It is estimated that there are over 2800 pubs in Melbourne. Give or take the odd one that might have recently closed its doors due to the pandemic.
From Fitzroy and Collingwood to Richmond and the CBD, there is practically one on every street corner, and all of them offer something different to the beer, wine, spirit or cocktail drinker.
So any attempt to come up with a definitive list of the very of them might be considered a thankless task. After all, they include everything from historic pubs that have stood the test of time, for almost 170 years, to trendy rooftop venues that showcase incredible views.
However, we’ve given it a go. So after much consideration and deliberation, here is our list of 19 of the very best pubs in Melbourne.
The Lincoln
Situated in the suburb of Carlton, The Lincoln is one of the oldest and best pubs in Melbourne.
First opening its doors in 1854, this historic venue has spanned many generations, which is just one of the reasons why it is rich in character.
Boasting an award-winning, and very stylish art deco bar, they offer 12 on-tap brews that are on rotation, as well as a robust, curated wine list.
Their food menu is very impressive too, championing a menu that is sustainably sourced and seasonal menu.
Having recently enjoyed a renovation and makeover, The Lincoln is an inviting place to enjoy relaxed drinks with your friends.
Address: 91 Cardigan Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Phone: +61 3 9347 4666
Hours: Mon – Sat 12 pm – late, Sun 12 pm – 6 pm
Foresters Pub and Dining
If you like to party then head on over to Foresters Pub and Dining in Collingwood.
Whilst they serve a terrific range of beers and wines, which is supported by a solid food menu of pub grub, this local institution is best known for its party scene that goes late into the night.
Once all the other pubs have closed (or even before!) this is the place in town to go for a drink and a dance. Which you can do until 4 am on both Friday and Saturday nights.
With a DJ playing some banging tunes and the bar still fully licensed, you are guaranteed to have a great time.
Address: 64 Smith Street, Collingwood VIC 3066
Phone: +61 3 8415 1104
Hours: Mon – Thu 4 pm – 11 pm, Fri 4 pm – 4 am, Sat 1 am – 4 am
The Local Taphouse
Widely acknowledged as being one of the best pubs in Melbourne, The Local Taphouse is a multi-award-winning tavern that most locals visit at least once a year.
Set within a cool venue with European-inspired decor, it boasts a massive range of over 400 beers. This means you can try one different one every day of a calendar year and still not get through them all!
Situated in East St Kilda, this lively pub also has an excellent food menu and is renowned for its very welcoming vibe.
Address: 184 Carlisle Street, East St Kilda VIC 3183
Phone: +61 3 9537 2633
Hours: Sun – Thu 12 pm – 10 pm, Fri – Sat 12 pm – 1 am
Builders Arms Hotel
If you are into trivia nights the Builders Arms Hotel in Fitzroy is an excellent place to head too, as they run one of the best contests in the city.
Comprising a buzzy front bar, as well as a private dining room, and a charming courtyard, this venue also has a bistro which is run by Andrew McConnell, the famous restaurateur.
This bistro is highly regarded for its rotisserie meat, as well as other hearty dishes like its fish pot pie and whipped cod roe dip.
Offering a wide selection of drinks, and playing decent tunes, this is a fabulous place to spend a few hours.
Address: 211 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Phone: +61 3 9419 0818
Hours: Mon – Sun 12 pm – 11 pm
The Irish Times Pub
You can’t beat a good Irish pub!
Right on Little Collins Street, in the heart of the CBD, you will find a terrific one in The Irish Times Pub.
Typically loud, lively, warm and friendly, as you would expect most Irish pubs to be, this place offers a comforting range of Irish pub food classics. This includes the likes of Beef and Guinness Pie, Irish Stew and Galway Shepherd’s Pie.
There’s plenty of Guinness available to drink and lots of sport on their big screens TVs. While its authentic wrap-around bar, snug fireplaces, stunning stained glassed windows, dark wood interiors and rugby memorabilia, will remind you of the pubs in Dublin, Cork, Waterford or Limerick.
Address: 427 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: +61 3 9642 1699
Hours: Mon – Thu 12 pm – 1 am, Fri – Sat 12 pm – 3 am, Sun 12 pm – 11 pm
Leonard’s House of Love
Leonard’s House of Love might sound like the kind of seedy venue you might find in the Red Light District of Amsterdam, but this venue in South Yarra is actually a pretty cool place to drink.
Tucked away in the backstreets of South Yarra, this establishment brings to mind an apres-ski bar. Replete with walls that are wood-panelled, and decorations that are bold and kitschy, this funky place has a very casual and relaxed ambience.
It also offers $12 house lager jugs, which is great if you are planning an all-day session with your mates.
Address: 3 Wilson Street, South Yarra VIC 3141
Phone: +61 428 066 778
Hours: Mon – Thu 12 pm – 12 am, Fri – Sun 12 pm – 3 am
Retreat Hotel
Want to drink somewhere a bit more refined? Then make a trip over to Abbotsford to the Retreat
Hotel.
Set within an attractive Victorian-style building, this fabulous pub boasts stained glass doors and original chandeliers.
It also features 80s memorabilia as its decor, as well as an old-school pinball machine and full-size pool table.
Renowned for its excellent food and a terrific range of drinks, this is a lovely pub that sits on a corner block and has a dog-friendly courtyard.
Address: 226 Nicholson St, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Phone: +61 (03) 9417 0110
Hours: Weds – Thurs 5 – 10 pm, Fri – Sun 12 – 10 pm
The Crafty Squire
If you love sport then The Crafty Squire on Russell Street is a fantastic place to visit, as it is pretty much on show every second they are open!
Proudly inclusive and free from discrimination, this fabulous pub is also a working microbrewery. It is also so big, you can easily get lost in it!
Known for its live music, excellent food menu and streetside seating, one of the best features of this pub is its very popular tasting paddles. For only $18 you receive a selection of four superb beers.
If you want to know where they came from, you can even tour the brewery!
Address: 127 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: +61 3 9810 0064
Hours: Sun – Wed 11 am – 2 am, Thu 11 am – 3 am, Fri – Sat 11 am – 5 am
The Catfish
Over in Fitzroy, The Catfish can be considered more than just a pub.
Running regular live music gigs, as well as comedy nights on a weekly basis, it can also be seen as an entertainment venue as well.
The pub offers a terrific selection of beers, wines and spirits. While its food menu includes ‘Sparrows Philly Cheesesteak’, which is considered by some food critics to be the best pub steak in Melbourne.
Featuring exposed-brick walls, wood-panelling and communal tables, this is a very hip and congenial place to go.
Address: 30 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Phone: +61 3 9417 6420
Hours: Mon – Sat 12 pm – 1 am, Sun 12 pm – 10 pm
The Great Northern
Another excellent pub to visit if you love your sport is The Great Northern.
You’ll find it over in Carlton North, and when you get there you will be presented with a number of massive big-screen TVs, which are scattered throughout the venue and its huge courtyard.
Whether you are into AFL, EPL, NFL, NRL, MLB or NBA it is always on here and always makes for a lively atmosphere when a big, live game is on.
One of the best features of this pub is that its prices are very affordable. While another is that your dog is made to feel very welcome. To the point, they even offer house-made dog biscuits, that are made from pumpkin and peanut butter. To keep your four-legged friends happy, while you enjoy your beer.
Address: 644 Rathdowne St, Carlton North VIC 3054
Phone: +61 (03) 9380 9569
Hours: Mon – Sun 11 am – 11 pm
The Esplanade
Having reopened in 2019 after a brief hiatus, The Esplanade in St Kilda has re-established its reputation of being one of the best pubs in the city.
Accommodating 12 bars, 3 live music stages and a couple of restaurants, this venue emits a sense of nostalgia, with a decor that includes gig posters from the 1980s and old vintage furniture.
Offering classic pub grub and a terrific selection of cocktails and draft beer, it also has an excellent garden terrace that looks out towards the ocean.
On Fridays and Saturdays, it doesn’t close its doors until 2 am. So it provides a great place to blow off some steam at the weekend.
Address: 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda VIC 3182
Phone: + 61 (03) 9534 0211
Hours: Mon – Wed 3-11 pm, Thur – Sun 12 – 11 pm
The Boat Builders Yard
The Boat Builders Yard is another great venue that offers fantastic water views. This time of the Yarra River.
Nestled on its fringes, this pub offers an excellent selection of beers on tap, as well as some lovely outdoor spaces to enjoy them.
The vibe here is chilled and laidback, and they even have deck chairs out the front that you can sit on.
At the weekend, they also serve a mean brekkie, which is the perfect way to set you up for the day.
Address: 23 S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf VIC 3006
Phone: +61 (03) 9686 5088
Hours: Thurs 10 am – 8 pm, Fr i- Sun 9 am – 10 pm
The Tote
The undisputed ‘home of rock’, The Tote is a legendary venue in Collingwood. It is also THE place to go if you like your music loud and heavy.
Known for its sensational jukebox, the pub also hosts fantastic live music gigs from some of the rawest and edgiest bands in the city. Both of which give you plenty of opportunities to throw your devil’s horns in the air and headbang.
Music aside, The Tote also serves up delicious $10 burgers all night and even offers their own lager too!
Address: 71 Johnston Street, Collingwood VIC 3066
Phone: +61 3 9419 5320
Hours: Tue – Wed 5 pm -1 am, Thu 5 pm – 3 am, Fri – Sat 4 pm -3 am, Sun 4 pm – 11 pm
The Drunken Poet
There are an estimated 7000 Irish-themed pubs around the world outside of Ireland. So to be voted in the top 10 by The Irish Times is quite an achievement.
That is exactly what happened to The Drunken Poet in West Melbourne, an intimate and relaxed pub that is full of character and charm.
Offering an exquisite selection of Irish whiskey, they also offer Guinness on tap too. The atmosphere is always very congenial here, and just like in Ireland, you’ll be striking up a conversation with the locals in no time.
Address: 65 Peel Street, West Melbourne VIC 3003
Phone: (03) 9348 9797
Hours: Tue – Sat 12 pm – 1 am, Sun 12 pm – 11 pm
The John Curtin Hotel
Another outstanding pub in Melbourne for live music is The John Curtin Hotel.
The home of ‘Beers, Bites and Bands’, this is a great place to take in a gig. You can also enjoy a fantastic feed of their delightful 24 hr brined Sonny’s fried chicken, as well as a wide range of local brews on tap.
It might sound odd, but one of the must-do things when you are here is to go to the bathroom. Because the wallpaper is so quirky, it’s become a bit of an attraction!
Address: 29 Lygon Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Phone: (03) 9663 6350
Hours: Mon – Thu 12 pm – late, Fri – Sat 12 pm-3 am, Sun 12 pm – 11 pm
Mt. View Hotel
Arguably the best pub in Melbourne for views is the appropriately named Mt View Hotel.
Situated in Richmond, it offers incredible, uninterrupted, 360-degree views of the Melbourne cityscape.
Just around the corner from the MCG, this is a terrific place to come before or after watching the cricket or AFL.
Known for its innovative cocktails, this award-winning pub also dishes up some very good food too.
Address: 68-70 Bridge Road, Richmond VIC 3121
Phone: +61 3 9428 3973
Hours: Sun – Thu 12 pm -11 pm, Fri-Sat 12 pm – 1 am
The Sherlock Holmes Inn
Despite having a history that stretches back for over 30 years, it is amazing how many Melbournians are not familiar with The Sherlock Holmes Inn.
Located within the basement of a Collins Street venue in the CBD, this hidden gem of a pub radiates character and charm.
With its low ceilings, snug little nooks and exceptional pub grub, this old-style English pub is a unique venue that will make a nice change of scene from the other pubs on this list.
Address: Basement 415 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: +61 3 9629 1146
Hours: Mon – Fri 11:30 am-12 am, Sat 12 pm – 12 am
The Fox
With over 100 varieties of beer to choose from, as well as $6 pints between 4 – 6 pm on weekdays, The Fox is a beer lover’s dream.
Located in Collingwood, this is an especially good place to visit in the summer, on account of its sensational outdoor area.
It also presents a fabulous food menu and overall atmosphere, while its friendly staff also make this place a winner.
Address: 351 Wellington Street, Collingwood VIC 3066
Phone: +61 3 9416 4957
Hours: Mon – Thu 3 pm – late, Fri – Sun 12 pm – late
The Alehouse Project
Locally known as ‘the Beer Geekery’, The Alehouse Project is an excellent destination to head to for those who enjoy a good craft beer.
Situated on Lygon Street in Brunswick East, this hipster venue features a dozen microbrewery beers and ciders that regularly rotate.
In addition, they also serve up a great range of boutique wines and spirits, as well as very tasty burgers and share plates.
One for the beer aficionado, this is a very pleasant spot is contained within a space that is brick lined and rustic.
Address: 98-100 Lygon Street, Brunswick East VIC 3057
Phone: +61 3 9387 1218
Hours: Mon – Thu 3 pm – 11 pm, Fri 3 pm – 1 am, Sat 12 pm – 1 am, Sun 12 pm – 10 pm