Forget the beach – one of the pleasures of summer is enjoying a drink at one of Melbourne’s rooftop bars, while taking in views of the city skyline. Few capital cities come close to rivaling Melbourne’s rooftop bar scene, which has the capacity to make you feel like you are in Manhattan just by ascending a few flights of stairs. Sydney has seen a boom in small, intimate bars in the past few years after complex liquor licensing laws that favoured large operators were relaxed. But the Emerald City still has some catching up to do if it wants to ape Melbourne’s successful rooftop movement.
So here, in no particular order, are six of Melbourne’s finest:
Rooftop Bar, CBD
You will have to arrive early to secure a seat at one of Melbourne’s most popular rooftop bars. The line for drinks can be long and a spot under one of the umbrellas is often hotly contested real estate. Thankfully, Rooftop Bar opens at noon so you can wile away an afternoon here in (relative) peace and quiet before the after-dark crowd congregates. But be warned: you may need to carb load first, as Rooftop Bar is on the top of the seven-storey Curtin House building and there are quite a few stairs to climb. Rooftop Bar is also home to Melbourne’s popular Rooftop Cinema, so book a ticket to a screening and relax on one of the iconic striped deckchairs.
Bomba Tapas Bar and Rooftop, CBD
In 2013 the staid Aylesbury bar was reborn as the hip and happening Bomba, a cosy rooftop bar and restaurant at the top end of Lonsdale Street. And it hasn’t looked back since. The crowd is a sophisticated mix of professionals and inner-city types, and you can graze on delicious tapas on the rooftop, which includes oxtail croqueta, charcoal-grilled corn with dried maize and Moorish spiced lamb cutlet. The wine list includes a number of affordable Spanish varieties, and if you are after something a little different request a margarita (no pre-mix atrocities here). The wines are complemented by a strong cocktail, sherry and vermouth list.
Naked in the Sky, Fitzroy
Naked in the Sky is the rooftop incarnation of its downstairs counterpart and hipster dragnet Naked for Satan. Enjoy Spanish pintxo at reasonable prices that are matched to your drink of choice, while taking in views of the city on one side of the rooftop and a full-length vista of Brunswick Street on the other. Choose from a dozen beers on tap, as well as a range of craft beers and in-house infused vodka. The wine list is a mixture of Spanish and Australian options. Naked in the Sky is extremely popular with locals – who have no shortage of bars to stumble between – and it isn’t hard to see why.
Siglo, CBD
Sitting high above Melbourne’s political heartland of Spring Street, Siglo is a refined, upmarket rooftop bar where suits and well-dressed types can take in views of Parliament House and St Patrick’s cathedral. Siglo sits above the equally refined Melbourne Supper Club and The European, and drinks, as you would expect in these parts, are not cheap. This is a place to enjoy a late-night bite to eat (caviar, jamon, party pies) while savouring your favourite spirit or wine. If you are a fan of cigars you will be right at home here, as there are a few Cubans on offer.
Loop Roof, CBD
At last! A rooftop bar that caters for all of Melbourne’s unpredictable weather systems. Loop Roof has a smashing wine list and a great selection of cocktails, but its real point of difference in the increasingly crowded rooftop bar market is its insulation against the vagaries of Melbourne skies. A four-section, retractable awning system help protects against extreme sun, wind and rain. In the depths of winter, customers are kept warm by “extensive radiant heating”, while on those interminable 40-degree days a “subtle misting system” takes the edge off. The rooftop is also decked out in plants and ample greenery, which provides a nice contrast to the surrounding city skyline.
Goldilocks Bar, CBD
Situated on top of an inauspicious-looking Noodle Kingdom, Goldilocks is a dose of fairytale amidst the neon lighting of Swanston Street. The cocktail list is limited to six rotating options and is well thought out, although staff are usually open to a bit of experimentation based on your suggestions. Staying true to its nursery rhyme theme, the rooftop bar is known as The Forest, where you can pull up a seat at one of the tables set amongst the greenery on the timber deck. You can also order dishes from the “picnic menu”, including truffle butter popcorn, three little pigs sliders and Miss Muffet’s Curds, which is a selection of cheeses.
Notable mentions
There are some decent rooftop bars outside of Melbourne. In Brisbane you can’t go past Elixir Rooftop Bar in the Valley and Dandy’s Rooftop Bar at The Fox Hotel in South Brisbane; while in Sydney check out Corridor, Ivanhoe Hotel and Glenmore Rooftop . Darwin is home to the famed Melaleuca On Mitchell ), while Perth has the delightful Nest bar.
What are your favourite rooftop bars?
