I feel like I've been to quite a few rooftop bars, and I'm sort of wandering when they are simply…read moregoing to become part and parcel of everyday life. I suspect that happens when I start referring to them as being pretty much like every other rooftop bar that I've been to, and unfortunately this one sort of falls into that category. Sure, it's still a rooftop bar, and I like it, but it really doesn't seem to stand out in the way that they used to stand out for me. This was okay, but not one of the greatest, probably because there are so many of them now.

Beautiful setting up on rooftop in Prahran. This place is beautifully decorated with lounges,…read moretables and accessible bar. Sunday they have rnb night with do playing all day/night. Bar snacks is quite nice with different choices. I've had the dips which changes from time to time. And also the calamari. Delicious!!! Drinks is pretty decent. Service is great. It will be a loca hang out as there are some amazing staffs there. Very attentive and fun!

This bar was pretty cool. In fact it is definitely one of those bars that I really do like. I guess…read moreit has a lot to do with the atmosphere here. I'm not sure if I can called it grungy, but it sort of reminded me of the style, something that I do tend to appreciate in a lot of these places. Another thing that was cool was the verandah out the front, though that was actually set partly into the building, something that you tend to see with a lot of these bars in the innercity, even if it is just for the smokers. The service was okay, but they did have some pretty nice beers available. Yeah, this place was cool.

Been past Kent St so many times over the years and have no idea why I've never popped in for a…read morepint. Could just be the allure of other cool Smith St joints around perhaps. Regardless of why, I'm now happy to have righted this wrong. Out the front looks like many other inner-city bars: footpath tables, forward-facing tables just inside great for people watching - but the further you venture in the grungier and kookier it becomes. Cool artwork and odd bits and pieces mean there's lots to look at, and if that doesn't catch your eye the projector screen showing such gems as 'BMX Bandits' or 'Best of the Brownlow Medal' probably will. Drink offerings are kept pretty simple, but there's something decent for everyone. No food, but you don't have to look far out the window to find something on Smith to snack on. This is the kind of dark & dingy bar I would have especially loved five-ten years ago. Which isn't an insult to the place as much as it is to me that it took me so long to stumble in.

The Den is a cool and classy cocktail bar hidden in the basement of The Atlantic restaurant. Access…read moreto the bar is through a front door on the waterfront promenade, or through the restaurant just downstairs from the oyster bar, which gives it a feel of being a very sophisticated and modern speak-easy, and a very private atmosphere. The bar serves everything, but specialises in both hand picked whiskies, and cocktails that take inspiration from around the world. My favourite was the Southerners Julep. which is Bourbon, fig, mint, maple syrup and powdered sugar. Sounds weird but for me, it worked! This is a great place for a few drinks in a sophisticated environment, that still has a fun vibe. Perfect for something a little different from the average Melbourne upscale bar.

Being in a malleable mood, I also wanted to experience what The Den had on offer after seeing it…read moreadvertised so often by woman that possesses a head that resembles a fish (literally) in the venue's advertising. The service in the Oyster Bar is just as professional as what you will find in the restaurant and is consistent with what I described in a previous post when I visited the restaurant which was surprising. I was expecting the service not to be as professional since you are in the bar area but that was not the case. After observing another table consume a seafood platter, I was both jealous and frothing at the mouth as it looked substantial and beautiful. My overwhelming desire for oysters did take a hold in the end though. What I did find curious is that you must order three of the same type of oyster where in the restaurant I believe you are only constrained to having to order two from the same region. Not being content to rest on my laurels, I wanted to explore what was on offer at the bottom of the staircase. I paid the bill and with the epicurean emo in tow, we stumbled down the stairs like thieves in the night into The Den. I had never seen a photo of the bar and I did have a preconceived notion of what it would be like since we were in Crown Tower of all places. What I found was completely opposite to what I expected. The Den is set up like a stately study, a place that you would find in a mansion in Toorak or the set of Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut. It was a pity that I did not spot Nicole Kidman sipping a wine in the corner as the table was occupied by hipsters sharing a glass of Coca Cola as they waited for their table to be made available in the upstairs restaurant sadly. The barman proved to be quite knowledgeable and very amusing. He recanted tall tales as he poured glasses of 666 vodka. It was not only comfortable but convenient to do our duty by holding up our end of the bar whilst relaxing in a place that defied expectations. There are hundreds of places that you can drink in the area. You can not compare and contrast the quality of the product as that remains constant, but it is easy to segregate different levels of service. Like with the Oyster Bar and the restaurant upstairs, the service in The Den, remains constantly professional, efficient and amusing when required. Besides The Waiting Room, I can not think of a place that affords the customer this type of service in Crown or the general area for that matter. Like with the restaurant and the Oyster Bar, quality and service comes at a price, but if you are looking for a relaxed time out and away from the madness of the casino, The Den can not be beat. I am looking forward to returning on a Thursday or Friday night to hear the piano being played. It just seems like the right thing to do.

Highlander is certainly pumping on a Friday for after works drinks. So pumping that if you come…read morehere for a casual bite and drink, you might struggle to find somewhere to sit. But once those suits and business people skid-addle, it is a nice place to be. It's dark, very dimly lit with a few tealights on tables. The floor is sticky, that's to be expected. It's cool though, with feels of a pub in the U.K. that you want to visit. Despite the strong recommendations of how good their burgers are, we opted for more of a share meal, ordering the Mac N Cheese Balls and Panko Chicken. The cocktails were good, the food was filling. It was exactly what we would expect to eat, a hearty savory meal paired with cocktails. It's probably one of those venues that's lunch time- you eat and evening time- you drink. There's nothing wrong with that. Do: Come here for their lunch specials. A Burger and a beer for $15- YES! Do: Plan a Happy Hour here, every single weekday from 5-7pm. Do: Sign up to be part of their Highlander Klan. The perks are worth it!

Hidden out of the way at the bottom end of the city, Highlander Bar has a great set menu ranging…read morefrom finger foods all the way up to your usual pub fare- burgers, schnitzels and the like, but they're offered with nice twists and are expertly prepared. Then there are the specials which seemingly change every week- this week it was sliders, with three for $15 proving excellent value. I had one chicken, one beef and one crunchy fish and they were all delicious in their own way with soft rolls and tasty extras like chipotle mayo. Add a drink for $2 and they were a great value Friday lunch.

The toff in town also known as choo choos is only two flights of stairs in a rickety old building…read more They take reservations or just rock up like my friend and I did on a Friday around 6.30 pm. You enter a tiny looking bar with round tables covered in red and white checkec cloth, loud noise and booth style seating. Like me you may be shocked but there is additional seating around the bar and more seating booths. So what seems like a tiny bar is also a restaurant and a music venue. My friend and I were seated on a tiny round table and given large heavy menus that covered our tables almost entirely. The tables reminded my friend and me of a streetside cafe in Paris or Italy. Too small to contain any food. Maybe just for espresso. All dishes are to share and there are no large mains. Don't go for the upsell of the feed me option because all the food arrived at once within five minutes at room temperature and will not fit on your table and so you will be forced to eat quickly without enjoying your food. We got the following: 1. beef rendang with roti - half a roti with a ramekin containing two meat pieces in thick red curry sauce. Slight spice to it, tender meat and very delicious. My favourite dish of the ones I had 2. Duck pancakes - five tiny pancakes with a cold runny salad with scant pieces of duck. Spicier than the beef and tasty herbal flavours. Quite sticky. 3. Chicken hot pot - didn't know what to do with this. Its like a poh. So you get some vermicelli noodles covered in sprouts and a ramekin full of red liquid. Unlike us, don't drink the liquid first. Rather pour it onto the sprouts and noodles. Someone should have told us this as we had vermicelli leftover and it tastes awful on its own. 4. Rendang with rice - large potato pieces with barely any meat. overly sweet. Interesting menu. Fast service. But could do with staggered service.

- spacious - decent drinks…read more- good music second best in Curtin house - drinks were alright

Love this place hosted a 21st here and they were amazing with everything. Not only that the food is…read moredelicious it will keep you wanting more. And the service is great the portions are hugh. Love this place can't recommend it enough.

This pub has won some awards and has lots of fans. Food is great and has pokies next door. Very…read moregood vibe and table and TV outside during summer.

A newish (opened Jul-14) bar on Brunswick Street that I've only just made it to. It's a small but…read morewell spaced out venue, inc a tiny outdoor bit (that I can imagine getting very smokey as it's almost entirely covered) with a good vibe. He was extremely pleased with the fermented barrel of Feral Brewery's Hop Hog on tap whilst I had an Argentinian white wine of some sort as they had run out of Sauv Blanc.

Great bar. Interior looks amazing. Such a good vibe and good times to be had…read more The bartenders are super friendly, they have an amazing selection of drinks and well priced. Have been there multiple times and always have a good time. Last night was a amazing jazz band playing on stage. Really appreciate this place. If your a local in fitroy then get down here because it will be your next local.

This pub wasn't particularly all that great, but then again it is also sort of one of those pubs…read morethat seems to only cater for those who happen to live in the area. In a way it is mostly a sports bar, but in another way it is basically what you consider to he an 'Old Man's Pub'. Sure, there is certainly some charm about the place, especially since it is rather old-school, however it certainly isn't one of those places that I would be making an effort to visit again, particularly since it is a little out of my way as well.

An absolutely amazing experience if you are having dinner with some mates. For some reason the vibe…read moreand environment was really nice and calm. Great service and the waiters were all very nice, me and my friends ordered quite a bit of food and it came to us extremely quick. For the starters i ordered the bruschetta which might have been the best thing of the meal, I ordered a porterhouse steak and a cheeseburger with chips which were all very nice. An awesome experience and I will be excited to come back here again, ready to try new delicious dishes!