I've been to "The dead rabbit" and "Employees only" in NYC (voted top 5 cocktail bars in the world)…read moreand I must say that this beats both in service, venue and cocktails. Deffo will be back.

Nothing makes you feel special like having to ring a door bell to get in to a bar, a cheeky wink…read morefrom a bartender, or a specially concocted cocktail that gets served with a side of orange blossom scented smoke wafting from a little jar of dry ice. Welcome to The Attic. The place where all these fantasies come true. It's a little more grown up, a little less busy, and a lot more attentive than its kid brother downstairs - The Black Pearl. It's the kind of place in which it's easy to spend a few hours, staring in to the eyes of a hot date (or the bartenders) not realising that you've had two martinis too many and are slowly losing all feeling in your legs. It's great. Go there.

- 10 stars - unforgettable cocktails…read more- all star bartenders - greta recommendations - had to be at least 100 different whiskeys

I don't want to say too much, lest my favourite table or spot at the bar be occupied next time I…read morevisit. I'm going to keep it short, in the hope that you'll brush over this and move along to the next listing. The ladies and gents at The Everleigh know how to mix a great cocktail (ignore the menu and have them guide you), the décor is stunning, and the location discreet. It's the perfect spot for a mid-week rendezvous or nightcap. A word of warning about the bar snacks: I've seen grown men and women have to beg for restraint once they start in on these things. I don't know what they're coating those little soy snacks with, but they're addictive. Best you not even start. In fact, you should avoid this place altogether.

- super friendly staff - free wifi…read more- delicious drinks - lively scene - came generously recommended by the city's top bartenders

Absolutely disappointing experience and appalling customer service. The vibe looked good and we…read moredecided to take a chance. We entered at 11pm and decided to get a bottle of sparkling. No one informed us about any policy. We paid for the bottle with 5% service charge which I do not think they deserved. We had a sudden work call at 11.30pm and grabbed the bottle to go, only for the staff to chase us to the front of the bar to inform us that they do not have a takeaway license. For christ sake, we already had bought the bottle!! Though it's alright, we respect policy. They highlighted that they needed to keep the bottle in the establishment. We asked if we could come back and finish it. They said they would keep our bottle. We rushed back to our hotel (Marriott- 200m away for the call). When we returned at 11.58pm, they had already thrown our bottle away. Unbelievable! They were quick to receive our money but equally quick to throw our experience out the window. No doubt, we returned almost at closing times but throwing our wine before closing time - if you wanna go by the book, that is still not your closing time. When we raised our grievances to the staff, she said she told us about closing time at 12 midnight. However, we emphasised that she should have let us know about the takeaway policy and license. Had we known, we would not have ordered a bottle. She looked at us blankly and simply replied "feedback received, but we do not allow anyone in after 12, so you have to leave". Quite honestly, ChatGPT / Claude / Grok could have conveyed more empathy. I am not a VIP customer nor am I a high spender. That being said, I value places with a human connection and empathy, and would regularly visit such places with joy and happiness multiple times. This place is not one of them. For this reason, I will never visit again. If you think likewise, and value authenticity and a true Aussie welcome, you would not visit this place. I hate to give negative reviews but please spend your money elsewhere.

State of Grace was one of the highlights of our Melbourne trip -- an incredible dining experience…read morefrom start to finish. The atmosphere is vibrant, stylish, and full of character. From the moment you walk in, there's a buzz that makes the place feel alive without being overwhelming. It strikes a great balance between upscale and relaxed, making it perfect for a date night or a fun evening out. The warm lighting and eclectic design add to the charm and make you want to linger. Service was friendly, attentive, and well-paced throughout the night. The staff were knowledgeable about the menu, checked in on us at the right moments, and made the whole experience feel effortless and welcoming. Every dish we ordered was excellent -- not a single miss. We started with the Cauliflower & Mozzarella Croquettes, which were crispy on the outside and perfectly creamy inside. The Grilled King Prawns were flavorful and cooked just right, while the Kingfish Ceviche was fresh, bright, and beautifully balanced. The Stracciatella & Heirloom Tomatoes was simple yet outstanding, letting the quality of the ingredients shine. For mains, the Duck Breast was cooked perfectly and full of rich flavor, and the Lamb Backstrap was tender and well-seasoned. The Pecorino & Ricotta Ravioli was comforting and delicate, while the Seafood Linguine stood out with generous portions of seafood and a beautifully balanced sauce. The Honey Glaze Carrots were the perfect side -- sweet, savory, and executed flawlessly. Overall, State of Grace delivers on every level -- ambience, service, and food. An exceptional spot that lives up to the hype, and one we'd absolutely return to on our next visit to Melbourne.

State of Grace has a positive vibe. Even before your first drink you will think oh what a cool…read moreplace. It's the decor from extravagant chandeliers to deer heads with pearl necklaces; it's beautifully eclectic. I had an old fashion and it had the right mix of orange and bitters. I also ordered the burger which was decent and the fries were hot and crispy. The night I visited there was a live singer playing tunes. Service was quick and friendly. Even the ordering is eclectic as you order electronically (QR) pasted to a library book. This place is worth a visit.

How could we not stop in for at least a drink at this hip bar and restaurant with such an evocative…read morename. Naked for Satan is a large space with a sprawling open air rooftop up on the 4th floor along with a smaller pub-like space on the main level. We joined the 30-something crew up on the deck on a mild March day. In the shade it was a tad cool and you could tell fall was setting in. There is no table service on the patio so you need to go inside to order food/drinks. We enjoyed a couple of pisco sours while watching people trickle in after a busy work week. The interior has a steam-punk, industrial vibe and that's fun and inventive. Service at the bar was friendly and they brought our drinks to us outside. We only had an hour free in our packed itinerary but I'd definitely head back to try the food and just partake in the great people-watching,

Cool place on good area. Top floor rooftop really good.drinks all with satan theme and good.read more

It's always good to visit a bar that I haven't visited before, and with Melbourne there are…read morecertainly quite a lot of bars in which this can be done, since they do tend to be literally popping up all over the place. Well, this one is certainly no exceptions, and while it isn't one of the best rooftop bars that I have visit, it is still pretty good. Yeah, in a way there certainly does seem to be pretty nice atmosphere up here, and the staff are pretty cool as well. Oh, and I probably should mention that they have some rather nice beers as well. Yeah, this place certainly is pretty cool.

What a wonderful day to sit outside for lunch on a rooftop cafe. Warm but a bit breezy and…read moreeventually rain chased us off the roof. The food is Fancy Hank's BBQ from downstairs but it was the open fresh air that did it for me.

I have certainly been to this place before, however before I went off to my bookgroup I decided…read morethat I would pay this place another visit, and it certainly was well worth it. There is quite a large beer garden out the back (though if it didn't have one then calling it the 'Fitzroy Beer Garden' would somehow defeat the purpose). Okay, the beer is a little pricey, however the food certainly isn't, especially the Porthouse Steak for $16.00. That is probably the cheapest steak that I have seen outside of steak night. The inside of the bar is also really impressive, with little objects covering almost all of the wall space.

The former 'Funf', and 'Yelza' before that, the re-branded Fitzroy Beer Garden hasn't changed much…read morefrom it's previous incarnations aesthetically or lay-out wise, the new name just emphasising its best feature front & centre. Was there on Saturday night and it was pretty busy but also fairly laid back, a good mix of types, and no real dickheads. Only issue was that every single person but me seemed to be smoking in the beer garden. Can't wait for the day us non-smokers can claim back some of these great outdoor bar places. Had some tasty pints for around $8, which for a Saturday night is pretty staggering ($8 pint anywhere these days around Melbourne is pretty good). With Forester's Hall now open right across the road having 'beer' in their name also gives some cohesion to this corner of Smith St, and I'm sure we wont be the only ones to start at FBG in the afternoon sun then drift across the road to sample the impressive beer range at FH this summer.

- talented bartenders - friendly bartenders…read more- nice date spot - food looked good, but I didn't try it

This is the one bar in Melbourne I've ever been to where the bartenders were consistently so…read morefriendly and so good at what they do. I had a classic cocktail, and a London Calling. I love when you can put your trust into someone behind the bar, and they take care of you, just like a doctor prescribing medicine. Liquor is the cure-all, forget-all tonic. And Matt at the Black Pearl is a mastermind at his craft. The bartenders at the Black Pearl will serenade you with smooth drinks in hand sure to sweep you off your feet. Historically, they've got a lot of awards under their belt. Claims to the list of the World's 50 Best Bars, Best International Cocktail Bar and the Spirited Awards. So if there modest amount of winning titles don't get your attention, just slip in on any Friday or Saturday night. This place is popping out some good cocktails. It's a bar you can get lost in and spend many a nights. Also, there's a secret bar upstairs, you're lucky to get into, they are always at capacity on weekend nights.

An oozy cheesy hot mess of a jaffle is the kind of thing you want to eat at the end of a big boozy…read morenight. I love that Bad Frankie offers a wide variety of them, including a lamington jaffle (!), so you can pre-load on them while drinking. No more regrettable late night eats - just do it early in the night and you won't feel the need to double down on a second dinner! The booze selection at Bad Frankie is glorious. There's loads of locally crafted spirits along with a tidy selection of wine and beer. The real appeal though is coming and trying a line up of liquor from Australia in their tasting flights. 5 x 10ml pours is a fun way to start the night, right? Pro tip: sign up for a masterclass if you want to enhance your booze knowledge.

Ok, let me start by saying that the name did predispose me to like this place. Full disclosure, I…read morewalked in full of swagger and excitement and immediately stole one of their business cards to use as my own. That out of the way, the drinks were amazing. Bad Frankie's serves all Australian spirits and their bartenders have made some wonderful things. My friend and I worked our way through 8 different drinks and were thrilled with everything that came out. My favourite was the notorious F.I.G. but I honestly don't think you can go wrong here! Also they have a lamington jaffle, let's take a second to appreciate that that exists, and then sneakily snuffle it into our bellies at all possible opportunities.

Now this is a good spot. Right up from Pixels Alley, is Mr. Wow's. Cozy and dark inside, the bar…read moregreets you so welcoming and delightful to look at. The drinks menu changes every so often, but they always keep you fascinated by the quirky names. It's very spacious inside. The outdoor seating is covered and protected from the elements, and equipped with space heaters. Sitting here gives you a nice overlooking view of the busy Smith Street. One of the coolest things about Mr Wows is that it is connected to Pixels Alley. So play some arcade games downstairs and have a drink (they have their own bar thing going on). The head upstairs, and play some board games, or pool or that game where you throw a disk. Enjoy the venues and what they have to offer.

Like a fun younger cousin to Panama, Mr Wow's is another upstairs large open space looking out onto…read moreSmith St below, but where Panama's focus is on the restaurant and classy drinks space, Mr Wow is - as the name suggests - focused on fun and games! (And despite what I once thought after a few drinks, it's definitely *not* called Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium. That's an average movie with Dustin Hoffman.) You might not get to use any of them on a busy Friday or Saturday night, but the free bocce pitch, and tennis table room is a really fun way to spend a few hours - just remember to not get too involved in the games to the point where your beer gets warm! Even if you're not playing with them, you might be busy dodging ping-pong and errant bocce balls if you're hanging nearby - especially as people get a little more 'jovial' into the night, so best stay on the other side of the place if that doesn't sound like your kind of fun. There's sometimes free popcorn on offer, but seems they only fire that up on the busy nights. Only a couple of beers on tap, but some cocktails or bottled drinks are also available. You generally have to make your own fun when going out anywhere, but Mr Wow's certainly tries to lend a helping hand.