After-Work Drinks in Melbourne’s Iconic Bar Scene

The Moon in Collingwood is actively trying to be like the real moon, but it comes pretty close due to the minimal, concrete-heavy fit-out. One way it certainly does differ from the real moon, however, is the fact that it has over 400 wines to try (we’re not sure, but we think the real moon lacks this option).

What can you pair this great selection of wine with you ask? The obvious answer, of course – toasties. There are plenty of other meals to choose from, of course, but come on, toasties and wine? What more do you need? Start to dive through this heavily curated yet significant wine list and be impressed by every drop.

Address: 28A Stanley St, Collingwood, VIC 3066
Website: themooninmelbourne.com

Let’s zoom out. The Garden State Hotel is a massive venue excelling at social gatherings, with space for an incredible 800 people in its vast floor plan. 

And, of course, the centrepiece of this cavernous venue is its beer garden, an essential addition to any self-respecting laid-back post-work drinking joint. This is socialising at its best, which, let’s face it, we’ve all been deprived of in the madness of the past few years. The public bar’s the place to go here if you’d like to meet some locals, as the Garden State Hotel is fondly used as a regular haunt. Or, if you’d prefer something a bit more intense, head to the rowdy Rose Garden, for a late-night drink and dance. 

And if you’re feeling a bit peckish after one of those seemingly endless workdays, why not tuck into one of Garden State Hotel’s ultra-classic pub dishes? There’s no pretension here, just an impressive selection of wood-fired pizzas, parmigiana, salads (try the roasted sweet potato and black lentil) and other sure-fire crowd-pleasers. By the time you’ve finished at Garden State Hotel, you won’t have a care in the world!  

Address: 101 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Website: https://gardenstatehotel.com.au/ 

So, if you’ve been wondering where to grab after-work drinks in Melbourne CBD, we’ve done the legwork! All that’s left for you to do is get to your favourite and pick up a glass. We promise the cares of the week will fall away, as you immerse yourself in the perfect environment for relaxation.

Is the stand-up-only vibe in the more intense places a bit too much for you to cope with when you’ve been run off your feet all day? Here’s a place that gives you a bit of a contrast. At Gin Palace, you’ll find a recreation of London’s famous ‘Gin Palaces’ – but here, they’ve progressed a fair bit from the old days. It’s a genuinely boutique place, with a dark and mysterious interior coupled with a luxurious vibe that’ll really rejuvenate your tired bones. 

So, given the place is called Gin Palace, you’d expect it to have a fairly decent selection, right? Gin Palace won’t disappoint. The selection of this gem of Melbourne’s after-work nightlife runs to over 200 gins, so you’ll have years of experimenting ahead of you!

Now, after all those cocktail bars, you might want to get back into the mood of the Speakeasy. The place is run by a guy with the utmost respect for the ‘Classic American Cocktail’, Matthew Bax, who has dedicated his bar to honouring tradition. That means no fluorescent blue novelties here, only the stone-cold classics! So, for example, if you’re always up for the elegance of a classic gin martini rather than the espresso variety, this is your kind of place. The opposite of a mass-produced beer barn, they pride themselves on making ‘daily distillations, elixirs and infusions.  

Remember, this is a place that will suit you if you’re up for a celebration of the glories of prohibition-era America, along with the massive influence all this cultural movement had back in Europe. Because of this respect for tradition, this is more the place where you can escape to for a more sculpted ideal of after-work entertainment, rather than the let-it-all-hang-out vibe. But as long as you’re in the mindset to transport yourself back to that classic era of class, Bar Americano makes a perfect contrast to the office!   

It’s worth mentioning, too, that there’s a comprehensive way to experience Bar Americano’s cocktail brilliance. If you book, you can get a sit-down cocktail tasting experience, which changes according to seasonal availability (and the owner’s whims). It’s a great way to unwind with a group of up to eight people after a long day at the office. 

Address: 20 Presgrave Place, Melbourne CBD, Australia
Website: https://www.baramericano.com/

The two levels of Poodle are the place to go in Fitzroy for a delectable menu from head chef Josh Fry (formerly of Cumulus Inc. in Flinders Lane) and some of the finest cocktails in the North.

The Wet Poodle is the house Martini, and it pairs nicely with the club sandwich and a chocolate bombe Alaska dessert follow-up. While that sounds like a pretty fun time by itself, the ambience of the venue is also a nice time thanks to a design by Bergman & Co. The downstairs section has a large marble bar, and it is where you’ll find the dining room and a terracotta-tiled courtyard and wine cellar. The upstairs has a second bar for those who want to enjoy a drink and a chat with a tight crew. It’s stylish, old-worldy and scrumptious here.

Address: 81-83 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Website: poodlefitzroy.com.au

Now, there’s a chance that if you want that rooftop experience, one of them will be chock-a-block. That’s why you should always have at least two rooftop havens up your sleeve because rooftop-level chilling out is an experience that should be available all the time, for everyone’s own wellbeing. 

You won’t find any down-the-line drinking experiences here, thanks very much. Perfectly created cocktails is their thing, as befits a bespoke rooftop residence. So, what can you expect to find from the list of bartenders’ own creations? When that long-awaited Spring sun finally begins to show its face over Melbourne, you can tuck into a ‘Too Cold’, featuring Aubry Watermellon, Baxters Vodka, Lemon Juice & Watermellon Popsicle. Or, for the more chilly nights, as we’ve become accustomed to, Goldilocks has just the thing – the Bramble, starring Bramble Gin, Creme De Mure, and Lime Juice. Now if that doesn’t warm the cockles of your heart, nothing will!

Address: Level 5, 264 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Website: https://www.goldilocksbar.com.au/

If you’ve spent a day pushing paper (or the equivalent), what better way to get you back into the spirit of things than visiting the Rooftop Bar, complete with one of Melbourne’s best views?

After scaling several flights of stairs on a winter’s evening, the Rooftop Bar awaits like an old friend. For your best defence against those bone-chilling winds, we recommend the Rooftop Bar’s justly famous mulled wine, lovingly made with red wine spiked with St Agnes Brandy, Adelaide Hills Bitter Orange, apple cider, citrus … and the Rooftop Bar’s famed spiced syrup, with cinnamon, clove, anise and orange. 

Those who aren’t into alcohol are fully included here too, with a delicious list of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from – including the Tepache, featuring housemade peat & pineapple tepache with soda and fresh lime. This level of thoughtfulness makes the Rooftop Bar everything a post-work R&R session should be. 

Address: 7, Curtin House, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Website: https://www.mryum.com/rooftopbar/menu

Here’s a bar that really respects the beer – an essential quality when you’ve hit 5:30 pm at your daily grind yet again. With the most generous Happy Hour(s) in the business – Wednesday to Friday from 4–7pm, Chuckle Park Bar really respects the amber (or blonde, or pitch-black…) liquid. Yes, it’s a haven for beer aficionados that really fosters a deep love of every version of this sacred brew. 

And don’t think it’s all about the beer, either – the Chuckle Park folks are highly respectful of other forms of alcohol. Where else would you find a Pina Colada assembled with genuine Puerto Rican Coco López?     

So, it’s about the alcohol … but it’s not all about the alcohol. This modern establishment’s big on offering a range of options for those looking for all the taste, none of the tipsiness – check out the NOjito or their EspressNO martini, or their … you get the idea! So, every type of drinker can find a home here, even if you’re after refreshment alone. 

Address: 322 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Website: https://www.chucklepark.com.au/

Yes, the name’s ironic. (Why would you want to stumble out of one workplace and straight into another?) But this is a bar harking back to America’s prohibition era, with the decor designed to transport you back in time to those halcyon days of bootleggers and questionable shenanigans. 

Now, we don’t want to alarm you, but Father’s Office has devised a pretty nifty plan to get you relaxed after work. Essentially a happy hour with a difference, it’s called the Ninety Minute Free Flow. Here, you can enjoy an unbroken tasting session, with a signature mix of cocktails, house wines, spirits, Tiger beer, and ‘bootleg’ apple cider. Think you can handle all that? (To prevent anyone getting too carried away, there’s a 5-drink limit.)

One of the elements Father’s Office prides itself on is offering up some of the more … unexpected versions of classic spirits. So, when you think gin, you likely think London, right? But what about Roku Japanese Gin, with ‘an ethereal top note of cherry blossom’? Or, for those shatteringly cold evenings, we’ve been experiencing, hot mulled apple cider – spiced with apples, clove-stuffed orange, cardamom, star anise, lemon & orange peel. If anything will wish away the after-work blues, that will! 

Address: 249 Lt Lonsdale St 3000 Melbourne
Website: https://fathersoffice.com.au/ 

Not all establishments have to be up-and-comers to offer a satisfying vision of post-work contentment, and here’s a case in point. If you’re a long-time Melbourne resident, you know this place already – and if you don’t, you definitely should. 

The Carlton is instantly recognisable for its bizarro (yet utterly endearing) approach to decoration, including, of course, the all-important stuffed (or perhaps fake) giraffe. That’s the beginning of your experience at the Carlton, which is basically custom-designed to erase every memory of the dull office you’ve just left behind. 

The wine’s front and centre here, and their comprehensive selection of Australian wines is a bonus. Seriously, with a country so blessed with great vineyards, it’s refreshing to see a bar invest this stellar level of effort into its wine selection. For the white-wine lovers, what about a drop of delicious Kate Hill Riesling, from Tasmania’s Huon Valley? Or if red’s more your thing, why not consider the distinctive Ottelia Sangiovese, from Victoria’s Yarra Valley? 

Of course, if your tastes run to the more exotic, there’s also a wide list of French wines available – including the ultimate post-work treat, the Veuve Clicquot Brut Ponsardin, perhaps best saved for the day of your promotion!

Address: 193 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Website: https://www.thecarlton.com.au/ 

As befits the jaunty name, here’s a bar that offers a great relaxing environment for a hard day at the office. With long bench seats and soothing lighting, there’s a vibe here that will wash all your cares away. 

Drawing on a menu featuring ‘good pub classics to fun style sharing options’, La Di Da is definitely a place worth revisiting. 

Don’t think that it’s all about decor, either – far from it. With nine beers on tap and a beautifully curated cocktail menu, your thirst is history. Want an example of what we mean? Well, there’s definitely a varied and interesting wine list, but it’s really all about the signature cocktails. A lot of love has gone into these, so you’ll be perfectly catered for. 

Don’t believe us? What about sampling a concoction called ‘This is My Jam’, boasting a deliciously unconventional combo of Beefeater Pink Gin, Amaro Montenegro, and … Blackberry Jam, all topped with soda? The options are endless to cure that thirst, so dig in and enjoy!

Address: 577 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
Website: https://www.ladidapeople.com/

For those among you who think that modern life can be just that little bit … sterile, here’s an ideal solution. Boilermaker House is billed as a temple to malt whiskey and craft beer … and it’s not lying, either. Both are in abundance here, in this warm and cozy venue that lovingly places the emphasis on rustic, laid-back enjoyment. 

So, at a guess, how many whiskies would you think a bar could possibly have in stock? If you’re thinking along the lines of 30 or 40, you’d be dead wrong. Boilermaker House has a staggering 900 varieties, and it’s even taken the trouble to separate the whiskeys into flavour profiles (from ‘Salt & Seaweed’ to ‘Peat & Phenols’, every possible whisky combination’s luxuriously covered here).

Of course, Boilermaker fully supports the pairing of beer with whiskey. In fact, it’s their mission to make sure these two ingredients coexist magnificently together. 

On the other side of the ledger, Boilermaker’s kindly sorted your craft beers into types, too, from ‘Fruit & Spice’ to ‘Tart & Funky’. You may be staggered at the variety to choose from after a tough day at the office – but once you start, you’ll be transported away from the work environment to the moors of ye olde Scotland in no time at all.    

And if you stick around for long enough at Boilermaker, you’ll also benefit from the great blues piped into Boilermaker just about all night long. Kick back and bliss out!

Address: 209–211 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000
Website: https://boilermakerhouse.com.au/