Best-of list · After Work Guides
The 9 best after work bars in Melbourne, ranked, from The Lincoln and Young and Jackson to City Wine Shop, Arbory, Siglo and the Marquis of Lorne.
The short answer
9 ranked rooms follow. How we picked is at the end of this guide.
Melbourne empties into its bars the moment the working day ends. The center keeps the icons, from the pub opposite Flinders Street to the wine merchant beside Parliament, while Fitzroy and Brunswick run the relaxed northern rooms. We worked the local guides and the after work crowd to land on these nine.
Start in the center, where Young and Jackson, City Wine Shop, Arbory and Siglo catch the crowd as the offices empty. The north side holds the easier pubs a tram ride away.
How we picked
For the center, Young and Jackson and City Wine Shop cover the quick pint and the refined glass. For the north, The Lincoln and the Marquis of Lorne keep it easy. Melbourne treats the after work drink as a craft of its own.
The Altitude. A sharp Asia Pacific eye for skylines, rooftops and rooms where the drink has to stand on its own. Notes the booking window and the dress code so you do not have to.
Last reviewed 2025-11-08 · The editors recheck hours and closures against current local coverage.