TravelXchange List

Overview
Melbourne doesn’t do average—and that includes its cocktails. Boss Hunting’s 2024 guide, The 14 Best Cocktail Bars in Melbourne Right Now, showcases the bars raising the standard on every pour, every garnish, and every vibe. If you’re looking for a place where the drinks are dialled in and the lighting is just right, this list is your perfect prelude to a great night out.
These bars cover the full spectrum of Melbourne’s cocktail scene. You’ll find moody speakeasies tucked beneath laneways, hotel bars oozing glamour and sophistication, and boundary-pushing venues where the mixologists double as mad scientists. The one thing they all have in common? Serious attention to craft—and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay for “just one more.”
Expect menus filled with reimagined classics, local ingredients, rare spirits, and the kind of presentation that borders on theatre. But it’s not all smoke and mirrors. Each spot has been selected for its consistency, creativity, and ability to deliver a drink that tastes as good as it looks.
Perfect for after-work sips, romantic rendezvous, or an elevated night out with friends, this guide blends style with substance—just like the best cocktails. Whether you’re sipping a flawless Negroni, a Japanese whisky highball, or a house special infused with native botanicals, these bars represent the best of Melbourne’s high-end, low-fuss drinking culture.
So if you’re chasing ambience, elegance, and top-tier cocktails without the fluff, Boss Hunting’s 2024 hit list is your go-to map. No pretension—just perfectly mixed drinks, poured by the best in the business.

Last update August 2025