The best rooftop bars in Melbourne range from hidden terraces above laneways to sky-high cocktail bars overlooking the CBD.

Pairing gorgeous perspectives of Melbourne’s skyline with sunset views and late-night cocktails is just as indelible to the city’s weekly rhythm as a morning coffee and a trip to one of Melbourne’s many markets.

Melbourne mightn’t be known for its idyllic weather, but Australia’s capital of cool has perfected the art of rooftop drinking. From Collingwood to Abbotsford, and from the CBD to South Yarra, rooftop bars have become just as much a part of Melbourne’s identity as its famous laneways, offering everything from neighbourhood pubs and wine bars to glamorous hotel rooftops.

Rather than an exhaustive list of Melbourne’s best rooftop bars, we’ve put together 30 of our top recommendations so you can always find a breezy open-air drinking spot wherever you are in the city.

In short

If you only have time for one rooftop bar in Melbourne, then we recommend HER Rooftop in the CBD. It’s the crowning achievement of HQ Group’s multi-floor hospitality project, dressed in art and light installations to bring a little bit of Melbourne’s dynamic art scene into the space.

We love starting with a few rounds in the Music Room before heading on up here for smoky Thai BBQ bar snacks and a mostly fruit-forward, fresh cocktail menu that seems to change every time we go back. And we’re regulars here. That commitment to constant improvement is the primary reason we are picking this rooftop bar as Melbourne’s quintessential spot over more widely known favourites like Rooftop at QT and Union Electric Bar.

1. Rooftop at QT, CBD

Head to the 11th floor at the swanky QT Melbourne, and Rooftop at QT opens you to the city’s most glamorous social scene. It can feel like an exclusive all-day club at times, yet the unpretentious atmosphere, bespoke art, friendly service, and wide-ranging drinks list keep things approachable and fun. Plus, we just can’t get enough of the stylish decor, perfectly preened to mirror Melbourne’s high-end fashion district.

Executive chef Dwayne Hutton’s elevated bar snacks, like duck and cherry pate, also mean this CBD rooftop bar works just as well for dinner as it does sundowners. We love ending the night by pairing the kitchen’s signature ice cream sando with a glass of high-end Champagne, which always seems to be a very popular choice at Melbourne Fashion Week parties – which frequently book this place out in October.

Address: 11/133 Russell St, Melbourne

2. The Stolen Gem, CBD

Located on an 8th-floor terrace above Melbourne CBD, with 260-degree views of the city’s most impressive buildings, The Stolen Gem wears its New York City influence proudly. It’s these humble balcony bars that really make Melbourne’s personality shine, with a sense of location from views over Bourke Street Mall and the distant skyscrapers.

Most regulars come here during the day when the transparent windows pull in plenty of natural light. We find the service can be relaxed but attentive, with staff more than willing to guide newcomers through a fine selection of Australian craft spirits, paired with canapé-style share plates.

Address: 8/388 Bourke St, Melbourne

3. Cameo Melbourne, CBD

Climb to the 80th floor of The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne for a drink at the refined Cameo. Adjacent to Atria, the hotel’s excellent fine-dining restaurant, this elegant bar matches a jaw-dropping view over Melbourne with an upscale drinks list favouring hard-to-find wines, premium spirits, and a selection of simple yet flashy signature cocktails.

Service is clearly held to a high standard and the hotel’s location on Lonsdale Street, only a light walk from Southern Cross Station, means you can easily fit a few drinks at Cameo into a bigger night on the town. Just note that the party is over at 11pm each night and Cameo is closed on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays.

Address: 650 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

4. HER Rooftop, CBD

HQ Group, the crew behind the famous Arbory Afloat, opened HER Rooftop in 2022 to immediate acclaim. Art and light installations reminisce on the building’s importance to Melbourne’s achingly cool art scene, while a custom-lit stairwell means a grand entrance.

Fiery Thai BBQ comes from BKK Kitchen one floor below, while the lively bar offers mostly natural wines and cocktails led by fresh produce. Considering the building’s other drinking and dining spaces, including the vinyl-obsessed Music Room, this all-weather rooftop bar often follows a night snaking through HQ Group’s various drinking and dining concepts on a Friday or Saturday night into the early morning.

Address: 270 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

5. Lui Bar, CBD

Neighbouring the acclaimed Vue De Monde, Lui Bar sits on the 55th floor of Rialto Towers and is one of the more luxurious rooftop bars in Melbourne. We recommend booking online before showing up, as tables fill up quickly, but if you’re a walk-in, try and show up early around 5:30pm and you should be fine.

Dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows maximise the inspired views, complementing the sophisticated atmosphere. One should always observe the smart casual dress code, and prepare to spend big on lavish signature cocktails smartly paired with simple snacks like fried chicken and chocolate lamingtons.

But don’t expect stuffy service. Despite the high standards, Lui Bar’s affable staff are as attentive as they are relaxed, building the kind of playful, homely atmosphere Melbourne locals expect.

Address: 525 Collins St, Melbourne

6. Full Moon Fever, Abbotsford

Full Moon Fever is the kind of hidden gem Abbotsford locals would rather keep quiet. But it’s hard not to rave about this Cali-style enclave, where bright op-shop fashion clashes with heritage details from the building’s history as a bank. Think large warehouse-style windows and exposed brick, elevated with timber booths and well-placed day beds.

The rooftop bar is named after a Tom Petty album, so the vibe is set to rock & roll, pitched as more of a rooftop saloon with American bar classics and a neat drinks dispenser shaped like a cactus. We love heading on up for those big, over-the-top burgers and American comfort classics like Southern fried buffalo wings.

Address: 225 Johnston St, Abbotsford

7. Siglo, CBD

You’ll find Siglo above Melbourne Supper Club, still as spritely and generous as it was when it first opened in 2008. Suits and hipsters alike call this sun-soaked drinking hole home on any given day, where caviar is served until late and ideally paired with premium choices from the extensive wine list.

We love having dinner downstairs and following that up with a few glasses of sparkling up at Siglo. The view is one of the most quintessential perspectives of Melbourne’s historic architecture, and the design keeps it front-and-centre at all times.

Address: 2/161 Spring St, Melbourne

8. Runner Up Rooftop Bar, Collingwood

This is a top choice for anyone who has just gorged themselves on pasta at Hope St Radio. Runner Up Rooftop Bar is the creative crown of the Collingwood Yards precinct and wears its hipster reputation proudly.

The cheap and cheerful wine list is the biggest lure for the former caretaker’s residence, best explored in the open-air courtyard looking over one of Melbourne’s trendiest suburbs.

Address: Level 2/35 Johnston St, Collingwood

9. Rooftop Bar, CBD

Sitting atop Curtin House, Rooftop Bar helped spark Melbourne’s obsession with rooftop drinking when it opened in 2006. There were only a handful of rooftop venues across the city back then, making Rooftop Bar a pioneer of the scene and still such a lure for both visitors and locals.

Local brews are the way to go, marched from a busy, well-tapped bar by mostly gig-goers who’ve come up from The Toff. It also helps having the excellent Cookie right below, so you can grab some banging modern Thai before capping the night up here.

Address: 248–256 Swanston St, Melbourne

10. Fable, CBD

Perched 13 floors above Lonsdale Street, Fable blurs the line between Melbourne rooftop bars and rooftop restaurants with a space that’s both stylish and whimsical. It’s just as well suited to a long dinner as it is sunset cocktails, with a kitchen turning out gorgeous garlic lamb tenderloin skewers and substantials like spiced lamb shoulder with honey garlic and, our favourite, the pan seared Barramundi with warm yoghurt tartare.

The drinks are just as considered. Each signature cocktail is inspired by classic fables across cultures, like the Midsummer with Absolut Elyx Vodka, elderflower, butterfly pea, mango, passionfruit and house lemonade. They may sound overly complicated, but the bartenders are pros when it comes to balance and consistency. If you’re after a rooftop restaurant in Melbourne that delivers as much on food as it does cocktails, Fable is one of the city’s strongest all-rounders.

Address: 13/168 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

11. Bombabar, CBD

Bombabar gets by on its personality, diminutive size and obsession with projecting old-school black-and-white films on the opposite building. It mightn’t have the polished glamour of some of Melbourne’s newer rooftop bars, but that’s the point.

We like to head up to Bombabar when we want something intimate, unpretentious and effortless. It feels like more of a hidden gem than a destination designed for Instagram, and that’s becoming more valued as people become increasingly sick of screen time.

Address: 103 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

12. Union Electric Bar, CBD

Ask a Melbourne local to name their favourite rooftop bar, and there’s a good chance they’ll send you up to Union Electric Bar. Tucked away above Chinatown, the famous rooftop bar is small, the music is loud, and the staff are always just so down to earth.

We love the fresh-forward cocktails at this Tiki bar, with fruity takes on classic cocktails and easily the best pina colada in the city. The intimate atmosphere and local vibe certainly help as well, keeping Union Electric Bar at the forefront of discussions on Melbourne’s top rooftop bars.

Address: 13 Heffernan Ln, Melbourne

13. The Provincial, Fitzroy

You might not see much of Melbourne’s skyline from The Provincial, but this bustling rooftop bar in Fitzroy offers a charming industrial vibe that bounces from the walls of all the surrounding red brick buildings.

After-work drinks are most popular up here, but where this rooftop really shines is during the weekend when groups show up for cocktail jugs, premium drops of prosecco and plant-based Italian food. Service is consistently hands-off, but staff are more than happy to guide you through the drinks list of rotating local brews.

Address: 299 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

14. Loop Roof, CBD

Loop Roof and its indoor counterpart, Loop Top, feel like two completely different venues, each with its own loyal following. And while both are known for affordable drinks and lush greenery, it’s the rooftop that steals the show with its sweeping CBD views framed by kitschy lawn furniture and biophilic design.

We think it’s the perfect place for a glass of chilled red, toasting to this unique perspective of Melbourne while immersed in the gorgeous garden setting. It’s classy, elegant, and we always feel so relaxed up here.

Address: 3/23 Meyers Pl, Melbourne

15. Naked Upstairs, Fitzroy

Naked Upstairs, Fitzroy’s best-known rooftop bar, has been drawing crowds to Brunswick Street for years, thanks to generous weekly specials and a playful lineup of over 20 infused Vodkas in flavours like Cherry Ripe and Turkish Delight. It’s rarely quiet when we head up, making it one of the easiest rooftop bars in Melbourne to meet locals.

The food leans into Spanish and Australian flavours, best enjoyed from the quieter side of the rooftop overlooking the Dandenongs rather than the city skyline. If you’re chasing those classic Melbourne CBD views instead, arrive early and stake out a table. Naked Upstairs fills up quickly, particularly on warm weekends.

Address: 285 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

16. Strato, Southbank

Sitting 40 floors above Southbank inside Oakwood Premier Melbourne, Strato caters to a polished corporate crowd looking for long client lunches and after-work drinks with a view. The venue also includes a modern Australian restaurant and private function spaces, but it’s this outdoor lounge that always pulls us back with its views over the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay.

The sparkling vistas wouldn’t mean as much without quality drinks and service. We love working our way through the list of premium wines, and the staff are pros when it comes to balancing classic cocktails and designing bar snacks to pair perfectly with each profile. Strato is a top pick if you’re celebrating a deal or simply want a more sophisticated night out.

Address: 40/202 Normanby Rd, Southbank

17. Harlow, Richmond

Melbourne does prefer simplicity at the best of times, so Harlow’s popularity makes sense. Efficient staff serve chicken parmas and pies straight from the kitchen downstairs, matching elevated pub food with a tight wine list and local craft beers.

There’s not much else to it. Consistency is key for Harlow, and we know exactly what we’re going to get each time we step into the scene. It’s proof that Melbourne has never needed excessive theatrics to create a great rooftop bar, with a laid-back atmosphere, reliably good food, and familial service that’ll leave you feeling genuinely cared for.

Address: 447 Church St, Richmond

18. Goldilocks, CBD

Located on the fourth floor of the Denyers Building above a Cantonese diner on Swanston Street, Goldilocks Bar is one of Melbourne’s best-kept rooftop secrets. Signature cocktails are the main event, with bright combinations of gin, blood orange and passionfruit perfectly suited for the space’s hut-like interior.

We love hanging out on the Astroturfed terrace with some of the kitchen’s pitch-perfect vegetarian bar and vegan snacks. Evidently, the rest of Melbourne does as well, with Goldilocks heaving well past midnight, with opening hours stretching to 1am on weekdays and 3am on weekends.

Address: Denyers Building Level 5/264 Swanston St, Melbourne

19. Palmz Rooftop Bar, CBD

Located above the Carlton Club on Bourke Street, Palmz Rooftop Bar plays into Melbourne’s deathless love of tropic-themed rooftops and gaudy cocktail jugs. It’s always a party up here, particularly on Friday nights. The extensive menu serves up mid-range pub grub, emphasising affordability to help ease the cost-of-living chaos.

Service is always friendly, mirroring the relaxed ambience built with features like plastic pink flamingos and a head-turning bamboo Tiki bar that stays open until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Address: 193 Bourke St, Melbourne

20. Heroes, CBD

Karaoke, dumplings, and skyline views. Heroes is all about an excellent night out, squeezing into the same category as Melbourne’s classiest early-morning establishments like Revolver Upstairs and Sub Club.

Heroes is only open on Fridays and Saturdays. But it doesn’t shut up shop until 3am, meaning you and your mates have plenty of time to perfect your group rendition of Teenage Dirtbag while scoffing down platters of BBQ pork buns and fried chicken baos.

Address: 188 Bourke St, Melbourne

21. Dom’s Social Club, CBD

Plenty of interstate visitors would argue that Dom’s Social Club is the best rooftop bar Melbourne has to offer. And honestly, we think they have a strong case. It’s hard to argue with the staying power of the three-tiered venue on Swanston Street, especially when it feels deeply rooted in Melbourne’s love of vintage charm without ever feeling contrived.

The rooftop is where we love to settle in, pairing excellent signature cocktails with quality pizzas and genuinely warm service. Staff have a clear talent for making guests feel like old friends, creating the kind of atmosphere that turns regulars into regulars-for-life and is a great reminder of Melbourne’s sense of community. It’s one of those rare rooftop bars that feels just as much about the people as the view.

Address: 1/301 Swanston St, Melbourne

22. Tetto di Carolina, South Yarra

Tetto di Carolina brings a distinctly different feel to Melbourne’s rooftop bar scene. The same team behind Bar Carolina and Sarti run on gorgeous jazz soundtracks, refined interiors and reliable service to spin one of Melbourne’s more sophisticated rooftop bars. We often feel like we’re in New York City or Chicago up here, shifting away from the city’s love of hipster haunts with a classier vibe.

Food is given just as much attention as the drinks, with house-made flatbreads and anchovies next to cured meats and prawn sandos. Cocktails follow the same philosophy, favouring beautifully executed classics built around premium Australian spirits.

Address: 48 Toorak Rd, South Yarra

23. Cleo, CBD

One of Melbourne’s newest rooftop bars, Cleo brings a slice of the Eastern Mediterranean to the top of Hyde Melbourne Place. The vibe here is more Mykonos than Melbourne, offering a nice little pop of escapism for anyone craving a European summer in Australia. We love the unique angular red brick design, which cuts creative shapes out of Melbourne’s skylines, offering a unique view of the skyline.

Mediterranean bar snacks are expected and delivered with exceptional quality, from house-baked pide and colourful mezze to slow-cooked lamb. We like to lean into the theme and order up a round of spritzes every time we head up for aperitivo hour, but weekend long lunches are becoming just as popular.

Address: Level 12/130 Russell St, Melbourne

24. Marquis of Lorne, Fitzroy

While visitors to Fitzroy make a beeline for Naked Upstairs, it’s Marquis of Lorne where you’ll usually find an exclusively local crowd.

Sitting atop the three-level heritage pub, the deck up here doesn’t try to be anything more than a good, ol’ fashioned rooftop bar with the winning trifecta of inspired skyline views, a healthy list of craft beers and cocktails, and upscale pub grub with a menu that always seems to be completely different every time we visit.

Address: 411 George St, Fitzroy

25. Johnny’s Green Room, Carlton

As the top level of the historic King & Godfree complex in Carlton, Johnny’s Green Room provides the perfect sunset vista, tunes favouring Italo-disco, and some of the best Italian food in the area.

After a brief closure in early 2023, celebrity chef Karen Martini has come on board, leaning more towards pizza and cicchetti to give Johnny’s Green Room a culinary makeover.

Bar Americano’s Matt Bax has also stepped up to the plate, maintaining the beloved drinks program but introducing show-stealers like a limoncello margarita and Sgroppinos – which, for the uninitiated, is lemon sorbet with vodka and prosecco. Who needs the Amalfi Coast anyway?

Address: Level 2/293-297 Lygon St, Carlton

26. Blossom Rooftop Bar, CBD

Located on the 14th floor of Pullman Melbourne, Blossom Rooftop Bar is all pizza and views for both hotel guests and a large following of locals. Given the hotel is smack bang in the heart of the CBD grid, you’ll get one of Melbourne’s best views when wrapping around the terrace with some light bar snacks and an Aperol in hand.

While some of Melbourne’s newer popular rooftop bars have been focusing on different concepts or more substantial food menus, this one keeps it simple with a design intended to maximise those incredible views.

Address: 265 Little Bourke St, Melbourne

27. Hotel Nacional, CBD

Despite Melbourne’s definitive laneway culture, stumbling upon a laneway rooftop bar is quite rare. But Hotel Nacional, which arrived in 2024 with its charming Southern Mexican accent and gluten-free menu, is different.

It’s a hacienda on Hardware Lane. A five-storey food mecca crowned by an open-air stunner that’s almost entirely about sipping spicy margaritas far above street level. We like starting the night downstairs when we’re hungry; it’s where the kitchen proves its worth with birria tacos and slow-cooked lamb.

Address: 23-25 Hardware Ln, Melbourne

28. Fleet Rooftop Bar, CBD

Fleet Rooftop Bar takes it up a notch with a martini cart above the city.

Vibe Hotel Melbourne likes to keep this a closely guarded secret, but too many people have been finding out about Fleet Rooftop Bar lately. It’s buzzy, a whopping 22 floors above Melbourne, and carves its own little niche with nautical-themed cocktails and a bar menu focused on fresh seafood.

It’s Flinders Street’s tallest rooftop bar, but the height is only part of the appeal. Prices are reasonable – we’ve never walked out feeling short-changed – and lately you’ll find just as many locals up here as you would guests of the hotel.

Address: 1 Queen Street, Melbourne

29. Ocean 12, Southbank

Most of Melbourne’s sky-high rooftop bars offer their best sides when the sun is out, but Ocean 12 is strictly a late-night affair. Doors fling open at 8pm every day except Sunday, and they don’t close until well past 3am.

That means more time spent buried in your own private karaoke room with a bunch of your friends, only pausing rounds of sing-screaming whenever friendly staff deliver some more bowls of karaage chicken. It’s all about fun with a touch of class up at this classic party spot.

Address: Level 3/8 Whiteman St, Southbank

30. Captain Baxter, St Kilda

Best for: Beachside vibes and summery cocktails.

Overlooking St Kilda Beach, Captain Baxter brings a breezy, coastal energy that’s rare among Melbourne rooftop bars. It’s singular for the reason, with golden sands in the foreground and an uninterrupted view across one of the city’s most iconic sights.

We always try to show up early to beat the queue during summer. It’s one of the only rooftop bars in Melbourne that feels like it could just as easily be located in Sydney, with summery cocktails year-round, fresh seafood, and blue-and-white striped cushions.

Address: 10/10-18 Jacka Blvd, St Kilda

31. The Emerson Rooftop Bar & Club, South Yarra

Make way for one of South Yarra’s liveliest venues and head straight to the top. The Emerson Rooftop Bar has the distinction of also hosting a nightclub, so late-night weekend dances are law after you’ve worked your way through the Japanese-flavoured bar snacks.

We tend to recommend The Emerson to anyone celebrating something, rather than those looking for a relaxed rooftop drink. Cocktails, DJs and a polished South Yarra crowd define the experience, making it one of Melbourne’s go-to rooftop bars for anyone after a big, loud night out.

Address: 141-145 Commercial Rd, South Yarra

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