By far my favorite place that I've found in Melbourne, possibly in Aus! I can't speak highly enough…read moreof every aspect of this bar. Intimate setting, yet quite comfortable. Always an excellent music selection, with footy on the tv if that's what you're lookin for. The staff is WONDERFUL. so personable, quite willing to give their recommendations if you ask (and you should- they haven't steered me wrong yet!). The nachos, add beef, are easily the best nachos I've ever had- loaded with toppings, seasoned chips, absolutely delicious. Quite a diverse menu, with plenty of options depending on your hunger level. Great wine and beer selection, and a solid cocktail list too!

Food is awesome - Baked mushrooms - I could just have a plate of them on their own…read more The staff are easy to chat with and service was well timed.

Who doesn't love pairing Boggle with cocktails and imported beer? Kelvin Bar in Northcote is one…read morebloody cool place. The room is dim, the drinks are many and the orange scooter parked out front is the best indicator that the door will be open. The crowd here is very cool. No douche bags tend to frequent it and this is a massive plus. While monopoly and scrabble aren't the average patrons idea of a wicked night out, they have me exceptionally satisfied. Besides, incorporating bets and shots into these games is one way to encourage even the most unenthusiastic friend into an extreme word finding Boggle-off. The vibe in here is the reason I keep coming back and the comfy chairs, great service and good company do nothing to change my mind. Awesome place.

Its name might say 'Working man's club' but Kelvin Bar - or Kelvin's as the locals have it - is…read moremore like Mad Men, but with Boggle in lieu of secretaries and a soundtrack of Fat Freddy's Drop instead of Roy Orbison. A heady and seemingly irresistible combination to the retro obsessed, the unathletic but competitive, and, erm, New Zealand music fans. I.e. me. If, like me, the only reason you hunger after an iPhone is for the endless possibilities of the Scrabble app, you'll love Kelvins. The décor is faithfully early seventies, the wine list refreshingly organic, and the cocktails pretty damn good. But what really makes this place special is the veritable smorgasbord of board games on offer. Not only is gaming of the board variety accepted at Kelvins, it's positively encouraged. And with Kelvin's offering games numbering Yahtzee, Monopoly, Guess Who and more, you can easily while away the hours over a bottle of organic wine and a tryst with a board game in this unassuming and under-celebrated but really quite awesome Westgarth haunt.

If you're a Brunswick East local (which I am) you should consider yourself lucky (which I do) to…read morelive so close to such an exceptional bar. Mr Wilkinson ticks all the essential boxes. + A warm and welcoming but trendy and hip vibe + A bartender who does The Sunday Age quiz with his patrons every week + Boozy cocktails, wines and local craft beers + A different food truck parked directly outside every night of the week + A charcuterie board so good you will weep No other venue will give you that "I've found something special" vibe, while also making you feel like you're right at home.

This is one of this bars that I discovered simply by walking past, so being the curious person that…read moreI am I decided to step inside and grab a drink. I was immediately impressed, and based on the other reviews I must have a reasonably good taste when it comes to bars. It's a fairly narrow affair, but it actually holds a lot more people than it immediately seems, and there is an outdoor area down the side, and one out the back (though the one out the back is much better than the one down the side). The staff were okay, but it was the atmosphere that really grabbed me. They also had some decent beers available. I wish I had more time to go and visit places like this.

The creep of cool continues further north, with Cult of the Vine serving up a delicious and…read moreinteresting array of wines and a smattering of craft beer. Hidden at the end of Florence Street near the train station exit (genius maneuver to capture all those suited souls on their way home) you can pop in and take a bottle home, or crack it open right there and then to enjoy with proper glassware, ambient tunes and a plate of something to nibble on. The food options are limited, but they're really all I need when I want something simple and tasty to match with a good bottle. Charcuterie, cured fish, cheese and oddly enough whole boiled eggs which you can crack and peel while sipping on some vino. Apparently a boiled egg goes with any kind of wine but they'd run out when I visited so I couldn't put this to the test. Instead we ate truffled infused Spanish sausage, smoked almonds and loads of cheese along with some very good crackers. Service was relaxed and generous from owner Brad Lucas, who was happy to nerd out a little with us and offered samples of new and different drops. We left warm, full and contented... with two bottles of vino tucked under my arm.

Go here... Spectacularly curated 'natural' wine list…read more Some craft beers Ask the host for an egg. Take the train to Anstey station. Take the train home.

Great place and atmosphere. The staff are extremely friendly and very helpful. Wines were great…read morepartnered with some food

Lovely unassuming wine bar, with a great selection to take away, rotating menu of by-the-glass…read moreoptions, or a $10 per bottle levy to drink in. Chats with the friendly staff come free. The cheese and dips selections give you plenty of bang for your buck, and don't be afraid to inquire as to what cheese best matches your wine, as the staff will proudly tell you with a sly smile that they've tasted most wines they stock. Lucky staff. I'd say great pre-dinner drink spot, but to be honest it's just as easy to pop open a second bottle, grab more cheese, and just never leave...

I really love everything about this place, the atmosphere the service and wine. It's a great place…read moreto go of an evening and chill out with friends

Fine wine, sneakily good beer selection and a casual atmosphere makes Strange Loves Bar a good…read morefriend of mine. With 3 areas to seat yourself, I've never had any issues finding room to relax here. If with friends I like to sneak upstairs for a comfy seat. In a more intimate situation or when I'm by myself I tend to enjoy front row seats and people watch. Typical of the area there is no real food served here. If you need some fine dining to go with a fine wine you'll be handed a book with local restaurants who will deliver to your table. And even bring an eftpos machine if needed. The staff here had reasonably honest and broad knowledge of wines and beers. The beer selection varies more often than the wine. For a wine bar there isn't a huge variety by the glass and some of the bottles are rather overpriced. Considering that there is fair competition within walking distance with other venues offering similar service. Still a great spot for post dinner drinks or two.

This new hidden cocktail bar is already one of my favourites. Entering through a side door down a…read morelaneway, and climbing the stairs, opening the door as if to a house and being greeted so politely. The choice of the cocktail bad, whiskey and cigar room or the rooftop, delights me and caters or all your needs. The cocktails are strong, creative and use spirits and aperitifs in the most unique ways to deliver the most perfect cocktail. There are so many liqueurs, sprints and aperitifs that you wouldn't have even heard of. All the food sounds Devine, and the chocolate truffles are a slice of heaven. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Maybe I was unlucky but I drank a Yarra river wine (a red wine) that was available by the glass and…read morethe thing was barely drinkable. I do believe that the bottle had been opened for too long and that the wine had oxidized. This was confirmed by my friend who tasted the wine and came to the same sad conclusion. PS: the beer fridge looks good.

My wishes have come true at Vino Central. It is a bar & bottle shop combined! Buy a bottle of wine…read more& just pay an extra $1 per glass! Nice inside with polished pine floors & walls lined with wine & fridges filled with beer. Though we came in at the tail end of someone's 30th birthday, they made sure we had a table & were comfortable. The ONLY downside was the single bathroom up the rickety stairs.

Nice variety of craft beers and wine in a big space with an open kitchen. Italian menu with good…read morestarters and nice pizzas. One of our regulars when we are in the area

How has this place not had heaps of reviews? Been here many times for celebrations and St Patricks…read moreday / night drinks. ( drink ups) great cosy and quaint place and has a nice range of wines in the bottle shop to take home as well.