Small bars in Melbourne CBD with big vibes

Melbourne is renowned for its eclectic nighlife and array of small bars and eateries tucked away in laneways and side streets. These cosy bars are part of Melbourne's allure as a city filled with hidden gems. 

We’ve put together a guide to help you discover these small bars in Melbourne's bustling CBD so you're prepared for your next date night or intimate catch up with friends. 

The CBD’s small bars offer everything from a late-night Parisian-inspired bistro to cosy speakeasy vibes and everything in between. Bar Margaux brings late night French bistro dining to the CBD, while tiny Caretakers Cottage tempts with world class cocktails. In Chinatown, Bar Clara offers a speakeasy escape with swanky velvet seating and seasonal cocktails. If you’re looking for excellent rooftop views, Fable serves Mediterranean dishes and imaginative drinks on Lonsdale Street. And the ever popular, Eau De Vie dazzles with its American Prohibition-era ambiance, impressive whiskey list and theatrical cocktails.

Address: 111 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria

A Parisian basement brasserie in Melbourne, Bar Margaux offers late night revellers a feast of oysters, steak and Champagne well into the small hours of the morning. The kitchen is open until the eatly hours on week nights, and later on weekends. The design is centred around a chequerboard floor, with leather booths, glass dividers, moody lighting, and a railway sleeper and black subway tiled bar counter.

Careful thought has gone into the bistro menu which includes nourishing classics like French onion soup, steak frites, and lobster croque monsieur. Bar Margaux has won a slew of awards since opening in 2019, including Bar of the Year by the Good Food Guide. And founder Michael Madrusan, was nominated in the Top 100 Most Influential Bartenders by Australian Bartender in 2024. 

This intimate bistro-bar offers Golden Hour specials between 4 and 6pm, and again between midnight and close. Madrusan-made cocktails include Brandy Alexander, Black Velvet, and a host of Martinis and Manhattans plus on-trend, three-gulp cocktails.

Address: 139-141 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne , Victoria 
 
 

Victoria’s smallest bar has a loyal following and an awards list that surpasses its size. Acknowledged as one of the Best Bars in the World by the 2024 World's 50 Best Bars list,  Caretakers Cottage is a Melbourne institution and a coveted spot for well-made cocktails. The supercool, intimate bar is housed in a small bluestone cottage, with space for only 25 guests. The intimate setting comes complete with moody lighting, long sheer curtains and a vinyl spinning DJ. 

There’s no food menu even though the bar runs like a chef’s pass, with the talented quartet of bartenders whipping up cocktails at an impressive rate.  Caretakers Cottage’s martinis are known as the ‘best in the biz’ and since opening, Milk Punch has been on the menu. The June Bug Milk Punch, made up of coconut rum, banana, melon liqueur, pineapple and lime, is flawlessly clarified and offers a perfect balance of saltiness and sweetness. Another winning cocktail is the Frantic Atlantic - a blend of pisco sour, elderflower, grapefruit and lemon. There's also a premium choice of beers on tap and a good selection of local wine. 

Address: 87 Little Bourke St, Melbourne  

  
Located in the centre of Chinatown across from Her Majesty’s Theatre, Bar Clara is a popular spot for a pre-theatre drink or after work cocktails. Bar Clara offers a cosy, speakeasy-style setting with dark lighting, plush green velvet sofas, industrial exposed plumbing and a gleaming copper bar counter top.  The unpretentious setting is the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxed evening.  

The bespoke cocktail list, crafted by mixologist and owner Joel McKenzie, runs in parrallell with the change in seasons. In winter there are hot cocktails like Nutritionally Delicious which is a blend of white rum, mandarin and Ovaltine syrup. And mulled wine drinks made with red wine generously spiked with crushed cacao beans, cherries, and spices. They are aromatic and well-seasoned and the perfect refreshment in cold weather.

Spring cocktail highlights include the Lychee Go – a fruity mix made with white rum, Thai tea infusion, lychee and curry leaf syrup. Heart of the Matter is a sophisticated agave cocktail and Red Handed is a delicious blend of dark rum, housemade blood orange liqueur and sweet vermouth. Autumn sees playful concoctions of pomegranate, pumpkin, and capsicum mixed with mezcal and tequila and whey infusions. Summer cocktails include blanco sangria, an artisanal carbonated vodka lime cocktail, and La Pasión, a refreshing passionfruit sorbet and vanilla liqueur mix garnished with liquid nitrogen.   

There's also a good selection of non-alcoholic, custom-made cocktails and a minimal selection of snacks including Reuben and mushroom toasties and baked brie. 

Address: 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria  

 
Enjoy imaginative cocktails and gluten-free Mediterranean dishes, 14 storey’s above Lonsdale Street at Fable. This amazing rooftop restaurant and bar has a wonderful laid-back vibe. The elegant, lofty space offers impressive views from the bar's huge wraparound windows and retractable roof.  

Flavour and imagination are woven into every dish which favours seasonal and sustainable produce. Mentionable entrées include trout caviar blinis, seared scallops with taramasalata butter and grilled Fremantle octopus with a sauce vierge. All the main dishes brilliantly showcase the shores of the  Mediterranean. But the slow-cooked spiced lamb shoulder with labneh, dill oil and harissa dressing is a knockout.  

You'll also find a creatively charged cocktail lineup that inventively reworks classics like the Black Magie (blackberry margarita) and the Sunkissed Horizon (screwdriver) made with Malfy Blood Orange Gin, lemon, and orange juice. Aperitivo time (Golden Hour) is between 3 and 5pm Tuesday to Friday. And there isn’t a loftier perch than Fables to savour sunset cocktails.  

Address:  1 Malthouse Lane, Melbourne, Victoria 

Once a hidden bar, Eau De Vie is now one of Melbourne’s busiest cocktail bars. Its popularity linked to its refined bygone era atmosphere and extensive whiskey menu. Knowledgeable bartenders, waistcoat wearing waitrons, a jazzy playlist, and whiskey lounge tucked behind a bookcase all combine to make this a classy joint. You can enjoy drinks at the bar, at one of the high tables or in a private booth.  

There's a flamboyant array of cocktails served flaming or smoking. Try the  Zest in the City a sweet and zesty cocktail featuring Roku gin, white cacao liqueur, triple sec, and mandarin foam. The Smokey Rob Roy is an Eau De Vie classic – a mix of Talisker and Highland Whiskies, sweet vermouth, and orange bitters and served under a cloak of wood smoke. 

Bar snacks like charcuterie boards, Kingfish sashimi, and freshly shucked oysters accentuate the American Prohibition-era theme. And the themed five-course cocktail degustation menu comes with a lively backstory.  

While you’re partaking of Melbourne’s exciting city life, restaurants and small bars, enjoy a comfortable and convenient stay at  Mercure Melbourne Therry Street. Located in the CBD, this comfortable hotel is just across the road from the Queen Victoria Market and is a fifteen minute stroll to Lonsdale Road.