The best new bars in Melbourne

A glass of wine with a pretty view? Chef's kiss! Located on the banks of the Yarra river, Commune Wine is the best place to kick back, unwind and watch the world go by. If you’re lucky, nab a table on the balcony. Then study the extensive wine list featuring everything from Italian moscato and South Australian riesling to French rosé Champagne and Spanish tempranillo. Don’t skip the food menu featuring highlights like burrata with roasted peach, oysters, fancy French fries and more.

Tucked inside an 1860s terrace in North Melbourne, Bear’s Wine Bar is as cosy as they come. The 37-seat venue features exposed brick walls, timber floors, and soft lighting, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. The wine list highlights small producers, while the cocktail menu features classics and creative house specialties. Pair your drink with share plates like confit duck croquettes or burrata with summer plum.

Every little neighbourhood needs a cosy wine bar and Arnold’s fits the bill. Located in the charming suburb of Kensington at 192 Bellair St, this local gem is your go-to for a glass of red in a chilled out setting. Go beyond the drinks list and stay for a bite to eat. There are the usual wine bar favourites like oysters and olives with jalapenos. The rest of the menu focuses on seasonal dishes with fresh ingredients so ask your waiter for their reccos if you need a hand deciding.  

Calling all wine connoisseurs and lovers of a good drop – there's a new cellar door and wine bar in town. The team at Vinesmith know their cuvée from their brut. Start with an expert tasting at the cellar door and try an award-winning range from Blue Pyrenees and Glenlofty Estates. Feeling peckish? Take a seat in the upstairs bistro and enjoy a bite to eat overlooking the Fitzroy Gardens. Order French-inspired dishes like country-style duck terrene and scallop gratinée. Before you leave, make sure you have a good browse through the impressive wine shop for a take-home bottle.

Mid Air could well be home to one of Melbourne’s best city views. Wander through the plush foyer, up the fancy elevator and into this roof top oasis with sparkling skyline views. Cocktails are a must here so order a round or two. We love the sound of the pineapple mimosa and The Botanical Collins with Hendricks gin, rosemary and elderflower. And you can’t go past the food menu featuring a bunch of tasty small plates and larger dishes to feed a hungry crew.

Circl isn’t just another wine bar – it’s a wine house. Designed for both enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike, the head sommelier has built an impressive 125-page wine list. The space is warm and inviting, with burgundy leather seats and a wall-length wine cellar. Executive chef Elias Salomonsson adds Nordic touches to the menu. You can taste everything from tinned and pickled fish to rich duck and Wagyu dishes.

This well-trodden corner of Flinders Lane felt destined to host a cosy all-day bistro and bar. And charming Euro-inspired Elio's Place has slotted in perfectly. Swing by after work and nestle in at a corner table. Or find a window seat overlooking Flinders Lane – it’s the ideal spot for people watching. Then order a glass of vino with some snack plates. You might like to try the lamb skewers with salsa verde, the scallop tartare or the tinned fish with crisps and lemon.

On a Melbourne corner you'll find Earth Angels. This freshly minted bar is serving a genre-defying menu of South-East Asian small plates and natural wine. With jazz nights, farmer's markets and chess clubs on the cards, Earth Angels is a dinner and show type of venue. Part listening bar, part gallery space, you'll have a brand new experience with every visit.

Guy Grossi's beloved laneway wine bar is back in business. And there's nowhere we'd rather go for 5pm knock-offs, midnight spaghetti and bolognese jaffles. The unique, subterranean space doubles as a wine cellar for fine diner Grossi Florentino. Which means their boutique selection of Italian, French and Australian wines is second to none!

One of Carlton's most beloved Italian restaurants, Scopri, has opened a standalone bar. Bar Olo's focus is on North-West Italian drinks and snacks. Step through the entryway curtain, head to the bar, and order yourself a kitschy cocktail and a bowl of handmade pasta. Finish things off with a scoop of the legendary tiramisu.

Are hidden bars your favourite haunts? Mill Place Merchants is tucked inside a heritage-listed building in Melbourne's CBD. Skilled bartenders are whipping up classic cocktails by candlelight. Vintage interiors pay homage to the venue's former life as a factory that once produced hats, soap, and small goods.

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.

Marvel stadium is upping the ante with a slate of new food and dining experiences. Amphora, and adjoining restaurant Friends of Fire, are serving contemporary drinks and barbeque. Helmed by culinary director, and iconic Melbourne chef, Shannon Martinez the menu is American-leaning. Dinner and drinks at the footy never looked so glam.

A subterranean bar owned by two industry heavyweights. Purple Pit is a dimly-lit drinking den of debaucherous decadence. Grab a table and order a round of martinis to your liking and the venue's riff on a McDonald's filet-of-fish. With a soundtrack that spans even the most eclectic discographies, Purple Pit is a bar with a real point of view.

At 80 floors up golden hour never looked so good. Cameo is the cocktail bar inside Melbourne's newest luxury hotel, The Ritz Carlton. Utilising vintage spirits in the drinks program, experience a vesper martini or amaretto sour as they originally did. Get in quick, as many of their spirits are one of one – once the bottle is gone, so is the beverage.

Melbourne has its fair share of rooftop venues but this new spot is full of personality. Follow the glowing red neon sign up stairs to Santana, a moody bar in the city's laneways. Santana's Latin-influenced menu is matched with a wide range of lesser-known South American wines.