6 Best Beer Bars in Melbourne

By Lucy Stones - Guide

Published: 27 July 2023, Last Updated: 19 Sept 2024

The busy streets of Melbourne are lined with bars filled with beer, glorious beer! From the craft breweries to the old-style traditional pubs there’s something for everyone. Instead of going to your usual spot why not try something a little different, you never know, you might just find your next local favourite. Check out the best beer bars Melbourne has to offer.

Best of Beer Bars in Melbourne at a Glance

Best for Whiskey: Boilermaker House
Best for Dogs: Westside Ale Works
Best for Wide Tap Variety: Beermash
Best for Sports: The Alehouse Project

Best of Beer Bars in Melbourne at a Glance
1. Boilermaker House
2. The Catfish
3. The Local Taphouse
4. Beer DeLuxe Fed Square
5. Westside Ale Works
6. Beermash
Key Things to Consider for Melbourne’s Best Beer Bars
Alternatives to These Bars in Melbourne
How We Chose This List of Beer Bars in Melbourne
General FAQ

1. Boilermaker House

Best for: Whiskey

Boilermaker House is one of the best craft beer bars Melbourne has to offer, but not only that it has a pretty decent whiskey menu to boot. The name is the perfect descriptor of what this bar does best, whiskey and beer; the boilermaker of course is the practice of taking a shot of whiskey with a beer chaser. You’ll find a few local favourites including Wayward Brewing Co and Stomping Ground, plus some international brewers. If blues and brews are your thing, this is most certainly the place for you.

What We Like: The Whiskey
What We Don’t Like: Complicated menu

Address: 209-211 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: +61 3 8393 9367

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2. The Catfish

The Catfish is unpretentious and cosy in an industry where pretension has kind of become the norm. What matters here is what’s in the beer. There are 8 rotating taps downstairs and 4 upstairs along with the live music stage which mainly hosts local blues, jazz, and folk acts. If the weather is decent, there’s also a courtyard outback. For something to nosh on when hunger calls, Sparrow’s Philly cheesesteaks are always the answer.

What We Like: Live music!
What We Don’t Like: Slower service

Address: 40 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Phone: +61 3 9417 6420

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3. The Local Taphouse

Winner of People’s Choice Best Pub in Melbourne 2017 and voted #2 Best Specialty Beer Venue in Australia by Beer & Brewer, are just some of the reasons why The Local Taphouse is considered one of the best beer bars Melbourne has on offer. 20 different beers and ciders are on tap for your enjoyment and the ever-changing lineup keeps things fresh. With over 400 beers tapped each year, you’ll never have the same beer twice.

What We Like: The rooftop area!
What We Don’t Like: Beer > food

Address: 184 Carlisle Street, St Kilda East VIC 3183
Phone: 03 9537 2633

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4. Beer DeLuxe Fed Square

Like its Sydney counterpart, Beer DeLuxe in Federation Square is all about the beer. The current tap list includes pale ales, stout, sparkling ale, IPAs, lagers, and more all from some of the world’s best brewers and national micro-breweries. And it’s not just the beer, they’ve got a killer beer food menu to match.

What We Like: The tap beer selection.
What We Don’t Like: Drinks > food

Address: The Atrium, Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: (03) 9810 0093

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Westside ale works taps — Westside Ale Works Taps | Image: Westside Ale Works

5. Westside Ale Works

Best for: a huge selection of beers with 20 rotating taps.

Step inside one of Melbourne’s best beer bars at Westside Ale Works tasting room, a local brewhouse with a penchant for premium ales. 20 rotating taps means there is always something new to try. Want to make your own tasting room at home? Now you can with their fully stocked bottle shop fridge offering tinnies and rare brews from all over the globe.

What We Like: Dog friendly!
What We Don’t Like: Small space

Address: 36 Alfred Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Phone: +61 448 644 977

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6. Beermash

Best for: Wide Tap Variety

Beermash has been around since 2014 and has since evolved into one of Melbourne’s best beer bars. The 20 taps lined along the yellow tiled wall offer an assortment of national and international beers. You can also try before you buy with 150ml pours, which means you don’t have to fully commit to something you’ve never had before. Not only that, the walls are literally lined with all kinds of beer styles that you can purchase to take home with you.

What We Like: Around 20 taps!
What We Don’t Like: On the pricier side

Address: 306 Smith Street, Collingwood VIC 3066
Phone: +61 3 8415 0722

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Key Things to Consider for Melbourne’s Best Beer Bars

The key factors to keep in mind when deciding where to go:

Price – how expensive are your drinks.
Variation – tap vs. bottled.
Location – whether that be in the center of all the action or somewhere quaint and quiet.
Service – good service makes the experience at a bar that much more enjoyable.
Atmosphere – can you watch sports, is there live music?

Alternatives to These Bars in Melbourne

If you’re looking for other things to do in and around Melbourne, we’ve got you covered with some of the options listed below. You can also check out our list of Fun Thing To Do in Melbourne. If you’re looking for a more specific cuisine, check out our list of Japanese Restaurant in Melbourne or the Best Italian Restaurants in Melbourne. If you’re full, we can also help you with your search for the best vintage clothes with our list of the Best Op Shops in Melbourne for Vintage Clothes or show you the Best Beaches in Melbourne for Surfing and Swimming.