Where to find the best happy hour deals in Melbourne

It's time to get happy without breaking the bank. Check out these tasty specials, from cheap movie tickets to half-price margaritas.

$14 cocktails at The Moat 

Everyone’s favourite subterranean bar, The Moat, offers a selection of $14 cocktails Wednesday to Saturday, between 4pm and 6pm. Choose from an espresso martini or a house-made lavender gin concoction. There are also some lovely wines for only $8 a glass, and a heavenly cheese plate menu.

Late-night pizza party

After a long year, the fire-ravaged pizza joint Leonardo's is back slinging woodfired pizzas. Visit the pizza palace on weekends for late night happy hour. That's cheap cocktails and $12 jugs of lager from 9pm into the wee hours. The $12 negronis are a natural fit for the wood-fired pizzas, but the $14 coconutty pina coladas go down surprisingly well, too. 

Hidden gem happy hour

A hidden gem tucked inside the Pullman Hotel, Eva's promises a luxe experience for less at happy hour. With sleek mid-century styling and elevated homestyle cooking, date-night at Eva's is a no-brainer. Visit from 4pm to 6pm daily to take advantage of the savings. Cocktail fans can choose from $12 Aperol spritzes and $15 espresso martinis. There's also $10 pints, $6 house wines and $9 house spirits.

Melbourne's tiniest happy hour cocktails

File under: things that make you say 'awww'. Bar Bombay Yacht Club's pint-sized cocktails are almost too cute to drink. Almost. Pop in for happy hour every Tuesday and Wednesday this winter to gobble up a half lobster and mini cocktail for just $35. After you've downed your one-sip negroni, stick around for biryani, balls of happiness and perhaps some full-sized cocktails.

Half-price wines and oyster happy hour

Ernest himself would have felt right at home at Hemingway’s, a seductive homage to Europe’s wine bars. Luxuriate through the working week with $2 oysters, $9 prosecco and $15 champagne. That's on Tuesday to Thursday, between 5.30pm and 6.30pm. Or dine in on 'bottle shop Thursdays' and enjoy half-price bottles of wine. Grabbing vino to-go? You can also get 10 per cent off all takeaway bottles on Thursdays.

Steak and oyster night

Wednesday night is steak night at Boilermaker House. And if that's not enough, it's also half-price oyster night. Pop in between 5pm and 10pm for oysters served natural with a Laphroaig 10 dropper. Gobble down 6 for $13.50 or a dozen for $27. The main event is a juicy 200g ribeye for just $25. It comes with shoestring fries, rocket salad and a house-made pepper sauce.

Bubbles and $3 oysters at Chancery Lane

Knock-off drinks just got a whole lot classier with happy hour in the courtyard at Chancery Lane. From 5pm to 7pm, Wednesday to Friday, enjoy a $15 glass of Saint-Gall Champagne or $6 Moon Dog lager. Snack on $3 Southern Rock oysters, $8 pomme frites, or a $40 charcuterie plate to share.

Burgers and cheap cocktails

Burgers and cocktails are the dream combo you didn't know you needed. Head to B.EAST's retro-inspired Swanston Street digs for happy hour bevs. It runs from 3pm to 6pm everyday and 9pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Wash down your fave stacked burgers with $7 glasses of wine, $6 beers, $8 spirits and $12 cocktails. Will it be spicy margs or a rum-loaded espresso martini?

Movie tickets from $7

Most cinemas have dropped cheap Tuesdays and discount tickets all together. But on Mondays thrifty film buffs can still head to the Kino Cinema, where tickets are $8.50 during the day or $9.50 at night. Whether your passion is art-house films or the latest blockbuster, you’ll have plenty of change for a choc top. Meanwhile over at Cinema Nova in Carlton, all movie tickets are just $7 until 4pm or $10 in the evening on Mondays.

Aperitivo hour at a new late-night espresso bar

Checkerboard floors, marble tables and coffee until 10pm. Find all this and more at Queensmith Baretto, brand new to the espresso wine bar scene. Visit from 3pm to 7pm and sip a $12 spritz or $15 negroni. Get change from a tenner with a selection of $6 wines and beers. Hungry? Gourmet antipasto plates are in high supply.

Half price cocktails

The George on Collins has something for everyone, including half-price cocktails on Thursdays and Fridays. Head there between 4pm and 6pm to get 50 per cent off the entire cocktail list. Find $12 espresso martinis, cosmos and more. Peckish? Order some sambal chicken wings and kimchi bao buns to share. Or go all out with one of the two ‘feed me’ menus.

High-end happy hour

Okay, we’re pushing the boat out here. The lush Bar Margaux celebrates ‘Golden Hour’ from 5pm to 7pm, and 10pm to 12am daily. For $80 you can get two glasses of champagne, oysters, frites and steak tartare. Hey, that’s only, like, four ten-dollar margaritas each, right? 

Please drink responsibly.