5 Stylish Melbourne Bars You Must Experience

Melbourne is known for its sporting hubs, cultural diversity, and culinary arts, making it a top travel destination. To top it off the city also has some of the best bars on offer around the World. And here are five stylish bars you simply can’t miss.

They are chic, unique, and have the best drinks in town. But because we all know that it’s not just the drinks that make a bar special, we also rate these on ambiance. Inviting, discrete, and consistently good with a great vibe to boot, you won’t want to delay a minute longer. 

Let’s get to it!

Listing the Best Bars in Melbourne

We love Melbourne, and we love its stylish bars even more. So we’ve chosen five Melbourne bars that match perfectly with the city’s effortlessly cool style. Best of all, they are spread out across the city and not just located in the CBD.

Byrdi 

Consistently featuring in The World’s 50 Best Bars, Byrdi is more than just a neighborhood bar. 

Innovation flows through the veins at Byrdi. And you can tell that from the various drinks on offer that these bartenders take their craft seriously. A drink served at Byrdi called ‘Now and Then’ is made by combining fermented berries with a novel wine that is made from seasonal yellow wattle. This is just one of the many examples of great drinks at Byrdi. 

Complimenting great drinks, Byrdi has a food menu that is simple yet unique. Their garlic bread and garlic mushrooms are famous for their earthy yet flavorful taste. 

The cocktails made at Byrdi are made with passion and dedication. The bartenders pay special attention to making only the best. Their food is inspired by Asian tones, and the decor at the bar is modern yet chic.

If the bar you’re at reflects your taste, then you have made a great choice at Byrdi. 

Location: 211 La Trobe Street, Tenancy GD075, Melbourne VIC 3000

Saros Bar + Dining 

Located at The Sebel Melbourne hotel, this Moonee Ponds bar combines New York-style dining with European elegance. More than a bar, Saros Bar + Dining is a relaxed yet sophisticated restaurant experience. 

The sprawling bar amazes visitors as they take in the huge collection of spirits. Plus VIP booths, a central marble bar, and fancy lighting switch on the mood. Drinks on offer, like Bombay Passion, Americano, and Cosmopolitan, are crafted to perfection by professional bartenders. Choose a cocktail or wine to match the dining experience with sensational food that is mouth-watering.

You must try out their Saganaki cheese with fresh lemon and fennel marmalade, along with burrata and hummus served with fresh vegetables. Once you have satisfied your main course palette, it is time to tantalize your tastebuds with dessert and a nightcap, of course!

Location: Ground floor, 41 Homer Street, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039

Lay Low

Lay Low is the pet project of three friends, Chris Fleming, Colin Wood, and Miles Williamsz. The bar is wonderfully decorated with low-hanging pendant lights and a terrazzo floor with polished tiles. 

The bar is classy with lighting that sets the mood and decor that is perfect for a personal experience.

Drinks at Lay Low are made from local ingredients. With cocktails such as Lay Low Bloody Mary, Sgroppino Mexicano, Purple Lady, Lay Low Sour, and others, this bar is the place to be on Melbourne’s west side. 

They also have an alcohol-free cocktail range that includes Americanos made with Lyre’s Italian Orange, Seedlip Spiced, Citrus juice, Falernum, and normal soda. The full menu includes wines, beers, and bottled cocktails made in-house. 

Location: REAR, 93 Buckley St, Seddon VIC 3011

Bar Clara

From velvet green couches to leather stools, if it’s not the decor that makes you want to spend the entire night at Bar Clara, the drinks will. You can sit and relax here with your co-workers, friends, or family. Take a seat and settle back into a world of comfort and cocktails.

Bar Clara has cocktails with a twist. You must try their Banoffee cocktail, inspired by the similarly named famous desert. For food, you can always order their famous cheese boards. Seasonal cocktails are made by passionate bartenders who make sure that you get to taste the finest spirits in each sip. You get to savor spirits that have been chosen and mixed by people who love their work.

You are always in for a delight at Bar Clara. So take some time off the right way. Head down to Little Bourke after 5:00 PM and have a little date with yourself!

Location: 87 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Above Board 

If an intimate setting could be converted into a perfect bar, it would become Above Board.

With only 16 seats and no standing permitted, Above Board is the archetype of a stylish bar in Melbourne. Such an intimate setting allows for conversations to flow while the bartenders work their magic. Their menu includes cocktails like Tangy Boi which is made from Aged Rum, Amaro Montenegro, Chinola, Lemon juice, and Aromatic Bitters. 

Apart from this they also serve The Benefactor which is a mix of Islay Whisky, Pineapple Rum, Dry Vermouth, Maraschino, and Orange Bitters. These cocktails are one of their best-selling offerings. 

Location: Level 1/306 Smith Street Chopper Lane, behind Beermash Through the back door, Collingwood VIC 3066

It is true that Melbourne has many great bars in the CBD. However, with so many fantastic establishments in the inner suburbs of Melbourne, you’ll want to get adventurous. From their cocktails to the ambiance, Byrdi, Saros Bar + Dining, Lay Low, Bar Clara, and Above Board seem to have it all.

The opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Milk Bar.