Melbourne may not turn it on as much as other capital cities like Sydney and Brisbane, but when the weather is right, nothing can beat sinking a cold one up at some of the city’s best rooftop bars. From the slick Rooftop at QT Melbourne to the sky-high, charmingly modern Fable, you’ve got quite a few choices to get across when looking for the best rooftop bars Melbourne has to offer.
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Melbourne CBD
Rooftop at QT
The city’s best rooftop bar has gotten even better in recent years, delivering an energetic rooftop that leans closer to the Mediterranean energy with more alcoves, private booths, a private lounge and a newly designed outdoor bar. Bold signatures plaster the cocktail menu, while on the food front, Executive Chef Nic Graham has listed inventive snack-style dishes like lobster cocktails, snapper cannolis, and ice cream sandwiches.
Address: 11/133 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 8636 8800
Opening Hours: Monday – Tuesday (2 PM – 9 PM); Wednesday – Thursday (2 PM – 11 PM); Friday – Saturday (12 PM – 11 PM); Sunday (12 PM – 9 PM)
Her Rooftop
Her Rooftop is one of the more polished additions to Melbourne’s social scene, crowning an ambitious multi-faceted venue from the same team behind Arbory Bar & Eatery and Arbory Afloat. Years in the making, the CBD building now features four distinct spaces, including an all-day French eatery called Her Bar, and a Thai-style BBQ called BKK.
Address: 270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (11:30 AM – 1 AM)
State of Grace Rooftop
Although its hidden cellar bar, Fall From Grace, is the best of the three floors at State of Grace, the popular venue’s rooftop bar is where most people end up if it’s a pearler out. Looking more like a stylish New York-style lounge, the public bar looks like it should have an air of pretentiousness about it, but you’ll find a varied crowd, lured mostly by the consistently excellent, creative signature cocktails and casual food menu.
Address: 27 King Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 8563 0020
Opening Hours: Monday – Tuesday (4 PM – 10 PM); Wednesday (12 PM – 10 PM); Thursday (12 PM – 11 PM); Friday – Saturday (12 PM – 12 AM)
Siglo
Standing on top of the Melbourne Supper Club, Siglo is a rooftop bar that boasts wide, open views of Parliament House and Spring Street, as well as the spire of St Patrick’s Cathedral. This creates the perfect atmosphere for the venue’s firm grip on classicism.
Head up the wraparound timber stairs, and you’ll find yourself in an immaculately groomed space framed by industrial steel and glass. Siglo is one of the few rooftop bars in Melbourne where you can follow some well-built classic cocktails or a glass of high-end Champagne with a puff of a Cuban cigar.
You’ve also got full access to the extensive cellars of Melbourne Supper Club, so it’s worth heading along to Siglo even if you’re bypassing the extensive cigar menu and focusing squarely on top-shelf reds and whites.
Address: 2/161 Spring Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9654 6631
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday (5 PM – 3 AM)
The Q at Quincy Hotel Melbourne
Quincy Hotel Melbourne is still relatively fresh-faced when it comes to Melbourne’s spread of boutique-minded luxury hotels. The property, perfectly located on Flinders Lane, is crowned by The Q – a level-28 rooftop club lounge by day, and a lively bar at night.
The narrow outdoor terrace is the most coveted space here, best enjoyed by going all out on the signature cocktails and Southeast Asian-inspired bar menu.
Address: 509 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9492 7400
Transit Rooftop Bar
Head up when you get to the Transport Hotel and end up on this sprawling rooftop. The best thing about Transit Rooftop Bar may just be the location, as part of the centrally-located Federation Square complex, but the value of having this sun-soaked open-air terrace right near the iconic Flinders Street Station shouldn’t be downplayed.
Address: Level 2, Transport Hotel Federation Square, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9654 8808
Opening Hours: Friday – Saturday (3 PM – 12 AM); Sunday (12 PM – 10 PM)
Union Electric Bar
Union Electric Bar is all about the atmosphere, built up rather well despite the rooftop gin garden sitting quite low and not offering any kind of view to speak of. Those compromises are minor complaints compared to what this Melbourne CBD favourite does offer, however, delicious pizza and a varied list of gins.
Address: 13 Heffernan Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (5 PM – 11 PM); Friday – Saturday (12 PM – 1 AM); Sunday (12 PM – 11 PM)
Bomba Tapas & Rooftop Bar
Perched above the Lonsdale Street building is Spanish-inspired rooftop bar Bomba, twisting the old Aylesbury towards something a bit more distinctive to set the city bar apart from the competition. Green Park’s Jesse Gerner has cleaned house, sprucing the long-standing rooftop bar with plenty of greenery and comfortable seating, curating a nice space for all that red sangria and duck paella.
Address: 103 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9650 5778
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Thursday (3 PM – 12 AM); Friday – Sunday (12 PM – 12 AM)
Curtin House Rooftop Bar
Best known for its summer rooftop cinema sessions, the Rooftop Bar at Curtin House is widely known as one of Melbourne’s favourite sky bars. It’s also one of the most recognisable, having been used in a bunch of local movies, sought because of the perfect city skyline views, and frequented because of the reliable drinks menu.
Address: Curtin House, level 7/252 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (12 PM – 1 AM)
Fable Melbourne
What used to be Melina on the Rooftop has now become Fable Melbourne, still steadfastly Mediterranean in flavour but now focusing more sharply on stylish aesthetics. The view over the Melbourne skyline is still as attractive as ever, offering Melbourne’s highest rooftop and located on the 14th floor of Lonsdale Street’s Greek Community Building.
The team will peel back the retractable roof of Melbourne’s highest rooftop bar on sunny days, but there’s plenty of shelter up at Fable to justify a visit during one of Melbourne’s gloomier moments.
Address: 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9662 2629
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Thursday (5 PM – 1 AM); Friday – Saturday (3 PM – 2 AM)
Imperial Hotel
There’s not much to the rooftop bar at Imperial Hotel other than the fact that it’s just a reliable place to sink a few schooners on a weekend arvo in the city. Directly opposite Parliament House, the pub is typically more popular with the sporting crowd or anyone looking for some pre-drinks before dinner.
Address: 2-8 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9810 0062
Opening Hours: Sunday – Wednesday (12 PM – 11 PM); Thursday – Saturday (12 PM – 1 AM)
Good Heavens Rooftop Bar
Good Heavens is a retro-leaning boozer sitting above Fancy Hanks, popular for anyone strolling Bourke Street and wanting to back up some American BBQ with a few cocktails or beers amongst the treetops. If all that pulled pork, smoked brisket, and whatever else is on your meat platter doesn’t take you out before the night is over, Fancy Hank’s reliably strong cocktails will.
Address: Level 2/79 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9453 2882
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Thursday (12 PM – 11 PM); Friday – Saturday (12 PM – 1 AM); Sunday (12 PM – 11 PM)
Loop Roof & Loop Top
Loop Roof feels like your mate just scored a sweet house in the heart of the city and has invited you up for some rooftop cocktails. It’s a small space, but the intimacy is what makes this such an excellent city oasis. Climb a floor higher to Loop Top for an even tighter rooftop bar, popped with greenery for a bit of style.
Address: 3/23 Meyers Place, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: 0481 785 190
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Thursday (5 PM – 11 PM); Friday (4 PM – 1 AM); Saturday (2 PM – 1 AM); Sunday (12:30 PM – 1 AM)
Palmz Rooftop Bar @ The Carlton Club
The Carlton Hotel has always had an eccentric personality, and while the colourful venue is still as divisive as ever, no one can deny the quality on offer. For the crowning Palmz Rooftop Bar, the team have obviously worked hard to stick to a tropical vibe, with full-sized palm trees and a thatched hut bar to help with the not-so-subtle branding as a city oasis in the middle of Bourke Street.
The most unique thing about this rooftop bar is that it never closes. You’re looking at Melbourne’s only 24/7 rooftop bar, making it the perfect stop for when date night gets a bit out of control.
Address: 193 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9663 3246
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (Open 24 Hours)
Southside
Tetto di Carolina, South Yarra
Melbourne has long been in need of a classic rooftop jazz bar, and Tetto di Carolina is the best possible space to fill that void. The same team behind Bar Carolina, Il Bacaro, and Sarti has finessed an exceptional, terrazzo-tiled terrace for anyone wanting a rooftop bar that’s a bit more sophisticated than your usual hipster haunt.
This isn’t your typical pub and bistro menu, nor is it one you’d expect from a stuffy cocktail bar. Tetto di Carolina is its own beast, which is why it’s so popular amongst Melbourne locals.
Address: 48 Toorak Road, South Yarra VIC 3141
Contact: (03) 9867 7954
Opening Hours: Wednesday (4 PM – 11 PM); Thursday (4 PM – 1 AM); Friday – Saturday (2 PM – 1 AM); Sunday (2 PM – 11 PM)
The Espy, St Kilda
Melbourne’s favourite mega-venue, The Espy (aka Hotel Esplanade), has a slick rooftop terrace bar – revealed as part of a massive makeover a few years ago. The legendary seaside pub has long been one of the primo summer haunts for Melbourne locals, so grabbing a schooner on the outdoor terrace is now one of the quintessential ways to while away a relaxed afternoon when the weather is at its uncharacteristic best.
Address: 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda VIC 3182
Contact: (03) 9534 0211
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Thursday (12 PM – 11 PM); Friday – Saturday (12 PM – 2 AM); Sunday (12 PM – 11 PM); Monday (4 PM – 10 PM)
The Emerson Rooftop Bar & Club, South Yarra
Located in South Yarra, The Emerson Rooftop Bar moves away from the leisurely atmosphere one would typically associate with a Melbourne rooftop bar. You’ve also got a nightclub here, which is why this place is liveliest on the weekend, churning through Japanese-inspired bar snacks and a long, standard drinks menu.
Address: 141-145 Commercial Road, South Yarra VIC 3141
Contact: (03) 9825 0900
Opening Hours: Friday (4 pm – 3 am); Saturday (1 PM – 3 AM); Sunday (3 PM – 11 PM)
Captain Baxter, St Kilda
A popular choice for anyone wanting a post-swim frothie after visiting the nearby St Kilda sea baths, Captain Baxter is Melbourne’s favourite beachside rooftop bar. The vibe is so chic up here that it could give some of Sydney’s finest a run for their money.
Address: 10/10-18 Jacka Blvd, St Kilda VIC 3182
Contact: (03) 8534 8999
Opening Hours: Friday (5 PM – 12 AM); Saturday (12 PM – 12 AM); Sunday (12 PM – 10 PM)
Harlow, Richmond
Although most locals head along to Harlow for the atmospheric beer garden, the more recently opened rooftop seems destined to become the Richmond pub’s busiest spot.
Wrapped around the building, the terrace has modernised the pub in the best of ways, buoyed by an excellent beer list and a food menu of typical pub classics done well. There’s not much else to this one – just a great pub, dependable pub with a solid rooftop beer garden.
Address: 447 Church Street, Richmond, VIC 3121
Contact: (03) 9810 0082
Opening Hours: Sunday – Thursday (12 PM – 10 PM); Friday – Saturday (12 PM – 12 AM)
The Corner Hotel, Richmond
Ideal for a pre-gig drink, the rooftop that sits on The Corner Hotel is one of the most popular rooftop bars in Richmond. Most people think of live music when you mention Corner Hotel, but even if there’s no band downstairs, it’s still one of our favourite places to grab a feed, sink a couple of beers, and enjoy the footy.
Address: 57 Swan Street, Richmond VIC 3121
Contact: (03) 9427 7300
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Thursday (12 PM – 1 AM); Friday – Sunday (12 PM – 3 AM)
Northside
Easey’s, Collingwood
Melbourne’s most interesting rooftop beer garden can be found at this Collingwood favourite. Run by the guy who literally wrote the book on burgers, Jimmy Hurlston, Easey’s is a multi-level burger joint, with decommissioned graffiti-covered train carriages sitting on the roof.
Not many people consider it when searching for the best rooftop bars in Melbourne, but that’s because it’s primarily thought of as a burger restaurant rather than a bar. That’d be a mistake; there’s a healthy list of local and imported beer to get across, as well as a selection of signature cocktails and a few wines thrown in for good measure.
The ground floor may be the buzziest section, but this Melbourne rooftop bar is easily one of the city’s most unique.
Address: 3/48 Easey Street, Collingwood VIC 3066
Contact: (03) 9417 2250
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (11 AM – 10 PM); Friday – Saturday (11 AM – 11 PM)
Johnny’s Green Room, Carlton
There are few perspectives of the Melbourne skyline as impactful as the one from Johnny’s Green Room in Carlton, which crowns the historic King & Godfree complex and promises an unforgettable afternoon on the sauce.
Perch yourself here early for some quintessential sunset cocktails on a Friday night, and you’re guaranteed a good time, fueled by an extensive drinks menu, Italo disco tunes, and modern Italian bar bites.
Address: Level 2/293-297 Lygon Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Contact: (03) 9347 1619
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (12 PM – 11 PM)
Runner Up Rooftop Bar, Collingwood
Self-described as the “second best rooftop bar in Collingwood”, Runner Up Rooftop Bar enjoys its place at the summit of Collingwood Yards and remains one of the more popular venues in the suburb. With 70s soul music pumping through vintage hi-fi speakers and a zeitgeisty drinks list full of natural wines, there’s also a line-up of bar snacks including Tasmanian oysters and thirst-quenching Zooper Doopers.
Address: Level 2/35 Johnston Street, Collingwood VIC 3066
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Thursday (5 PM – 11 PM); Friday (4 PM – 1 AM); Saturday (1 PM – 1 PM); Sunday (1 PM – 11 PM)
The Cornish Arms Hotel, Brunswick
If you’re hunting for an expansive, sun-soaked rooftop, The Cornish Arms Hotel welcomes you to Brunswick with classic pub food. The rooftop bar is most popular for private functions, but on most days, you’ll find the space stacked with students downing some of the country’s best brews.
Address: 163A Sydney Road, Brunswick VIC 3056
Contact: (03) 9380 8383
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (12 PM – 11 PM); Saturday – Sunday (12 PM – 12 AM)
Naked In The Sky, Fitzroy
The Naked in the Sky terrace is part of Fitzroy’s iconic Naked for Satan, adding a nice little layer of al fresco drinking to one of the most popular bars in Melbourne. Boosted by panoramic views of the city, this is the place to be if you want a cool rooftop bar to really illustrate the gritty image that defines Melbourne’s inner northern social scene.
Address: 285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Contact: (03) 9416 2238
Opening Hours: Sunday – Thursday (12 PM – 12 AM); Friday – Saturday (12 PM – 1 AM)
Marquis Of Lorne, Fitzroy
The three-level Marquis of Lorne has long been considered one of the best and most historic pubs in Melbourne, and while the downstairs front bar and dining room are always worth a visit, it’s the rooftop’s outdoor deck shouldn’t be overlooked.
Address: 411 George Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Contact: (03) 9417 5001
Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday (4 PM – 11 PM); Thursday – Saturday (12 PM – 1 AM); Sunday (12 PM – 11 PM)
The Provincial Hotel, Fitzroy
The historic venue that is The Provincial Hotel is one of Brunswick Street’s more popular pubs, mostly thanks to a drinks list that constantly showcases the best of Melbourne, from classic cocktails to the taps of craft beer. Wine lovers get a good shout with a reasonable amount of quality varietals by the glass, while anyone heading along for the food can expect the typical pub classics enhanced by well-sourced produce.
With all those bases well taken care of, The Provincial Hotel is always in a good position to lure people up to its grand old rooftop, which pops into the modern age with a plethora of greenery to help add some colour to that million-dollar vista over the city skyline.
Address: 299 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Contact: (03) 9810 0042
Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday (4 PM – 11 PM); Thursday (4 PM – 12 AM); Friday – Saturday (12 PM – 3 AM); Sunday (12 PM – 11 PM)
If you enjoyed this wrap-up of the best rooftop bars in Melbourne, you might enjoy Boss Hunting’s other hospitality round-ups below:
