Melbourne Bars - Best Friday Night Bars

It’s been a tough week hasn’t it – working for the man, grinding away… but the end is nigh, Friday night is approaching, drinks are on the horizon. Go on you deserve it, life’s too short to go straight home and hibernate, grab some friends and get out and about. If you have no friends, why not go out and meet some – either way you need it. Friday night drinks is a long established tradition, dating back to the Ancient Egyptians where pyramid builders used to arrange a weekly get together to celebrate the God of good times – “Fridacisis”. In the ritual, workers would get together, drink copious amounts of alcohol, talk themselves up, brag about their conquests, make lewd comments to female drink servers, usually get thrown out of the party and then stumble home via the camel-aki van. As you can see, not much has changed over the centuries. Always busy, it is at times very hard to find the right Friday night establishment, the following list is definitely worth checking out.

1. Riverland – 1 Princess Walk, Melbourne
2. Collins Quarter – 86a Collins Street, Melbourne
3. The Apartment – 401 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
4. Saint & Rogue – 582 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
5. Trunk – 275 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
6. Long Room – 162 Swanston Street. Melbourne
7. Spice Market – Beaney Lane, Melbourne
8. Cookie – 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
9. Loop Bar – 23 Meyers Place, Melbourne
10. Mitre Tavern – 5 Bank Place, Melbourne

So there is a good start for you. Any of these venues will get your weekend off to a flying start. You are pretty much guaranteed a crowd when imbibing at any of these establishments – so get organising now. Please feel free to make suggestions by emailing benwild@barengine.com or simply leave comments below. As always you can find out more information by following the links off the bar name to Barengine.com. Happy Drinking!!!

Melbourne Bars - Best Chapel Street Bars

Chapel Street has long been the go-to spot for the fashionista's and wannabe socialites. It is famous for its fashion, food, style and entertainment. The bar scene has developed too over the last few years with the cheesey, commercial venues being replaced with cool, stylish and chic bars. Bars are now found up and down the street and hidden within the laneways off it. So jump out of the car (that is no doubt gridlocked on the street) and wander up and down drinking to one's contentment.

1. Revolver – 229 Chapel Street, Prahran

2. Lucky Coq – 179 Chapel Street, Windsor

3. Mother’s Milk – 17 Chapel Street, Windsor

4. Katuk – 517 Chapel Street, South Yarra

5. Blue Bar – 330 Chapel Street, Prahran

6. Railway Hotel – 29 Chapel Street, Prahran

7. Red Bennies - 373 Chapel Street, Prahran

8. Kazbar – 481 Chapel Street, Prahran

9. Electric Ladyland – 265 Chapel Street, Prahran

10. Borsch Vodka & Tears – 173 Chapel Street, Windsor

Remember, this just touches on the surface on what this area has to offer. To find out more about the bars listed click on the link from the bar name. Feel free to make suggestions for lists by emailing benwild@barengine.com or by leaving comments below. Happy Drinking!!!

Melbourne Bars - Swanston Street Bar Crawl

It’s the lifeline of Melbounrne, Swanston Street splits the city in half from East to West. There are a number of bars along this strip and I thought I would provide for a bar crawl that doesn’t require one to leave the main road. These Melbourne bars have taken advantage of this main strip and recent developments may have the street earmarked for closure.

1. Transport – Corner Flinders & Swanston Streets, Melbourne

2. Transit – Corner Flinders & Swanston Streets, Melbourne

3. Three Below – 60 Swanston Street Walk, Melbourne

4. Martini Bar at The Westin – 205 Collins Street, Melbourne

5. Cabinet Bar - Rainbow Alley, Melbourne

6. The Hi-Fi Bar – 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne

7. Toff in Town – 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne

8. The Lounge – 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne

9. Cho Gao - 211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne

10. The Order of Melbourne – 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Even though some of the address fields don’t seem to be on Swanston Street, the bar itself will look over it. Trust me, there is not a huge distance to cover, the little walk will do you some good. Feel free to make suggestions to benwild@barengine.com or leave comments below. You can check out the bar’s profile on Barengine.com by following the link from the bar name. Happy Drinking!!!

Melbourne Bars - Joel's Bars in Melbourne

A reader by the name of Joel has submitted his favourite bar list. This list is another testament to the variation of bars in Melbourne and what this fabulous city has to offer. You too can submit lists by emailing benwild@barengine.com or feel free to leave comments or suggestions below.

1. Rue Bebelons – 267 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

2. Tyranny of Distance – 147 Union Street, Windsor

3. Mothers Milk (Windsor) – 17 Chapel Street, Windsor

4. Der Raum – 438 Church Street, Richmond

5. Borsch, Vodka & Tears - 173 Chapel Street, Windsor

6. Section 8 – 27 Tattersalls Lane. Melbourne

7. Hell’s Kitchen – 20 Centre Place, Melbourne

8. Cookie – 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne

9. Back Bar - 67 Green Street, Windsor

10. Cricketer’s Bar @ Hotel Windsor – 111 Spring Street, Melbourne

As always, you can find more information on Barengine.com by following the links off the bar names. Happy Drinking!!!

Melbourne Bars - Best St Kilda Bars

St Kilda was once a seaside resort for genteel Melbournians. In the 1960's and 70's it took on a seedier edge, but today it exudes a heady dose of cosmopolitan cool and is treasured for its independent vibe. On the popular English Backpacker trail this area is crammed with bars, pubs and clubs that cater for all. This list covers all aspects of the drinking spectrum - seedy local bars to large, touristy venues.

1. Esplanade Hotel (Espy) - 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda

2. George Lane Bar - 129 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

3. Dogs Bar - 54 Acland Street, St Kilda

4. Laika - 9 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

5. The Local Taphouse - 184 Carlisle Street, St Kilda

6. Prince of Wales - 29 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

7. Stokehouse - 30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda

8. The Saint - 54 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

9. The Vineyard - 71 Acland Street, St Kilda

10. Violet Tears - 192 Barkly Street, St Kilda

As you can see St Kilda is home to a vast array of bars. There are obviously a lot more than listed here, so it is in your best interest to get there and get amongst it. As always, you can find the bar profile on Barengine.com by following the link from he bar name. Feel free to make suggestions by emailing benwild@barengine.com or leave comments below. Happy Drinking!!!

Melbourne Bars - Melbourne's Best Cocktail Bars

Which city is the king of the cocktail scene? I guess it depends on who you ask and from which city they currently reside... Nevertheless, each city has a right to claim the title but it is very hard to go pass a city that has some of the greatest cocktail bars in the world and a city that is home to the best cocktail list in the world. So, for now (in my opinion) Melbourne holds the title and this list showcases the very best.

1. 1806 - 169 Exhibition Street, Melbourne

2. Der Raum - 438 Church Street, Richmond

3. Black Pearl - 304 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

4. Golden Monkey - 389 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

5. Sweatshop - 113 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

6. Match Bar - 249 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

7. Blue Diamond - 123 Queen Street, Melbourne

8. Spice Market - Beaney Lane, Melbourne

9. Manchuria - 7 Waratah Place. Melbourne

10. 24 Moons - ACDC Lane, Melbourne

These venues are guaranteed to please when it comes to cocktails. But remember, there are scores of other venues that also make brilliant cocktails as well - this list just showcases Melbourne's best. Feel free to make suggestions by emailing benwild@barengine.com or leave comments below. As always you can link to the bar's profile pages on Barengine.com by clicking on the link from the bar name. Happy Drinking!!

Melbourne Bars - Best Wine & Nibbles

Melbourne has a fabulous wine and dining culture. With a call for more responsible serving of alcohol, what better way to offer it with a great selection of food. A few small plates of food, matched with a glass of wine is a brilliant way to waste away a weekend... sorry, not waste, enjoy a weekend.

1. City Wine Shop - 159 Spring Street, Melbourne

2. Gertrude Street Enoteca - 229 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

3. Von Haus - 1 Crossley Street, Melbourne

4. Gingerboy Upstairs - 27 Crossley Street, Melbourne

5. Movida Next Door - 1 Hosier Lane, Melbourne

6. Bar Lourinha - 37 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

7. St Judes Cellars - 389 Brunswick Street, Melbourne

8. Deco Wine Bar - 209 St Georges Road, Fitzroy

9. Acqua e Vino - 18 Anderson Street, Yarraville

10. Mr Wilkinson - 295 Lygon Street, East Brunswick

The food selection in these places has stepped up considerably. Its just amazing some of the matched selections that are available. So grab some friends or a loved one and get into one of these venues today. You can find out more details about these places by clicking on the bar name and going to the bar's profile page on Barengine.com. Feel free to leave suggestions or make a comment below.