A great spot for a brew on the water, on a sunny melbourne day! Can get crowded but if you can get a spot near the edge, on a table its great. Service is okay but their brew is nice. read more

I saw this bar from the south bank and the location of this bar attracted me so much that few of my friends and I went to check it out the next day. It's a great location for the tourists or locals to hang out right on the river (literally) with a drink while sitting right over the river. It's packed on any given night but there is always a standing spot somewhere to stand with a friend and enjoy the fresh air. read more

On the official "Theresa Tour of Melbourne," Ponyfish is a spot I like to take visiting friends. Where else can you get a drink on the river -- not just next to it, but ON it? Sure, the Yarra ain't all that nice to look at. It's said by locals that it's the only river that flows upside-down, meaning the sand from the bottom floats on the top. But that's no reason not to go -- it just means you should go at night, with the lights of Southbank glowing on the glistening black waves. The ambience of Ponyfish is a little down-at-heel (suprisingly, considering the bar's only been open a couple of years), and the drinks are slightly overpriced. Avoid their watery mulled wine at all costs. But that's not why you're here -- you're here because of the setting. Where else can you wave hello to people paddleboarding by, or the occasional goose honking as it slowly floats past? read more

Pretty good. Ponyfish has it's own lager, which is pretty decent. It's a small venue with a massive reputation and following, and most certainly a cram em in to crush capacity venue. It doesn't have the greatest look, and sometimes the smell is a bit off but that's the Yarra for you. There is a small kitchen for snacks and an extremely high likelihood that there won't be anywhere to sit, which means standing the entire time, jostling for position to drink, or to order anything else. It's the place you go to both hide having a sneaky drink, and yet conversely, be seen. read more

The most amazing cocktails in Melbourne, perhaps the country. The price is on par for cocktails in the area, and definitely worth it! The bartender Tammy accomodated my odd allergies and changed the recipe to make the most amazing cocktail to ever exist! The staff are so friendly and the view is amazing! Could not recommend a better bar! Will definitely be returning read more

Cool and chill spot under a pedestrian bridge over the yarra river. Bottled beer only and cocktails, some snacks that are prepackaged. They have no happy hr. Downside is the tabletops are sticky. There are heaters to keep warm. space not for trolls or for people who don't like hearing footsteps or a trampede of them when people are getting off work. read more

They should start charging for the location! Amazing views and peaceful seating right on the water. The drinks selection isn't shabby either. Great for a reprieve after a long day's walk or sightseeing. Plenty of photo opportunities. read more

Let's face it, the Yarra leaves a lot to be desired in a waterway. But when you are looking for a drink and feeling the holiday vibe then squint your eyes a bit and go to Ponyfish Island Bar... No beer on tap but plenty by the bottle plus a satisfyingly generous bar menu. Food is perfect for the occassion with the BBQ fired for chicken burgers, haloumi burgers, quesidillas and then the small kitchen pumping out toasties and more. Ambience is relaxed, seating may sometimes be a problem but if you hang around for more than one beer you will get a seat and table. Given the high prices at the southbank restaurants this is the perfect place for a drink and some freshly cooked tasty tucker. read more

One of Melbourne's most iconic bars. It use to be an ice cream kiosk but now it's a bar, ON THE BOTTOM OF A BRIDGE! Yes it's all outdoors but they have heaters and mulled wine to warm your cockles! It's packed out in summer so get in early to get a table and enjoy a day of drinking by the upside down river! read more

Ugh. I love this idea in principle. A bar barge in the middle of the Yarra, slightly hidden away but very easy to find. In practice though, the beer is not great, the layout is cramped and bizarre, and the crowd was a mix of tourists and after-work douches. The choice of music seemed a deliberate attempt to get people to leave - a screeching Nick Cave ripoff. Not exactly unwinding down by the river music. Maybe this place works at lunch or another off time... but certainly don't check it out on a warm, late afternoon or prepare to be disappointed. read more

Worth having a beer at on a hot day to catch the river breezes. More people watching too.

There are few better spots to enjoy the Yarra on a sunny Melbourne afternoon. Tucked under the bridge, this hidden 'popup' was such a welcome addition to the area that it doesn't appear to be going anywhere. Fun vibe with lots of happy, relaxed patrons. read more

It's a cool place - on the water, under a bridge, lots of potted plants everywhere, I like the pretty lighting at night (reminds me of xmas), pretty good service, and in the wintertime they have heaters for every single table, but it still gets pretty chilly after sunset. Good place to get together for drinks. The staff are friendly. Food is meh. Nachos stick together and turns into a big nacho rock. The Reuben sandwich is... interesting. Not in a good way. read more

So you're sitting on the Yarra river in the middle of a metropolis, enjoying a craft beer with a toasted sandwich whilst the hustle and bustle goes on around you, its a pretty beautiful setting right? Well sort of but to fit in with the Melbourne scene, like all too many places, it's a bit hidden away. So you find these stairs that are a bit random and out of place but as you follow them down and the music starts to enrich the air, you immerse yourself in a cool, vibrant and chilled out environment that just draws you in. Especially on a sunny afternoon, there would be few better ways to see the sun go down, with the perfect atmosphere to have a few drinks and enjoy with some good company. All in all, bravo to the under bridge bar that feels more like a waterfront paradise. Definitely worth the 2 min walk from flinders st station, it's just a fun place. read more

Under the pedestrian walkway that connects Southbank to Flinders Street Station there is a staircase that you follow down to a pontoon that wraps around a bridge pylon that is known as the Ponyfish Island Bar. It certainly can not be mistaken as something that belongs in the Whitsundays, but I think it is an interesting concept. It is easily found if you follow the music when on the footbridge. Being in such a convenient location attracts the corporate drinkers after 5:00 PM weekdays and especially on Friday night, weather and cold be damned, it doesn't matter, the punters flock here. The tourists and shoppers seem to like it on the weekend. The bar is rather simple, much like the decorations and furnishings. I have never been enticed to languish here for hours because the majority of the seating involves you perching on a wooden crate. My arse is not that doughy so it can become uncomfortable during an extended session. When I last visited, watching the ferries putter up and down the dirty Yarra, I felt conflicted.. When it is raining, I can not guarantee you will not get wet. It may feel cold in Southbank when you are walking around but it seems much colder when you are sitting on a crate and enjoying a Carlton Draught in a plastic glass or a muddled wine from the cash only bar that does not offer table service. With all of the options in the area, Ponyfish has an edge because it is different. It is the only place where you can eat, drink, smoke, laugh and listen to music on an island outside in the Melbourne CBD and is very convenient to meet people at. There are plenty of other places in the area that include table service, have comfortable seats and are the same price along the Southbank Promenade though, so mood and weather will dictate frequenting this place most of the time. Speaking of moods, when I fancy a couple of beers and I am in transit across the Yarra River, I do stop at this place but again, a long session does become an uncomfortable and sometimes wet chore. As it warms up, this place will be a more attractive venue, at least for me, however at the price you pay for a beer, you would expect for it to be served in a proper glass and not a plastic one. The food is pretty cheap and cheerful. The staff are good fun. The views are cool and the people that converge here tend to be happy, which really for me is what attending a bar is all about. read more

I can see how this bar might be ok on any other day but the day I went it was not. The things you could do with this bar to keep its quirk but remove a bit of the grunge. There's gotta be a better system for the bins. Feels like everywhere you turn there's a great dirty wheelie bin in your face. However the most unpleasant part of my one drink visit was the poor girl behind the bar that looked like death warmed up. She had a horrendous flu and I started to think I was on a quarantine island!! It is absolutely unacceptable and irresponsible to have someone this ill in client services. If management can allow that, then that's enough for me, it's unlikely I'll be back as it makes me question the establishments overall health standards! read more

What an adorable concept! Carving out a small bar from the bridge is amazing and allows for a new perspective on the Yarra River. My partner and I drank Fat Yak and ate sandwiches in the late afternoon sun yesterday just soaking it all in. I highly recommend the haloumi sandwich and beer combo. Real winner. read more

Been wanting to go here for ages! It was still not quite warm enough weather but they do keep the heaters blazing. Snack food is not bad. It's fun being on the river and it's a great location so come summer I am looking forward to heading back. The security staff asked our group for ID which was a bit much, but when one gets to my age it's a compliment! read more

The idea is cool I'll give 'em that. The beer selection is pretty abrupt. From memory there were 2 or 3 different types. Pricey too. During the summer it's a joy if you can score a spot out of the sun. During winter it's balls. It's a fine example of what Melbourne is all about though. Joy. Joy joy joy. read more

5 stars if you can get a seat along the rail so you can sit and enjoy your drink right at the water's edge. This is a really cool bar. Below a pedestrian bridge, it is built around the bridge supports. Cool vibe. Gets busy after work hours so must be a reasonably popular happy hour spot for locals. If you can't sit along the edge along the water, this bar loses some of it's luster and because it gets busy, there aren't always those spots available. Decent beer and wine choices. read more

Ponyfish Island stole my favourite spot and filled it with people, so in all good conscience I can't like them. I can't like them despite the laid back vibe, the great beer on tap, the gorgeous tables, the strawberry water on offer (as opposed to regular tap water), the smell of kebabs cooking in front of you... I can't like it despite the recycled materials, either, or the recyclable takeaway containers they serve their food in. Or the very humourous FAQ that assures you that yes, the staff are all awesome. Nor can I respect the good-natured messages left to keep you updated on what's available and what's not (or that the coffee machine had, on one day, "cracked the poos" and wasn't working). And I have to turn my nose up at the oh-so-cool playlist filled with music so indie-cool I can't always track it down. No, I can't like any of that, because now there's a bar in my favourite spot. Where am I supposed to go to eat my burgers in peace and quiet now? Well I supposed I could just eat their burgers. And having a nice cold cider under the bridge is lovely when it's warm. But that's not the point. read more

Ponyfish Island - Bars Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Supercool location under a bridge on the Yarra river. Fun ambiance, good beer selection, good prices. This was my favorite bar in Melbourne - how can you go wrong on a sunny day? read more

It's obvious based on previous reviews that regardless of the uncomfortable seating , expensive drinks , mediocre food & service that is neither good or bad that this place is awesome purely because of its location . I have been to this venue in the morning ,afternoon & late evening, probably at least 15 times in the last 3 months meeting different people. It is laid back & casual & certainly a most unique location to watch rowers , buskers & just people, whilst chatting , definitely better when the sun is shining . As someone who loves great customer service I would have to say this place fails but one can't but help thinking they have been given instructions to serve but never over- serve. So you always leave feeling like you should have just had a picnic with your guests on the Yarra. read more