By far my favorite place that I've found in Melbourne, possibly in Aus! I can't speak highly enough…read moreof every aspect of this bar. Intimate setting, yet quite comfortable. Always an excellent music selection, with footy on the tv if that's what you're lookin for. The staff is WONDERFUL. so personable, quite willing to give their recommendations if you ask (and you should- they haven't steered me wrong yet!). The nachos, add beef, are easily the best nachos I've ever had- loaded with toppings, seasoned chips, absolutely delicious. Quite a diverse menu, with plenty of options depending on your hunger level. Great wine and beer selection, and a solid cocktail list too!

Food is awesome - Baked mushrooms - I could just have a plate of them on their own…read more The staff are easy to chat with and service was well timed.

It's rare to find a sophisticated bar outside of the CBD these days, and it's even rarer to find…read moreone that won't break your weekly drinking budget in one night. Hawker Beer and Wine Bar is located in the suburb of Highett just 30mins from Melbourne CBD. The bar is named after Harry Hawker, a local of the area. Harry George Hawker, was an Australian aviation pioneer. He was the chief test pilot for Sopwith and was also involved in the design of many of their aircraft. After World War One he co-founded Hawker Aircraft, the firm that would later be responsible for a long series of successful military aircraft. The bar itself is small and is directly across the road from the Highett train station, which seems to have some type of train passing through every 15mins. The fit-out is minimalistic, with large windows that give you a great view of the comings and goings in the area. What is great about this bar is the large cocktail list. With mostly original cocktails with a few traditional with a modern twist. The service is friendly and attentive, and I get the feeling if I lived in the area this would be my local. Apart from the great cocktails it has a good selection of beers and wines. It also had a pretty awesome snack menu, being provided by Typhoon, the Vietnamese restaurant next door. If you live in the area chances are you have either visited Hawker or know of it. If you haven't been do yourself a favour and pay them a visit, it won't disappoint.

How has this place not had heaps of reviews? Been here many times for celebrations and St Patricks…read moreday / night drinks. ( drink ups) great cosy and quaint place and has a nice range of wines in the bottle shop to take home as well.

The creep of cool continues further north, with Cult of the Vine serving up a delicious and…read moreinteresting array of wines and a smattering of craft beer. Hidden at the end of Florence Street near the train station exit (genius maneuver to capture all those suited souls on their way home) you can pop in and take a bottle home, or crack it open right there and then to enjoy with proper glassware, ambient tunes and a plate of something to nibble on. The food options are limited, but they're really all I need when I want something simple and tasty to match with a good bottle. Charcuterie, cured fish, cheese and oddly enough whole boiled eggs which you can crack and peel while sipping on some vino. Apparently a boiled egg goes with any kind of wine but they'd run out when I visited so I couldn't put this to the test. Instead we ate truffled infused Spanish sausage, smoked almonds and loads of cheese along with some very good crackers. Service was relaxed and generous from owner Brad Lucas, who was happy to nerd out a little with us and offered samples of new and different drops. We left warm, full and contented... with two bottles of vino tucked under my arm.

Go here... Spectacularly curated 'natural' wine list…read more Some craft beers Ask the host for an egg. Take the train to Anstey station. Take the train home.

I really love everything about this place, the atmosphere the service and wine. It's a great place…read moreto go of an evening and chill out with friends

Fine wine, sneakily good beer selection and a casual atmosphere makes Strange Loves Bar a good…read morefriend of mine. With 3 areas to seat yourself, I've never had any issues finding room to relax here. If with friends I like to sneak upstairs for a comfy seat. In a more intimate situation or when I'm by myself I tend to enjoy front row seats and people watch. Typical of the area there is no real food served here. If you need some fine dining to go with a fine wine you'll be handed a book with local restaurants who will deliver to your table. And even bring an eftpos machine if needed. The staff here had reasonably honest and broad knowledge of wines and beers. The beer selection varies more often than the wine. For a wine bar there isn't a huge variety by the glass and some of the bottles are rather overpriced. Considering that there is fair competition within walking distance with other venues offering similar service. Still a great spot for post dinner drinks or two.

There was a buzz around Monty that a wine bar was about to open. Monty would not be sleepy hollow…read moreanymore!! Sure enough it came to pass the soft opening and the excitement was palatable. Through the summer months a healthy walk, a few grapes & hops and a healthy walk home. A more mature clientele with warm, comfortable surroundings. Naturally, as we consumed the ales, we had an opportunity to "gripe and hope" for a better outcome the next day. The front of shop opens onto the wide payments outside. The sound of local artists on the weekends and the atmosphere fits into the general ambience of "Monty" (Montmorency), friendly and always likely to meet a friend in the street only now in a wine bar!! Will observe with interest and enjoy the drinks as the wine bar evolves and matures. Many stories are being told of this "young" wine bar and there will be many more to come..... The wine bar supports the ability to consume food purchased from the local street takeaways which supports the traders further adding to the local community bonds. A must visit experience.

Once upon a time Were St in little old Monty was just filled with hairdressers, chemists, and…read morebutchers shops. Bit by bit that changed to what is essentially now a long line of cafes. The fact that there is also now a wine bar there, and a good wine bar at that, confounds the teenage me that grew up around the corner but delights the old me that still drops past the old neighbourhood from time to time. The wine by the glass options are plentiful and well chosen - no duds as far as we experienced so far. There's also a great selection of tap and bottle beers with some decent specials, even on the weekends. ($5 for Hawthorn bottle beers when we were there). There's a couple of small areas for improvement - the live music on a Sunday arvo was a nice touch but was way too loud and forced those wanting to converse outside to the front tables or small courtyard out back. That courtyard, quaint and cute as it was, had heaters blasting a little too strongly for our tastes - we had to strategically position ourselves out of the heat rays to remain non-charred. There's two TVs that were playing AFL when we were there, but the locals tell us that they switch those away from sport if it looks like they're getting a pub kind of crowd in. Fair enough. The crowd was an older one, our party of three in our thirties felt like the babies there, but the vibe was good and we'll likely be back each time we re-visit the old stomping ground.

Visiting pubs is cool, but visiting themed bars is even better. I ended up here one day when I was…read morenot working and had just been to the cinema in Brighton, so I was making my way home and decided to visit some places that I hadn't normally visited - and this was one of those places. The name really does suit the place, or more so the place really does fit the name. There are a few rooms about with some lovely, and quite comfortable, chairs. In fact, it is the rooms that really give this place it's charm, including the outdoor area out the back. Okay, it was pretty quiet when I visited, but that also adds to the charm.

I don't know why I allow this quaint little bar slip out of my mind so often when I think of places…read moreto go out for a nice quiet drink with a couple of people or hold a small function. Antique Bar has a beautiful sophistication in the air and fine cocktails, wine and beer in the glasses. The décor will take you back to an age where everyone wore a suite just to go to the corner store. I think I have just talked myself into where I will be going tonight for a couple of quiet drinks.

I didn't want to review this club, because I didn't want to share the best kept secret in…read moreMelbourne. But I will because it's just too awesome. It's hip, urban underground and smooth. Classy yet it doesn't even appear they are trying. Open from Wednesday through Sunday, each night the Mango Bar comes alive with different sounds and genres of music. They've certainly got their pulse on the hottest up and coming local acts, as well as playing host to a range of renowned international DJ's. Each night there's something diff; electro funk, deep house, jazz and blues - there's something for everyone at Mango. The drinks menu deserves a rave as well. Spirits, beer and wine, as well as a sensational selection of martini's, cocktails and the signature Mango Daiquiri. It's like an oasis away from home. Somewhere you feel totally comfortable, totally chilled out and completed entertained by the music and live acts. There. The secrets out. Now go and enjoy!

Another Hall st gem!…read more Great selection of drinks, from $5 Friday happy hour, to cocktails & top shelf whisky's Mango is the perfect amount of chilled tunes & chatty crowd, with a small dance floor to carve up listening to resident & guest DJ's later in the night if the mood so grabs you, or enjoy the outdoor seating & perhaps throw in a game of jenga. BYO food (pretzels / crisps / nuts onsite for sale), and drop in for a quiet one, or settle in for an awesome night with the staff, old friends & new! PS- word is the espresso martini is the bomb (I don't drink coffee myself. Yes, we do exist)

Maybe I was unlucky but I drank a Yarra river wine (a red wine) that was available by the glass and…read morethe thing was barely drinkable. I do believe that the bottle had been opened for too long and that the wine had oxidized. This was confirmed by my friend who tasted the wine and came to the same sad conclusion. PS: the beer fridge looks good.

My wishes have come true at Vino Central. It is a bar & bottle shop combined! Buy a bottle of wine…read more& just pay an extra $1 per glass! Nice inside with polished pine floors & walls lined with wine & fridges filled with beer. Though we came in at the tail end of someone's 30th birthday, they made sure we had a table & were comfortable. The ONLY downside was the single bathroom up the rickety stairs.