Where to find the best happy hour deals in Melbourne

There's nothing more rewarding than clocking out early for a frosty one on the cheap. Check out these tasty specials then ease into the week with cheap Monday deals, 2-for-1 cocktails and wallet-friendly oyster hours.

$12 golden hour spritzes  

Stroll down Southbank Boulevard and head straight to Marmont for golden hour specials between 4pm and 6pm Tuesday to Friday. The California-inspired bar and restaurant is the ideal spot to kick back in the sunshine and sip on a $12 Aperol spritz. Or if beer’s more your thing, grab a frosty one from the tap for $8. Wines are only $10 too and negronis are a steal at $16.  

$9 beers and $16 espresso martinis  

This neon-lit South East-Asian restaurant has a happy hour deal that’s hard to beat. Get the crew together and head to Juni for $9 beers and wines from 4pm-6pm every Monday to Thursday. Or if you’re on the lookout for an after-dinner drink, the signature espresso martinis and lychee ginger spritzes are $16 from 9pm to 10.30pm.  

$16 martinis and free mini cocktails

Martinis are calling at The Douglas Club. And if you get in early, the first drink might be on the house! The bar's happy hour kicks off at 7pm sharp, pouring free mini martinis for 24 lucky visitors. If you miss out don't fret, there's still two hours of $16 full-sized cocktails. The happy hour runs every day from 29 December to 18 January.

Cheap pub grub and late-night negronis 

Melbourne’s favourite inner-city pub has some very generous deals. Order one of the weekly specials at Springrock like $20 pasta and wine on Mondays or $20 gourmet cheeseburgers on Thursdays. Then take advantage of the drink offers. We’re talking $8 wines, $9 spirits and $10 beers every weekday from 3-6pm. And if you’re kicking on until after dark call in for a negroni nightcap for $15 from 9pm-12am, Thursday to Saturday.  

$13 boozy slushies on Sundays 

West Melbourne’s Japanese-inspired beer hall Benchwarmer is firing up the slushy machine on Sundays. The best part? They’re only $13! From 12pm until closing time score this icy summer drink for a very good price. Choose from all sorts of flavours like the sour ale slushy made with tart black fruits and the umeshu and peach Bellini.

German beer on tap from $6 

If anyone knows good beer it’s Melbourne's iconic Bavarian beer hall Hofbräuhaus. Head to this laneway gem between Tuesday and Friday, 4-6pm and get ready for some stein swinging, wallet-friendly fun. That’s $6 for 300ml, $9 for 500ml and $15 for a litre. All on tap and all imported bier from Germany. 

Mexican and $10 margaritas

Mesa Verde has been letting the Mexican good times roll for a long time now. Happy hour is on every Tuesday to Saturday from 4pm to 6pm with an epic deal for tequila lovers. Try the bar's famous Tommy's margaritas for just $10. And yes, those are full sized cocktails.

$12 cosmos and half price wine

Sit back with a budget-friendly cocktail and soak up the sunshine at Melbourne's biggest rooftop bar. Head upstairs to Good Heavens for $12 cosmos on Thursdays. Get the team together for half price bottles of wine on Tuesdays. Or beat the Monday blues with a gourmet mortadella sandwich and a glass of wine or beer for $25.

Aperitivo hour 

Do as the Italians do and enjoy an after-work aperitivo. Ronnie’s has their own version on Mondays from 5pm to 6pm and every Tuesday to Friday from 4pm to 6pm. Sip on a lovely glass of vino for $10, select cocktails for $15 and pints from $12. And of course you must order some cicchetti (small plates). Think $11 fermented potato focaccia, $9 whipped cod and $10 gourmet fries.  

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 Champagne or a $6 lager. Snack on $4 Pacific oysters (add 50 cents for a hit of refreshing granita), $12 pomme frites, or a $40 charcuterie plate to share.  

Vintage wines, just $8 a glass

Life's Too Short Bar offers back-vintage (old and rare) wine, for just $8 a glass, during its happy hours. That's Wednesday and Thursday 4pm to 6pm and Friday 3pm to 6pm. You can also knock back espresso martini royales for $18 all day, every day. But only if you ask nicely!

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. Whether your passion is art-house films or the latest blockbuster, you’ll have plenty of change for a choc top. Cinema Nova in Carlton, all movie tickets are just $7 until 4pm or $11 in the evening on Mondays.

Oyster hour and pizza Wednesdays

Sure, cheap bevvies are nice. But an hour dedicated to half-priced oysters is heavenly. Fly up to Transit Rooftop Bar for a luxe evening on a budget. Oyster hour runs Friday through Sunday from 6pm to 7pm. Pair those freshly shucked gems with a signature cocktail and soak in the sparkling city views.  

$9 knock-off drinks

Celebrate the end of the work day with a cold bev for under a tenner. Happy Hour at Riverland Bar is a glorious two hours of $9 drinks. Grab a table on the banks of the Yarra River and sip selected pints, wines, spirits and spritzes. Available Monday to Friday, from 4pm to 7pm.

Cheap jugs and snacks

Happy hour comes every day at Vapiano. Visit on Mondays for $20 jugs and pizzas or get the crew together for happy hour every day of the week from 4pm to 6pm! Frozen cocktails are just $13, all wines are half price and tap beers are only $6. You'd be amiss not to try the $10 pizzas or $5 snacks while you're there. There are also bottomless weekends, student deals and more wallet-friendly offers. 

$8 beer, wine and spirits

It's worth knocking off early to score cheap beers in a historic pub. The newly restored Metropolitan Hotel has a cracking happy hour every Monday to Thursday. Get in from 4pm to 6pm to enjoy tap beers, wine and spirits all for just $8 a pop.