Hidden Cafes, Bars, and Speakeasies Worth Checking Out in Melbourne

At the ambient Bar Margaux, hidden at the end of a nondescript staircase in a basement off Lonsdale Street, the world is your oyster. As you sip on the finest cocktails amidst the glow of candlelights, take a moment to take in the cosy Parisian-New York atmosphere.

Think leather couches, lipstick-red booths, and marble tabletops mixed in with the tasteful Parisian decor and a delightful menu featuring fresh oysters and French bistro classics. The drinks are just as sophisticated. Here, you can choose from a range of crisp wines and whiskies or have the bartenders whip you up a custom drink to quench your thirst. 

Photo credit: @adamtsen

When it comes to speakeasies in Melbourne, perhaps none are as well well-hidden as the tropical-inspired Jungle Boy. After all, it’s hidden behind the freezer door of a popular sandwich shop on Chapel Street.

Once you discover the secret entrance, you’ll be transported to a lovely lounge bar that’s adorned with blissful tropical decor and tiki masks. As you might have guessed, the drinks at Jungle boy generally veer towards a tropical/jungle theme, allowing guests to sample a literal taste of the wild without having to traverse through dense forests. Pair your playful cocktail with some fresh finger food and snacks for the ultimate indulgence. 

Photo credit: @jungleboybar

Ask any local in Melbourne and they’ll you that the Captain Melville bar is one of the oldest and most popular pubs in the city. However, during your next visit, search around one of the bookcases at the pub and you might discover a secret path that leads you to an ambient, classy hidden bar in Melbourne called Loch and Key.

Featuring a balcony where you can catch the most alluring of sunsets, Loch and Key offer guests not only an extensive drinks menu, but also a cosy space to socialise, punctuated by good music, fine cocktails, and aromatic craft beer. 

Photo credit: @lochkey34

Most people pass by Bar Americano without even noticing it despite the entrance being hidden in plain sight. And yet, unbeknownst to many, this hole-in-the-wall hidden bar in Melbourne is known for producing some of the best bartenders in the city.

Housed within a cosy space that accommodates ten at a time, Bar Americano is an all-standing bar that offers only the most delicious classic cocktails: Negronis, Cosmopolitans, Vespers, and more. And, just like Italian cafes which the bar is modelled after, everything here happens fast. Expect to savour a few cocktails and exchange some light conversation with the bartender before heading back out to the street all in the space of 30 or so minutes. 

Photo credit: @baramericano

For those who can’t resist a bit of history to go with their social drinks, hit up the Berlin Bar. After buzzing for entry at the top of a flight of stairs, you’ll quickly realise that this speakeasy in Melbourne lives up to its name quite literally.

Much like the historical city the bar is named after, Berlin Bar is split into East and West sides, each furnished according to the historical themes of the once-separated city. On the Capitalist side, plush booths and luxurious decor; and on the Communist East, bunkers, wooden tables, and Stalinist propaganda posters. Regardless of which side you choose, you’ll enjoy the aptly-named cocktails served at this hidden bar in Melbourne. 

Photo credit: @kollyannthim

When passing by the Denyer Building on Swanston Street, feel free to wander and explore the stairs in the building. If you’re lucky, then like Goldilocks, you might just stumble upon, well, Goldilocks Bar! As the name suggests, this hidden bar in Melbourne is an intimate rooftop bar that dabbles in fairytale-themed cocktails and snacks.

Championing sustainability and caring for the environment, the bar features mostly vegan snacks that go along with its selection of local Victorian craft brews and wines. One thing’s for sure, Goldilocks Bar allows guests to step into a modern fairytale amidst a wholesome environment that is sure to keep evil queens, scheming wizards, and big bad wolves at bay.

Photo credit: @goldilocksrooftopbar

This hole-in-the-wall vegan cafe is quite literally a hole in the wall. Union Kiosk can be found at a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot on Causeway Lane, serving up aromatic coffee paired with almond and soy milk, as well as sumptuous filled jaffles (closed-toasted sandwiches).

This family-run hidden cafe in Melbourne also serves apple pie and a range of colourful cookies and cupcakes, all of which are vegan-friendly. For the health-conscious, gluten-free and sugar-free options are available, too.

Photo credit: @unionkiosk

As you might have already guessed, hidden laneway bars are part and parcel of Australia’s cultural capital. Not only do these literally hidden gems serve some of the best drinks in town, but just finding them is an adventure in and of itself. Of course, if you had a local to guide you along the way, things would be infinitely easier. Our suggestion? Join a small group tour and discover Melbourne’s top hidden bars together.

Coffee culture in Melbourne needs no elaborate introduction. There’s a reason the city is one of the coffee capitals of the world after all. However, with so many fantastic cafes, you might not even know where to start. Don’t fret. Just sign up for a lovely cafe-centric tour that takes you to some of Melbourne’s top coffee hangout spots. There, you can enjoy your morning cuppa while chatting with talented baristas about their day-to-day.

Ask any avid foodie and they’ll tell you that Melbourne’s top culinary gems are found in the city’s famed laneways. Here’s some good news, there are tours you can join that let you fully experience all the mouthwatering delights of these laneways. From specialty coffee, juicy dumplings, and sumptuous French desserts, Melbourne has them all.