From neighbourhood cafés and cocktail bars to hotels, galleries and local favourites, explore our recommendations across the city.
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TheCoolList©
Melbourne
The Coolest Places in Melbourne.
Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital, a city where laneways hide cocktail bars, cafés and street art, while grand dining rooms and buzzing markets show off the city’s love of food. Each neighbourhood has its own rhythm — Fitzroy’s creative edge, Collingwood’s industrial cool, South Melbourne’s market life, and the CBD’s mix of old and new. From brunch that rivals anywhere in the world to late-night live music, Melbourne is a city built on discovery, creativity and a sense of style that’s all its own.
TheCoolList places in Melbourne's dining scene
See our full list of restaurants in Melbourne
Afloat – Melbourne CBD
Afloat is a seasonal open-air bar and eatery on the Yarra River in Melbourne, offering themed menus, rooftop views, DJ sets and a lively atmosphere in warmer months.
Alta Trattoria – Fitzroy
Alta Trattoria in Fitzroy channels Piemonte with handmade pasta, refined northern Italian flavours and a wine list built around nebbiolo.
Apollo Inn – Melbourne CBD
A low-lit cocktail bar behind Gimlet in Melbourne's CBD, Apollo Inn offers classic drinks, sharp snacks and a refined, compact space with old-world touches and contemporary polish.
Aru – Melbourne CBD
Aru in Melbourne is a wood-fired restaurant from chef Khanh Nguyen, offering a Southeast Asian-inspired menu shaped by native ingredients and modern Australian techniques.
Our pick of Melbourne's best suburbs
Best of Melbourne's bars
See our full list of bars in Melbourne
Afloat – Melbourne CBD
Afloat is a seasonal open-air bar and eatery on the Yarra River in Melbourne, offering themed menus, rooftop views, DJ sets and a lively atmosphere in warmer months.
Apollo Inn – Melbourne CBD
A low-lit cocktail bar behind Gimlet in Melbourne's CBD, Apollo Inn offers classic drinks, sharp snacks and a refined, compact space with old-world touches and contemporary polish.
Builders Arms Hotel – Fitzroy
The Builders Arms Hotel in Fitzroy combines historic pub charm with produce-driven European cooking, a wine-focused dining room, craft drinks and distinct spaces including a back garden and an art-filled front bar.
El Columpio – Fitzroy
A bright Fitzroy spot with Spanish and Latin American inspiration, offering a rotating menu of snacks and cocktails. Open from 10:00am on weekends, it's ideal for brunch, dinner or late drinks.
Explore our Directory
Afloat – Melbourne CBD
Afloat is a seasonal open-air bar and eatery on the Yarra River in Melbourne, offering themed menus, rooftop views, DJ sets and a lively atmosphere in warmer months.
Alta Trattoria – Fitzroy
Alta Trattoria in Fitzroy channels Piemonte with handmade pasta, refined northern Italian flavours and a wine list built around nebbiolo.
Apollo Inn – Melbourne CBD
A low-lit cocktail bar behind Gimlet in Melbourne's CBD, Apollo Inn offers classic drinks, sharp snacks and a refined, compact space with old-world touches and contemporary polish.
Aru – Melbourne CBD
Aru in Melbourne is a wood-fired restaurant from chef Khanh Nguyen, offering a Southeast Asian-inspired menu shaped by native ingredients and modern Australian techniques.
