There’s something undeniably magical about sipping a cocktail above the city streets. Melbourne’s rooftop bar scene is one of the best in Australia, combining skyline views, inventive drinks, and atmospheres that range from laid-back to seriously glamorous.
Whether you’re searching for the best rooftop bars in Melbourne CBD, a laid-back terrace for sunset drinks, or a glamorous rooftop cocktail bar with skyline views, this guide covers the city’s standout venues.
Here are our picks for the best rooftop bars in Melbourne.
Best Rooftop Bars Melbourne — At a Glance
Melbourne's best rooftop bars personally reviewed by The World Loves Melbourne:
- Strato Melbourne (Southbank) — 40th floor luxury, 360-degree views
- Siglo (Spring St CBD) — timeless elegance, Parliament House views
- Farmer's Daughters (80 Collins CBD) — Victorian produce, date nights
- HER Rooftop (Lonsdale St CBD) — all-season, groups, DJ energy
- Good Heavens (Bourke St CBD) — fun, retro, laid-back groups
- Rooftop at QT (Russell St CBD) — glamorous cocktails, after-work
- The Stolen Gem (CBD) — 270-degree views, golden hour cocktails
- Fable Melbourne (Lonsdale St CBD) — panoramic views, luxury dining
- Beverly (Goldfields House, South Yarra) — city views, serious food
- Sunset House (Marriott Docklands) — unique Docklands perspective
- Rooftop Bar (Curtin House CBD) — iconic Melbourne classic
- Naked Upstairs (Brunswick St Fitzroy) — hidden gem, pintxos
- Loop Roof (Meyers Place CBD) — arts crowd, inventive cocktails
Best Rooftop Bars Melbourne for a Special Occasion
For nights that need to impress - whether it's a birthday, anniversary, or a first date you want to get right - these rooftops deliver on atmosphere, drinks and service.
Strato Melbourne — Best Luxury Rooftop, Southbank
Best for: Special occasions, luxury dining, 360-degree Melbourne skyline views
Some rooftop bars give you a view. Strato Melbourne gives you an experience that's difficult to match anywhere in the city.
Perched on the 40th floor of the Oakwood Premier in Southbank, Strato is defined by its extraordinary seven-metre high windows and 360-degree views of Melbourne that stretch from the CBD skyline to the bay and beyond. Arriving on the 40th floor, the view hits you immediately — a perspective on Melbourne that feels genuinely different from anything else in the city. Having visited both for lunch and dinner, the experience holds up across both occasions, with service that is impeccable throughout.
The cocktail list is genuinely inventive — the Bergamot Pony and the Mango Mezcal Margarita are standouts that reward ordering rather than defaulting to wine. But Strato earns its reputation equally through the food. The kitchen has a serious commitment to premium local and seasonal produce: Pacific rock oysters, black opal wagyu beef carpaccio, and a honey glazed duck breast farmed in the Macedon Ranges are the kind of dishes that make a long evening here feel completely justified.
What sets Strato apart from Melbourne's other luxury rooftop options is that sense of place — the produce is Victorian, the views are Melbourne, and the experience feels genuinely connected to the city rather than a generic hotel bar that could be anywhere.
Our verdict: Melbourne's most spectacular rooftop setting — the 40th floor windows, 360-degree views and outstanding local produce make Strato the benchmark for special occasion rooftop dining and drinks in the city.
Siglo — Best for Elegant Cocktails, Spring Street CBD
Best for: Timeless sophistication, Parliament House views, special occasions
An icon of Melbourne drinking culture, Siglo remains one of the city's most elegant rooftop experiences. Perched above Spring Street with sweeping views of Parliament House and St Patrick's Cathedral, Siglo is all about timeless sophistication.
The drinks list is exceptional, with premium spirits, classic cocktails, and a formidable Champagne and cigar offering. White-jacketed waitstaff and a polished atmosphere make this the perfect destination for a special occasion or romantic night out. I've enjoyed several visits and it has been a perfect bar to bring a small group.
Our verdict: Melbourne's most refined rooftop bar, where old-world glamour never goes out of style.
Farmer's Daughters Rooftop — Best for Victorian Produce, 80 Collins CBD
Best for: Premium Victorian produce, local wines, polished East End rooftop drinks
Perched above the bustling 80 Collins precinct, the rooftop at Farmer's Daughters is one of Melbourne's most distinctive elevated drinking destinations. Inspired by the landscapes and produce of Gippsland, the space feels like an urban greenhouse — lush, relaxed, and deeply connected to regional Victoria. We have visited several times and love the fact it promotes so much of Victoria and notably, Gippsland.
The drinks list champions Victorian wines, craft beers, and cocktails infused with seasonal and native ingredients, while the food menu showcases outstanding local produce. It's an ideal spot for a long lunch, sunset drinks, or an impressive date night in the CBD.
What sets this rooftop apart is its sense of place. Rather than leaning on glitz, Farmer's Daughters delivers authenticity, celebrating the farmers and producers who supply the venue. One night I was able to meet some of the winemakers of the region, which was a thrill.
Our verdict: A uniquely Victorian rooftop where outstanding local produce, thoughtful cocktails, and a serene atmosphere combine to create one of Melbourne's most rewarding sky-high experiences.
Best Rooftop Bars Melbourne for Groups and Big Nights Out
When you need a venue that can handle a crowd, has energy to spare, and keeps the drinks flowing — these are Melbourne's best rooftop bars for groups.
HER Rooftop — Best High-Energy Rooftop, Lonsdale Street CBD
Best for: High-energy rooftop drinks, DJ sessions, all-season groups
Part of the multi-level HER precinct on Lonsdale Street, HER Rooftop channels European rooftop energy with a Melbourne edge. Expect a vibrant crowd, quality cocktails, and a menu of contemporary dishes designed for sharing. The retractable roof ensures this rooftop works in any season — one of the few Melbourne rooftops where winter is no obstacle.
Our verdict: Chic, lively, and effortlessly cool.
Good Heavens — Best Fun Rooftop Bar, Bourke Street CBD
Best for: Fun retro cocktails, relaxed group catch-ups, laid-back rooftop energy
Located above Fancy Hank's on Bourke Street, Good Heavens brings Palm Springs-inspired fun to the CBD. The colourful decor, playful cocktail list, and energetic soundtrack create a party atmosphere, while the menu of burgers and snacks ensures nobody goes hungry.
Our verdict: Bright, breezy, and perfect for a lively rooftop session with friends.
Rooftop at QT — Best Glamorous Rooftop Bar, Russell Street CBD
Best for: Glamorous cocktails, stylish city views, sophisticated after-work drinks
The Rooftop at QT combines urban sophistication with panoramic city views. Set atop the stylish QT Melbourne, this rooftop offers excellent cocktails, polished service, and a sleek design. The atmosphere strikes a balance between glamorous and approachable, making it equally suited to after-work drinks, groups, or date nights.
Our verdict: One of Melbourne's most polished rooftops with consistently excellent cocktails.
Best Rooftop Bars Melbourne for Sunset Drinks
There's a golden hour in Melbourne that turns the CBD skyline amber and pink. These are the rooftops to be on when it happens.
The Stolen Gem — Best for Golden Hour, Melbourne CBD
Best for: 270-degree city views, savvy cocktails, intimate CBD rooftop buzz
The name suits it. The Stolen Gem sits elevated above the heart of the CBD delivering 270-degree views across the Melbourne skyline — and yet it maintains the feel of a bar that rewards those who seek it out rather than a venue trading purely on its location.
Visit at golden hour and the view from eight floors up is spectacular — the city catching the late afternoon light in a way that makes the first cocktail taste even better. The cocktail list rewards the moment — inventive and well-executed, best enjoyed while overlooking the skyline rather than rushing through. The famous lotus chips are the snack to match, and DJs add energy without overwhelming the atmosphere.
Our verdict: A genuine gem in the Melbourne CBD rooftop scene — outstanding cocktails, sweeping city views, and an atmosphere that earns its name.
Rooftop Bar — Best Iconic Melbourne Rooftop, Curtin House CBD
Best for: A quintessential Melbourne rooftop experience, sunset drinks, open-air cinema
The venue that helped put Melbourne rooftop bars on the map. Located atop Curtin House on Swanston Street, Rooftop Bar is a true institution. The views stretch across the CBD, and the relaxed setup of deckchairs, colourful furniture, burgers, and cocktails makes it ideal for casual catch-ups. During summer, the open-air cinema is one of Melbourne's great bucket-list experiences.
Our verdict: The original Melbourne rooftop bar and still one of the most fun nights out in the city.
Fable Melbourne — Best for Panoramic Views, Lonsdale Street CBD
Best for: Panoramic skyline views, luxury cocktails, special occasion nights
Fable Melbourne takes rooftop drinking to new heights — literally. Known as one of the highest rooftop bars in Melbourne, it offers sweeping views alongside a Mediterranean-inspired menu. We enjoyed a spectacular dinner with some of the best views in Melbourne enhancing the experience. Expect refined cocktails, elegant interiors, and a polished atmosphere that leans toward luxury rather than casual drinks.
Our verdict: A polished rooftop with sweeping city views, excellent cocktails and a relaxed sense of luxury ideal for special occasions and stylish after-work drinks.
Best Rooftop Bars Melbourne for Food and Cocktails
These rooftops earn their reputation through both the drinks and the kitchen — venues where staying for a full meal is as rewarding as the view.
Beverly — Best Rooftop for Views and a Proper Meal, South Yarra
Best for: Spectacular city views, stylish cocktails, a rooftop that does serious food
Beverly announces itself the moment you arrive. Perched high above South Yarra in the landmark Goldfields House, Beverly rewards both daytime and evening visits — the city view shifts beautifully across different lights, and it has become a natural choice for celebrations as much as casual drinks. We stepped out onto the mini balcony to soak in the skyline, and it's one of those rooftop moments that genuinely stops the conversation.
The fitout is stylish without trying too hard — the kind of space that feels dressed for a big night while remaining approachable. The cocktail list delivers on classics done well — an Old Fashioned here is the real thing. What separates Beverly from most Melbourne rooftop bars is the food. The steak, crudo, meatballs and home fries are a menu that holds its own against ground-floor restaurants rather than just supporting the drinks. For those wanting to go further, Beverly offers caviar — making it one of the few Melbourne rooftops where a full indulgent evening is genuinely on the table.
Our verdict: Spectacular city views, a stylish setting and food that punches well beyond typical rooftop fare — Beverly is one of Melbourne's most complete rooftop experiences.
Sunset House — Best Rooftop Bar for Docklands Views, Melbourne
Best for: Unique Docklands perspective, exceptional cocktails, special occasion dining
Sunset House at the Melbourne Marriott Docklands offers something genuinely different from Melbourne's CBD rooftop bars — a unique vantage point over the Docklands precinct and waterway that you simply can't replicate from anywhere else in the city. It's a perspective on Melbourne that most visitors and even many locals haven't experienced.
The cocktails are a serious highlight. The Docklands Sunset is the signature order — an obvious choice that earns its reputation — while the wine list features quality Victorian producers, with the Giant Steps Pinot Noir a particular standout. On a special visit, Sunset House hosted a degustation pop-up that ranked among the most memorable rooftop dining experiences in Melbourne — the combination of the Docklands view, considered wine pairings and a kitchen firing at full capacity made for an evening genuinely hard to fault.
Our verdict: A rooftop with a view of Melbourne that stands apart from the CBD crowd — the Docklands Sunset cocktail, Giant Steps Pinot Noir, and a unique waterside perspective make this one of the city's most underrated elevated drinking destinations.
Best Hidden Gem Rooftop Bars Melbourne
Not every great Melbourne rooftop bar announces itself. These are the ones worth seeking out.
Naked Upstairs — Best Hidden Gem Rooftop, Fitzroy
Best for: Casual Fitzroy sessions, pintxos, a brilliant rooftop that sneaks up on you
Most people know Naked for Satan on Brunswick Street for its legendary pintxos and ground floor energy. Fewer realise there's a rooftop bar above it that ranks among Melbourne's best — and that's precisely what makes Naked Upstairs worth knowing about.
The rooftop feels like a discovery even when it's busy. Perched above one of Fitzroy's most iconic venues, it delivers sweeping views across the suburb and towards the CBD skyline — the kind of view that makes you wonder why you don't come here more often. The vibe is relaxed and unpretentious in the way that only Fitzroy can pull off, with a crowd that ranges from locals on a quiet Tuesday to a full Friday buzz.
The drinks list is well-priced and the pintxos from downstairs make their way up — which means you can graze through the evening without committing to a full sit-down meal.
Our verdict: One of Melbourne's best kept rooftop secrets — tucked above a Fitzroy institution, with views and vibes that punch well above their profile. If you haven't made it up here yet, fix that soon.
Loop Roof — Best Hidden Gem Rooftop, Melbourne CBD
Best for: Arts crowd, inventive cocktails, a rooftop that rewards those who find it
Loop Roof sits quietly above one of Melbourne's longest-running arts and music venues on Meyers Place, and carries that same independent spirit up to rooftop level. This is not a bar that announces itself — and that's precisely what makes it appealing.
The rooftop itself is an urban garden oasis in the middle of the CBD — greenery, relaxed seating, and a crowd that skews creative and local rather than tourist or after-work corporate. The cocktail list is inventive and well-priced by Melbourne rooftop standards, making it an easy place to settle in for the evening without the bill escalating. Loop Roof has been part of Melbourne's bar culture long enough to have genuine character — the kind that newer, shinier rooftops are still working to develop.
Our verdict: A rooftop with soul in the middle of the CBD — ideal for those who want great cocktails, a relaxed creative atmosphere, and a venue that feels like a discovery rather than a destination.
Why Melbourne Excels at Rooftop Bars
Melbourne's rooftop scene reflects what the city does best: exceptional hospitality, thoughtful drinks, and venues with genuine character. From Siglo's old-world elegance to the hidden charm of Naked Upstairs and the sheer spectacle of Strato's 40th floor, no two rooftops here feel the same. That variety — across price point, suburb, occasion and atmosphere — is what makes Melbourne's elevated drinking scene the best in Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best rooftop bar in Melbourne? For timeless sophistication, Siglo on Spring Street is hard to beat. For sheer spectacle, Strato Melbourne on the 40th floor of the Oakwood Premier in Southbank sets the benchmark. For a classic Melbourne experience, Rooftop Bar at Curtin House remains a favourite.
Which rooftop bar has the best views in Melbourne? Strato Melbourne's 360-degree views from the 40th floor are unmatched. Fable Melbourne and Beverly in South Yarra are also exceptional for panoramic city vistas. The Stolen Gem delivers outstanding 270-degree CBD views from eight floors up.
What is the best rooftop bar in Melbourne for a special occasion? Strato Melbourne and Siglo are the standout choices — both offer fine drinks, impeccable service, and an atmosphere that makes any occasion feel elevated. Beverly in South Yarra is also a strong choice, particularly if you want to combine spectacular views with a serious meal.
Which Melbourne rooftop bars are open in winter? HER Rooftop is one of Melbourne's best all-season options thanks to its retractable roof. Rooftop at QT operates through winter with heaters and covered areas. Siglo is well suited to cooler evenings with its intimate terrace and warming drinks list.
What are the best rooftop bars in Melbourne for summer? Rooftop Bar at Curtin House comes into its own in summer, particularly with its open-air cinema. Naked Upstairs in Fitzroy is a summer favourite — the energy on a warm Friday evening is hard to beat. Farmer's Daughters rooftop, with its lush greenhouse feel, is ideal for long summer lunches.
What is the most fun rooftop bar in Melbourne? Good Heavens and HER Rooftop are the standout options for energetic nights out. For something more relaxed but equally enjoyable, Naked Upstairs in Fitzroy delivers every time.
Which rooftop bar is best for a date night in Melbourne? Siglo and Strato are the top choices for romance. The Stolen Gem at golden hour is also an outstanding option — the views and cocktails do a lot of the work.
Where is the best rooftop bar in Melbourne for cocktails? The Stolen Gem and Strato both have exceptional cocktail programs. Loop Roof punches above its weight for inventive, well-priced cocktails in a relaxed setting.
Looking for somewhere to eat before drinks? See our guides to the Best Restaurants in Crown Melbourne and Best Indian Restaurants Melbourne .
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