The most Instagrammable spots: Rooftop Bars In Melbourne

You don’t have to pull out your passport to enjoy a taste of the tropics – just make a beeline for Good Heavens, purportedly Melbourne’s largest rooftop bar. The vibe is very Palm Springs, with a cocktail list to match. First order should be the Ice to See You, an eye-poppingly pink concoction that sees Brookie's Davidson plum slow gin united with Mathilde Poire liqueur, cranberry and lime, blended with ice till smooth and served with candied strawberries. The Make My Day looks just as pretty, this one based on Tromba tequila blanco, blood-orange syrup, mango nectar, lime and egg white, topped with a dehydrated blood orange wheel. Half-a-dozen summer spritzes seal the deal.

Feeling peckish? The food menu here is to the point, but boy does it hit the spot. Try barbecue corn ribs with pickled jalapenos, mac ‘n’ cheese croquettes and bulging brisket sandwiches with a generous serving of fries.

Say goodnight: Mantra 100 Exhibition Melbourne may as well be part of Good Heavens – it’s 3 minutes (to be precise) back to your bed. The one- and two-bedroom apartments here come with kitchenettes to cook up a breakfast storm. Or wander out your door to some of the city’s best cafes, and let someone else do the work. 

New York-style rooftop bar The Stolen Gem sits pretty eight stories up and with views over Bourke Street Mall. The list of Australian spirits on offer is almost as long as the shadows cast at sunset.

Order a signature cocktail, with whimsical names like the Bourke Blazer (Hennessy VSOP, Marionette Mule, agave nectar, Cointreau, star anise). Or the Collins Street (gin, cucumber, mint, lime, simple syrup, soda). And as things heat up over the warmer months, you can’t go past a Pavlova Spritz – this delightful concoction muddles gin with house-made strawberry-and-vanilla syrup, passionfruit liquor, lemon and soda.   

Peckish? The food menu here is dedicated to Australian-Japanese fusion bites.

Say goodnight: Check in to the Ibis Melbourne Central and you’ll be tucked into bed within five minutes of departing The Stolen Gem – your commute between the two takes you along oh-so-cool Hardware Lane. Wake in a comfortable room filled with colour, then wander down to find a strong cup of reviving coffee.

This perennially popular establishment regularly takes home accolades as Melbourne’s best rooftop bar – and for good reason. The Transit Bar crowd is friendly, the drinks are reliably good, there’s regular live music… and then there are those jaw-dropping views.

Classic cocktails are well represented, and there’s a good selection of wine by the glass. But it’s hard to look past house-favourite concoctions. Try the Irish Moinear – “inspired by an Irish meadow” – with floral notes of crème de mure and elderflower rounded by the bold sweetness of Jameson black barrel. Or the Kentucky Caramel, an addictive union of house-infused bourbon brought back by grapefruit juice and soda

Peckish? Transit offers a selection of snacks that hit the spot even before you’ve had a drink, from fish fingers and toasties to pies and charcuterie boards. And then there are the hot jam doughnuts. Sold!

Say goodnight: By the time you plot your seven-minute walk home to Novotel Melbourne on Collins, you’ll have arrived. We’re happy to report that some rooms (Deluxe Room) come with a spa bath. Failing that, the best way to dust off the cobwebs is with a dip in the pool.

Summer in Melbourne can heat up. Keep things cool by ordering a Hermosa Fior at State of Grace’s rooftop. Your cocktail, served in a teapot, is a refreshing union of 23rd Street gin, strawberry, lemon and soda. Sounds like a garden party to us! The Spiced Pimm’s Punch also hits the spot with Captain Morgan’s spiced rum, Pimm’s, elderflower, pineapple and lemon proving quite the formidable combination.

Peckish? State of Grace comes with a downstairs restaurant where you can order a burger, steak or old-school roast chicken. But if you don’t want to leave the party, the rooftop snack menu includes pizzas, toasties with truffle, and tasty arancini balls.

Say goodnight: Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne On Spencer is an easy seven-minute walk from your rooftop perch. Sate cravings by ordering from the room-service menu or, if you happen to be home before 10, make a splash in the pool replete with hot-tub and sauna.

From its location just off Prahran’s Chapel Street to its lively vibe, Osborne Rooftop & Bar never fails to sizzle over summer. Set above it’s a bar, courtyard, restaurant and cocktail lounge, the rooftop space is pared back in design – because when your view is this good, the aesthetics shouldn't be cluttered. Beers, ciders and seltzers are all available on tap. Or order cocktails like the Osborne Espresso, a riff on the classic with Grainshaker vodka, Kahlua, Boston Black and freshly made cinnamon syrup. We’re also rather fond of the Sloechee Martini, blending sloe gin berries, passionfruit and lychee liquor.

Peckish? Wherever you are in The Osborne, the menu remains the same. Which means you can order everything from pub classics – parmas, fish and chips, burgers – to something a bit more fancy. How do pulled-pork tacos with a side of slaw sound?

Say goodnight: Two minutes. That’s your commute back to your oh-so-dreamy bed at The Cullen Melbourne – Art Series. This high-style establishment is a shrine to works by Australian artist Adam Cullen, and every room comes with its own kitchenette. Sleep in till lunch and you can start the day with delicious dim sum in the on-site HuTong Dumpling Bar.