12 Nightlife Experiences in Melbourne to Build a Day Around

1.Melbourne’s Living Laneway Scene: Local Bars and Their Stories

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 542 reviews · from $63Our pick

Spend three and a half hours walking Melbourne’s laneways with a local guide and a group of up to 12. Visit four changing bars, from classic pubs to speakeasy-style cocktail rooms, with a drink at each stop and personal recommendations for the rest of your evening.

“What a great idea! The casual visitor would have no idea the number really cool places “hidden” down the myriad of laneways”

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2.Hidden Bars & Laneway Legends Tour Of Melbourne

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 177 reviews · from $46

Walk from Fed Square through Oliver Lane, AC/DC Lane, Chinatown, and Little Bourke Street, stopping at three hidden bars. Guides such as Tess, Tom, Bridgette, Daniel, and Lenny bring Melbourne’s drinking history to life. Alcohol costs extra, and some bars have steps.

“Great afternoon exploring Melbourne hidden bars and streets with experienced and informative guide Daniel. My friends and I had an absolutely fun time. Thanks Daniel”

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3.Creepy Tales, Bars & Laneways Of Melbourne Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 169 reviews · from $46

Walk from Queen Victoria Market to Fed Square with a small group of up to 10, hearing ghost stories tied to Melbourne’s gaol, Chinatown, old morgues, and laneways. Guides such as Tess, Bridgette, Lenny, and Daniel mix local history with humor, while three bar stops add drinks at your own cost.

“Very interesting creepy tales with the added bonus of visiting hidden bars and sipping on cocktails. Bridget knows soooo much history of Melbourne. The car park beside the Queen Victoria Markets story of the graveyard was an amazing story that gave me goosebumps!”

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4.Melbourne Pub Crawl

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 87 reviews · from $18

Meet guide Patrick at Wax Music Lounge for a five-hour crawl through Melbourne’s CBD. Expect about an hour per venue, free shots, queue-jump entry, a drink at the final club, and a social group suited to solo visitors.

“Patrick, the guy running it is a wicked dude! Great way to meet people and see melbourne, drink into the night and enjoy”

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5.Hidden Bars of Melbourne

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 38 reviews · from $121

Meet your guide at Bourke Street Mall for a 3-hour-45-minute evening walk through Melbourne’s city-center bar scene. Visit 10 to 15 tucked-away venues, enjoy two included cocktails, and let guides such as Sam, San, or Rosie tailor the route to your group.

“This tour was honestly fantastic. We were lucky enough to be the only group booked for the night so it was the best night we could have hoped for. The bars were all amazing and completely different and the host was incredible. I would reccomend to anyone and would hands down do this tour again!”

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6.Melbourne Pub Crawl (Batmania Tours)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $17Best value

Start at Wax Music Lounge at 6:30 pm, then walk with your guide to three more Melbourne venues, finishing at StoryVille. Four welcome shots, entry, party games, and prizes are included. Expect a social night built around meeting people, dancing, and exploring the city after dark.

“DAMN what a crawl. would highly recommend for anyone looking to do something fun in Melbourne, was only here for a weekend and this was definitely the highlight! if i am ever in Melbourne again im am for sure coming back”

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7.Whisky Bars & Gin Joints: Melbourne Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · from $121

Join Mer or another Drinking History Tours guide for a 2.5-hour, small-group walk through Melbourne’s whisky and gin culture. Taste three gins with cheese, three Australian whiskies with chocolate, and a beer-and-whisky boilermaker, then take home a Melbourne Bar Map.

“What a great afternoon tour! Very informative and entertaining to hear about the history of whiskey and gin in Australia. The secret bars had lots of character and served really good gin and whiskeys. Mer was delightful and gave a very memorable tour!”

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8.Melbourne Beer Tour – Hidden Bars & Local Brews

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 11 reviews · from $72

Join a local English-speaking beer guide for three hours of tastings at three Melbourne venues. You’ll ride a tram, try several beer styles, enjoy paired bar snacks, and hear stories about the city’s brewing culture. Guides including Tristan and Joseph have led past tours.

“Even though it was just me the guide was were much still into showing me the beer stops. It’ was a great time with 3 great breweries”

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9.Hidden Bars & Creepy Tales Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 10 reviews · 3 hours · from $46

Start at Queen Victoria Market and follow an English-speaking guide through Melbourne’s darker stories, from old graveyards to suspected Jack the Ripper links. You’ll visit three reserved laneway bars, with guides such as Tess, Bridget, Jay, and Alda bringing the history to life. Drinks and food cost extra.

“Jay was excellent, easy to chat to and made everyone feel at ease. Some great bars too!”

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10.Hidden Bars & Laneway Legends Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 9 reviews · 3 hours · from $46

Walk Melbourne’s eastern CBD with an English-speaking guide, tracing gold-rush stories, secret clubs, street art, and drinking culture. Stop for 30 to 45 minutes at three bars, with guides such as Jay, Bridget, and Ben bringing the city’s past to life. Drinks cost extra.

“Great historical knowledge of Melbourne but not quiet what I was expecting… I thought the tour would’ve taken in the older pubs.”

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11.Hidden Bars Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · 4 hours · from $119

Meet your English-speaking guide in central Melbourne on Friday or Saturday night for a four-hour tour of tucked-away bars. Visit up to 15 venues, enjoy two included cocktails at different stops, and hear useful local tips. Kathy has also recommended restaurants for the following evening.

“Our tour guide was great & looked after all of our large group very well.”

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12.Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 1 day · from $28

Join Ishta Saraswati for a five-stop Melbourne pub crawl through Lulie Tavern, Nighthawks, The Tote, Shady Lady, and Old Bar. You’ll get a free beer and shot, hear local music stories, and meet a small group of up to 10 people. The route may change if Old Bar hosts a gig.

“Loved it, Ishta’s fun facts about the local pubs where very good insights”

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