Melbourne's best winter rooftop bars

This eleventh-floor gem in Russell Street is almost an old-fave by Melbourne standards. But this winter, QT Rooftop has been transformed into a spectacular snow globe! Snuggle up under the heaters and watch hourly shows, where snowflakes fall from above. There's a curated menu of winter cocktails, including a flaming whisky blazer and liquid nitrogen martinis.

Johnny's Green Room has had a winter makeover. The team are taking to the Italian Alps for the season's menu inspiration. Everything is getting the alpine treatment, from cocktails to snacks. To keep you toasty, Johnny's has decked out the rooftop with gas-heaters and bespoke woollen blankets. Its après-ski without the airfare.

Warm up your soul (and your tastebuds) at Hotel Nacional. Grab a cocktail and peruse the modern-Mexican menu that caters to the gluten-free and plant-based community. Light and bright with a retractable rooftop and heaters, it's the perfect spot for Friday knock offs.

After work drinks call for a trip to Level 22. At Fleet expect a curated list of nautical themed cocktails and seafood focused snacks. Take in the iconic city skyline from Flinders Street's tallest rooftop bar. The bar is decked out with a retractable roof and heating for year-round good times.

Head for the skies and land at Fable, 14 storeys up. Feast on Mediterranean-style share plates while you enjoy the sweeping city views. The retractable awning and heaters make the bar weatherproof and perfectly cosy in winter. The bespoke cocktail list is inspired by fables and stories throughout history. Try the fiery ‘fall of Icarus’. This sweet and smoky drop blends brandy, scotch and sherry with a lick of flames.

Farmer's Daughter is a three-storey culinary wonderland dedicated to all things local and delicious. The sleek rooftop bar is a warm and weatherproof oasis. Decked out with gorgeous greenery, it's also where the team grows all their garnishes. Heat things up with a spicy margarita. Then head downstairs for a rustic flame-cooked dinner from the campfire kitchen.

Escape the winter chill with a mini vacay on the tropical Palmz rooftop. This urban oasis topping The Carlton Club is open for walk-ins. Take a chance on a spontaneous post-dinner sesh and enter a tropical hideaway overlooking Bourke Street. Complete with overgrown bougainvillea, palm trees and a thatched hut bar. Once those heaters are fired up, you’ll forget you’re in Melbourne. 

Host a pasta-fueled dinner party on the hidden rooftop terrace at Marameo. The space is relaxed and minimalistic, with artwork giving a playful nod to Marameo’s Italian roots. Tucked in amongst city buildings and protected by a retractable awning, you're hidden from view and left to concentrate on which spritz to try next. Indulge in ten cheese lasagne and cacio e pepe with black truffle. And stay on-theme with a glass of Tuscan sangiovese.

Bomba is all cosy vibes downstairs, lush retreat upstairs. Completely covered and protected from the elements, you get that alfresco feeling with none of the chill. The cocktails up here are super fresh and the tapas on point. The views up here are as epic as ever and DJs bring the vibes on weekends. Don't leave without trying the dirty horchata, packed with warming wintery spices.

It’s always summer on the Palm Springs–inspired Good Heavens rooftop. Think Hawaiian shirts, neon signs and all-American snacks. The majority of the bar is undercover so it's easy to seek shelter from the rain. The ‘80s-style cocktails up here are heaven-sent. Why not try one of the hot winter cocktails? There's classic mulled wine and hot toddies, or a delicious whipped cream-topped hot buttered rum.

This Chinatown bar ticks all the Melbourne boxes. It’s down a laneway and has a rooftop – with a retractable roof so tipples go down nicely in any weather. Think of Union Electric’s rooftop garden as a modern tiki bar, serving cocktails with bright, punchy flavours. Our pick is the warming ‘rumble in the jungle’. It’s got all your seasonal staples including coffee, miso and whisky.

Melbourne’s oldest pub boasts an eye-popping panorama of Fed Square and the Forum from the rooftop. Up here, you’d never know this joint goes back to 1853, courtesy of the bar’s sleek modern fit-out. Especially when you slide into one of the undercover leather booths, which are bookable. Settle in with a glass of wine or a cocktail. Then ponder The Duke Of Wellington’s menu, from pan fried gnocchi to sticky toffee pudding.