Melbourne can throw four seasons at you before lunch, which is why a good rooftop bar here has to earn its place. Anyone can drag a few tables onto a roof. The ones worth your Friday night have a cover for the rain, a heater within reach, a drinks list that suits the setting and a view that makes you forget the tram you just fought your way onto.
This guide covers twelve of the best rooftop bars in Melbourne across the CBD, Fitzroy and South Yarra. Each one comes with a street address, what it does well and the practical bits that most lists skip. It also flags a problem with plenty of older roundups. Some still send readers to bars that have shut for good. Madame Brussels on Bourke Street, a CBD favourite for fifteen years, closed after the pandemic lockdowns, yet it still turns up in some online guides. Hospitality in this city changes fast, so treat every address below as a starting point and check the venue’s own page before you leave home.
Quick Picks: Rooftop Bars in Melbourne at a Glance
Use the table to match a bar to your night, then read the notes underneath. Venue names link to each bar’s own website.
| Rooftop bar | Area | Address | Best for |
| Rooftop at QT | CBD | 11/133 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Polished night out with skyline views |
| Rooftop Bar | CBD | Level 7, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Classic pre-show drink and summer cinema |
| Loop Roof | CBD | 3/23 Meyers Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Garden feel and an arty crowd |
| The Emerald Peacock | CBD | 233 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Relaxed groups and pizza |
| Bomba Bar | CBD | 103 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Spanish drinks in any weather |
| Good Heavens | CBD | Level 2, 79 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Easy weekend spritz |
| Siglo | CBD | 2/161 Spring St, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Celebrations and post-theatre drinks |
| Fable | CBD | 13/168 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Date night with sharing plates |
| Imperial Hotel | CBD | 2-8 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Pub deck and Parliament views |
| Naked Upstairs | Fitzroy | 285 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065 | Craft beer on Brunswick Street |
| Marquis of Lorne | Fitzroy | 411 George St, Fitzroy VIC 3065 | Sunny afternoons and pub food |
| Beverly | South Yarra | Level 24, 627 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141 | Sunset from a very high floor |
How High Will You Actually Climb?
Not every rooftop sits above the skyline. Some look out over the city, others sit among the towers and give you a closer, grittier look at laneway Melbourne. The chart below compares the level number in each venue’s listed address, so you can tell a gentle stair climb from a proper lift ride. Level numbers come from the addresses, so read them as a guide rather than an exact measurement.
Chart: level numbers from listed addresses of six rooftop bars in this guide.
Rooftop Bars in Melbourne CBD
The city grid holds the biggest cluster, and most of these bars are a short walk from Flinders Street or Parliament stations. If you only have one night, start here.
1. Rooftop at QT
Address: 11/133 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Sitting on top of the QT hotel, this is the polished end of the rooftop scene. An indoor lounge sits beside the terrace, so the evening still works when the weather turns. Expect pizza and bar snacks rather than a full dinner, and a crowd that dresses up a little. Weekends bring a DJ, so arrive early if you want to talk. It copes with larger groups better than most small roofs, which makes it a sensible pick for birthdays. Details are on the QT Melbourne rooftop page.
2. Rooftop Bar
Address: Level 7, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000
The name could not be plainer, and that is part of the appeal. You climb through Curtin House and step out onto a deck with artificial turf, deckchairs and a wide look across the Swanston Street skyline. Burgers come from the Burger Shack upstairs, and in summer the rooftop cinema turns a drink into a full night out. Be ready for stairs, and get there early on warm evenings because a good chair goes fast. Weekday happy-hour style deals have been advertised in the past, so check the current menu on their website.
3. Loop Roof
Address: 3/23 Meyers Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000
Loop has been part of the city’s arts scene since 2003, and the rooftop carries that creative streak. Palms, pot plants and a vertical garden on the upper level make it feel more like a hidden courtyard than a bar on a roof. Cocktails lean towards garden flavours and the snacks stay simple. It suits a quiet catch-up better than a loud celebration. See the Loop Roof website for the current drinks list.
4. The Emerald Peacock
Address: 233 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
A cocktail bar downstairs and a laid-back rooftop above it, looking out over CBD towers and a fair amount of street art. Pizza keeps the food side easy on the wallet, and the venue has run music nights through the weekend, from disco and funk to house. It is a good fit when your group cannot agree on how dressy to go. Check the Emerald Peacock site for what is on.
5. Bomba Bar
Address: 103 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Small, loud in personality and Spanish in spirit. The rooftop sits above a tapas restaurant and has a retractable roof, so a wet night does not cancel your plans. Sangria, Spanish wine and a Bellini suit the setting. It has run as a walk-in spot in the past, so confirm the booking rules on the Bomba website before a big group turns up.
6. Good Heavens
Address: Level 2, 79 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
This one is not the highest bar on the list. You look at the buildings around you instead of down on them, and that suits a relaxed weekend session. The focus is on cocktails and a friendly mood, and a Sunday spritz deal has been popular. Menus and specials change, so look at Good Heavens online first.
7. Siglo
Address: 2/161 Spring St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Up at the Spring Street end of the city, close to the theatres and Parliament, Siglo is the bar for marking an occasion. It sits at the pricier end, but you get a good terrace, table service and a drinks list that rewards the spend. It is also handy for a last drink after a show. Find the latest on the Siglo website.
8. Fable
Address: 13/168 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Fable sits high enough that the view feels like a reward. The style is Mediterranean, with sharing plates and booths that give a table some privacy, which is why it keeps getting chosen for first dates and anniversaries. The State Library is only a couple of minutes’ walk away. Book ahead through Fable Melbourne.
9. Imperial Hotel
Address: 2-8 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
An old-school pub with a wooden deck on the roof and a view toward Parliament House. Screens carry the footy, the beer list favours local brewers and heaters and cover take the edge off colder nights. It is casual and sociable, with none of the velvet-rope feel of the hotel bars. Menus and rooftop hours are on the Imperial’s website.
Rooftop Bars in Fitzroy and South Yarra
Step outside the grid and the mood changes. The inner suburbs trade skyline drama for pub character and long afternoons.
10. Naked Upstairs
Address: 285 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Part of the Naked for Satan building, this rooftop is reached through an old lift shaft, which sets the tone before you have ordered anything. Expect craft beer, a long drinks list and a view along Brunswick Street. Pair it with a wander through Fitzroy’s shops and other bars. Details are at Naked for Satan.
11. Marquis of Lorne
Address: 411 George St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
A proper local pub with a rooftop on top of three other levels. It is built for Sunday afternoons in the sun, with fresh oysters and hearty pub meals to keep the session going. If you want a rooftop that feels like your own neighbourhood, this is the one. The Marquis of Lorne site lists the current menu.
12. Beverly
Address: Level 24, 627 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141
Beverly crowns Goldfields House with floor-to-ceiling windows and a terracotta-toned room that glows at sunset. At level 24 it is the highest bar in this guide, so book a table for golden hour and let the colour do the work. See Beverly’s website for bookings.
Check Before You Go
Transit Rooftop Bar at the Transport Hotel in Federation Square was closed for a major renovation, with a reopening planned for spring and a new drinks program. If it has reopened by the time you read this, it is worth a look for the Yarra and Fed Square views. Always confirm opening hours, weather policy and booking rules directly with the bar.
Tips for Your Rooftop Night in Melbourne
- Go early for sunset. Golden hour is when rooftops fill, and the best seats go first.
- Pack a layer. Even summer evenings can cool quickly once the sun drops behind the towers.
- Check the weather policy. Bars with a retractable roof or an indoor lounge, such as Bomba and QT, are the safest bet when the forecast is unclear.
- Book groups of six or more. Many roofs run on walk-ins for small parties but need a booking for bigger ones.
- Plan for stairs. A few venues, including Rooftop Bar, involve a climb, so ask about access if you need a lift.
- Use the trams. Most CBD bars are a short ride on Melbourne’s tram network, and the central free zone makes hopping between them cheap.
Make a Whole Night of It
A rooftop is better with something good before or after it. If you are planning a weekend, our guide to the best bottomless brunches in Melbourne pairs well with an afternoon rooftop session. For a lighter bite first, the best sushi trains in Melbourne are quick and cheap. Saving the rooftop for dessert drinks? Start with dinner at one of the places in our fine dining Melbourne guide. And if you are on the road the next morning, our list of Melbourne coffee roasters worth the queue will help with recovery.
For a bit of background on the city itself, from its laneways to its famously changeable weather, the Melbourne entry on Wikipedia is a handy overview.
Final Thoughts
Melbourne’s rooftop scene suits every kind of night, from a quiet garden drink at Loop Roof to a sunset cocktail at Beverly or a Sunday afternoon at the Marquis of Lorne. Pick the mood you want, check the venue’s page for hours and booking rules and go early enough to claim a good seat. Bars come and go in this city, so a quick look before you leave will save you a wasted trip.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rooftop Bars in Melbourne
What is the best rooftop bar in Melbourne?
It depends on the night. Rooftop at QT is the polished option, Rooftop Bar is the classic with summer cinema, and Loop Roof wins for atmosphere. For sunset views, Beverly is hard to beat.
Which Melbourne rooftop bars work in cold or wet weather?
Bomba Bar has a retractable roof, QT has an indoor lounge beside its terrace and the Imperial Hotel provides heaters and cover. Always check the venue’s weather policy on the day.
Do I need to book a rooftop bar in Melbourne?
Small groups can often walk in, but larger groups and sunset tables are safer booked. Policies change, so check each bar’s website. If you are planning a long weekend session, see our bottomless brunch guide for venues that take bookings.
Which rooftop bars are cheapest?
Pub rooftops such as the Imperial Hotel and the Marquis of Lorne are generally easier on the wallet than hotel bars like QT or high-end spots like Siglo. Prices move, so look at current menus.
Which rooftop bars have good food?
Fable does Mediterranean sharing plates, the Marquis of Lorne is known for oysters and pub meals and the Emerald Peacock serves pizza. For a proper dinner before drinks, try our fine dining Melbourne guide.
How do I get to the CBD rooftop bars?
Most are within walking distance of Flinders Street and Parliament stations, and many are reachable by Melbourne tram. Fitzroy bars are a short tram ride north of the city.
Are there any good rooftop bars near coffee and brunch spots?
Yes. Many CBD rooftops sit within a few minutes of good cafes. Start your day with one of the best coffee roasters in Melbourne and finish on a roof, or grab a quick bite at one of the best sushi trains in Melbourne first.
