Where to find the best (and hottest) bartenders in Melbourne

29/11/2023

With so many amazing bars in Melbourne, how are you meant to choose? Easy – pick the ones with the best eye candy.

Apollo Inn
Melbourne CBD, Melbourne, Victoria

Chef Andrew McConnel’s Apollo Inn is just 50 meters from his renowned bar and restaurant, Gimlet. Housed in one of Melbourne’s first public houses it has just 30 seats. There are four martinis on the menu, plus house cocktails which are expertly crafted, so you know the bartenders are more than just a pretty face.
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The Everleigh
Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria

Loved and lauded by cocktail aficionados, owner Michael Madrusan’s The Everleigh is one of Melbourne’s most glamorous drinking joints. Recognised by the 50 World’s Best, they are serious about their cocktails and serve a long list of classics as well as twists. Sidle up to the bar and order a carafe of Martini for two, with a side of eye candy.
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Le Bon Ton
Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria

A New Orleans-inspired smokehouse, cocktail bar and absinthe den in Collingwood is the place to come to listen to jazz and blues as you sip on American craft beers or something stronger from a very long list of American whiskeys and New Orleans cocktails made by some of the finest talent in the industry.
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Pearl Diver Cocktails & Oysters
Melbourne CBD, Melbourne, Victoria

Owned by Alex Boon and Pez Collier of Eau De Vie fame, Pearl Diver is serious about cocktails and oysters (did someone say aphrodisiac?). Sample a ‘flight’ of oysters served with the monthly special martini which, if the season is right, might run to the Spring Martini - Grey Goose Vodka paired with Cocci Americano, cucumber, and orange bitters.
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Above Board
Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria

Above Board is an intimate award-winning cocktail bar with only 16 seats, no standing permitted, and no groups, open seven days a week - this is serious drinking territory. The bar sits in the centre of the room and the highly sought-after seats (read the ones with the best view of the talent behind the bar) line the edges as the bartenders turn out artisanal drinks that’ll keep you coming back for more.
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Featured Locations

Apollo Inn

Saturday-Thursday from 5pm and Friday from 3pm

Photography: Courtesy of Apollo Inn

Bar snacks, Tapas/small plates

The Everleigh

The Everleigh's location, hidden so that only those looking for it will notice it, says a lot about its character. It's a proper American-style cocktail bar of old, when drinks were bespoke and each glass was treated with courtesy. Candlelight glints off vintage chandeliers, well heeled patrons slide into mahogany booths and the air is filled with smooth jazz tunes that make you feel like you're drinking in a golden age.

Photography: Laura May Grogan

Bar snacks, Modern Australian

$$$$ - $$$$

Le Bon Ton

Le Bon Ton is a New Orleans-inspired oyster saloon, smokehouse, cocktail bar and absinthe den in Melbourne’s Collingwood. Think exposed brick walls, copper studded bar, velvet mustard chesterfields, chandeliers overhead and a fairy-light dappled courtyard. It’s a place to revel in some early-20th-century jazz and blues, American craft beer, New Orleans cocktails and a punchy menu of Southern favourites including pit-smoked meats and Southern fried chicken.

Photography: Courtesy of Le Bon Ton

American, Burgers

$$$$

Pearl Diver Cocktails & Oysters

Tucked away in the heart of Melbourne's CBD is Pearl Diver, a hidden gem that celebrates fresh oysters and cocktails. The narrow space is adorned with an alluring contrast of bold blue tones, dark timbers and elegant furnishings, creating a refined coastal vibe. The oysters are served at least eight ways both raw and cooked, with diners expecting to find some of the highest quality oysters on offer. Some of the not-oysters menu items feature snacky creations like cured meats with pickles, duck terrine and steak tartare.

Photography: Jake Roden

Modern Australian, Seafood

$$$$