Melbourne's best winter rooftop bars

Warm up your soul (and your taste buds) 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.

Johnny's Green Room has had a makeover for winter. The team is taking to 1980s Milan for the season's food and drink inspiration. Try the rotating menu of puccia. It's a 48-hour slow-fermented pizza dough stuffed with fillings like meatballs and mozzarella. To sip on, we love the sound of the hot espresso cocktail with fresh chantilly cream. To keep you toasty, Johnny's has decked out the rooftop with gas-heaters and woollen blankets.

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. Or book in for the high tea where you'll enjoy sweet and savoury treats and a signature cocktail on arrival. The bar is decked out with a retractable roof and heating for year-round good times.

Melbourne's biggest rooftop bar in the CBD has transformed into a winter oasis. Head upstairs to Good Heavens during the cooler months for comfort food, seasonal cocktails and the city's only kurling rink. Have a go at this fast paced game while you sip on winter warmers like the s'mores espresso martini complete with a toasted marshmallow. And order from the new menu featuring wood-grilled oysters, mac and cheese toasties and more.

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 signature cocktails the 'Ruby Renaissance' with whisky, apricot Brandy and bitters.

Morris House has become a staple for after work drinks, big group catch-ups and cocktails with a view. This huge pub spans four levels, but the rooftop with retractable roof and ample heating has to be the star of the show. Sip on a glass of red or go for signature cocktails like the peanut butter whisky sour. Then work your way through the food menu and order cured meats, tasty share plates, house made focaccia, modern pub grub and more.

This eleventh-floor gem in Russell Street is almost an old-fave by Melbourne standards. Kick back on the comfy seats and snuggle up under the heaters. Sip on classic cocktails like the dirty martini and old fashioned. Can't find what you want on the menu? Ask the bartender and they'll whip it up for you. The feed me menu for $59 is the way to go if you and your crew are hungry. You'll get a mezze plate, steak frites, buttermilk fried chicken, dessert and more.

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 gnocci with saffron. 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 'smoky toreador' with sage mezcal, apricot and lime.

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.