Melbourne is well-known for its thriving arts community, beautiful buildings, and delicious cuisine, but the city is also home to a wide variety of excellent Whisky bars.
In this city, whisky lovers of all stripes can find their ideal drinking establishment, from secluded hideaways to time-honoured institutions.
So, fill your glass, brush off your blazer, and come along as we explore the best bars in Melbourne, where the drams flow like the Yarra and the atmosphere is as smooth as a single malt.
All tastes are catered to in Melbourne’s Whisky bars, from the traditional Old Fashioned to the smoky Islay and the fiery bourbon. Raise your glass to the city’s most alluring whisky destinations, Cheers!
Melbourne’s Best Whisky Bars
Some of the greatest whisky bars in Melbourne are listed here:
Whisky and Alement
Whisky & Alement is a shrine to fine whisky, and its extensive collection of rare Scotch makes it one of the best whisky bars in the world.
They have an unfathomable depth of whisky knowledge and can point you on the correct path, or you may attend one of their monthly masterclasses.
You can take one of the many rare and interesting bottles from their magnificent gold cabinet with you for a small price, as they also have an off-premise license.
Address: 270 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Wed-Thur 4 pm-12 am, Fri-Sat 4 pm-1 am, Sun 4-11 pm
Phone: (03) 9654 1284
The Elysian Whisky Bar
Located smack dab in the centre of all the hipster Located on Brunswick Street, this classy watering hole is known for stocking some of the world’s rarest whisky varieties.
The owners, Kelvin Low and Yao Wong, set out to do things differently from other whisky bars.
To that end, they won lottery tickets and bought the last bottles of rare casks to stock their bar with more than 300 irreplaceable samples of whisky from around the world.
If you’ve done the rounds at all the usual dive bars and are looking for somewhere you’re guaranteed to have a completely different experience, this is the place to go.
Address: 113 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Hours: Tues – Sat 4:30 pm – 1 am
Phone: (03) 9417 7441
Eau de Vie Melbourne
When it comes to cocktail menus, the original bar that sparked the Speakeasy Group’s current empire, EDV Melbourne, continues to set the standard.
While the bar’s front-and-centre cocktail lounge is where you’ll discover all things shaken and stirred, the whisky room (behind the bookshelves) is where you’ll find a wide variety of unusual and delicious liquids stored in glass-enclosed lockers.
If you’d like, you may even buy a new bottle and store it in your locker until your next visit.
Address: 1 Malthouse Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Tues – Sat 5 pm – 1 am
Phone: (03) 8393 9367
Bad Frankie
We’re going to take a chance and suggest that Bad Frankie is the best whisky bar in Melbourne. The classic hip cocktail lounge offers an extensive choice of jaffles in addition to a variety of premium whiskies and local spirits.
Get your late-night snack on while you imbibe in the holy water. The perfect pairing for a night out at a Melbourne whisky bar.
Address: 141 Greeves St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Hours: Tues – Wed & Sun 5 pm – 11 pm, Thur – Sat 5 pm – 1 am
Phone: (03) 9078 3866
Carwyn Cellars
A Thornbury local for 11 years. The staff at Carwyn Cellars takes great pride in the fact that they are completely autonomous in their promotion of alcoholic beverages.
There is a world-class Whisky bar hidden away in this cellar. Pictures of breweries, wineries, and distilleries that make high-quality products in small batches line the walls.
There is a wide selection of locally brewed beer, as well as international favourites like gins, mezcals, and, of course, whiskies that are hard to come by elsewhere.
Address: 877 High St, Thornbury VIC 307
Hours: Mon & Sun 12-10 pm, Tues-Sat 10 am-11 pm
Phone: (03) 9484 1820
Beneath Driver Lane
Beneath Driver Lane could be the ideal whisky bar in Melbourne for you if you enjoy the blues, excellent service, and Reuben sandwiches.
Beneath Driver Lane is a pub in the Central Business District (CBD) located in a repurposed bank vault, and it is rich in history and interesting individuals.
Located in: The Strand Melbourne
Address: Basement/3 Driver Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Tues-Thurs 5 pm-1 am, Fri-Sun 4 pm-1 am
Boilermaker House
This bar lives up to its name, as it offers over 850 different types of malts and a dozen different types of craft beer in boiler form.
To those who have not yet sampled one, a boilermaker consists of a single shot of whisky followed by a pint of beer.
There are too many permutations to attempt in a single visit, but that just means you’ll have to come back for more.
You can snag a high-top table if you can’t find a spot at the bar, and if you can, you won’t want to leave because the food is amazing and perfectly complements the pub’s signature malt whiskey and weird brews.
Address: 209-211 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Wed-Sat 5 pm-1 am, Sun 5 pm-12 am
Phone: (03) 8393 9367
Buck Mulligan’s
Great literature and high-quality whiskey are the only two things the Irish are truly known for. Buck Mulligan’s is a bookstore/cum-bar in Melbourne, and it is home to the city’s greatest collection of Irish whiskey.
Get yourself a Jameson or, more fittingly, a Writers Tears, a copy of Ulysses, and a reservation at one of Melbourne’s finest whiskey bars, and prepare for a long night of James Joyce and the resolution of the world’s problems.
Address: 217 High St, Northcote VIC 3070
Hours: Tues-Thur 4pm-12am, Fri 4pm-1am, Sat 2pm-1am, 2pm-12am
Phone: (03) 9077 7915
Whisky Den
This Melbourne Whisky Bar first opened in 2016, taking its inspiration from a combination of the Japanese ‘yokocho’ bars and the Chinese Hutong establishments.
However, now they can accommodate forty people rather than the usual three to five. The pub has a few different seating areas, including a large booth in the back and a couch-filled mezzanine, but the bar itself has the greatest view.
There, you can have a conversation with the staff about anything from the distillation process to the influence of climate on aging. If you’re looking for a place to have a relaxing drink with friends in Melbourne, look no further.
Address: 2B/27 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Mon-Thur & Sun 12 pm-12 am, Fri-Sat 12 pm-1 am
Phone: (03) 9650 1570
1806
Despite its name, which alludes to the earliest known use of the word “cocktail,” 1806 serves more than simply whisky and has one of the best collections in the city.
One of Melbourne’s greatest whisky bars for a long time, their menu is neatly divided into categories with brief descriptions of each product, making it simple to select the perfect dram for the evening.
There’s also a scotch and cheese paring that, believe it or not, is far better than it sounds.
Address: 169 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Wed – Thurs 5 pm-12 am, Fri – Sat 4 pm-1 am, Sun 5 pm-12 am
Phone: (03) 9663 7722
Conclusion
Melbourne is a city recognized for its booming culinary, arts, and cultural sectors and its array of Whisky bars is no exception.
Melbourne is home to a wide variety of bars serving whisky, from underground speakeasies to traditional taverns.
A visit to one of these pubs will be one you won’t forget, thanks to the extensive selection of premium whiskey, the skill of the bartenders, and the classy ambience.
Whether you’re looking for a traditional cocktail, a rare dram, or just a cozy location to sip a drink, Melbourne’s greatest Whisky bars are guaranteed to amaze.
To know more, go to the whiskey bar melbourne.