don't bat an eye and their selections have been killer.

This little no-frills venue can be easily overlooked with the choice of bottle shops that abound on…read moreBrunswick St. These cellars used to have the market cornered at this end of the street until recent years. There is a decent selection of Australian wines and also a few imported. The beer selection is simple but is deep enough to cater for the eclectic tastes of the area. The single fronted shop front doesn't have a huge floor space but the creative staff use it well to always have a display of specials or new releases. The shelf price isn't the cheapest on the street but there are always decent specials to get people in the door. There is a constant price battle along the street, where advertising the cheapest CUB six pack price seems to be the popular trend.

This tiny booze outlet on busy Brunswick Street fits into its surrounds perfectly. Charming yet a…read morelittle rough around the edges. Its competitive pricing knocks the socks off the copy cat stores that come and go nearby. The ones that stick around keep it honest for customers as everyone likes to be the best value on the busy shopping strip. The staff know their liquor and are happy to help you with your selection. They genuinely seem to enjoy their role as gatekeeper to you drinking pleasures. They have a great selection of ready to drink options and they keep up to date with new products and are happy to share their thoughts. While not the biggest liquor store in the area it is the perfect antidote to big barn like liquor retailers! For a no-frills yet super friendly alcohol purchasing experience in Fitzroy get to Brunswick Street Cellars.