4.9 Stars / 672 Reviews

Discover Melbourne’s Hidden Bars, And The Stories Behind Them.

Small group walking tours through secret laneways, speakeasies and the city’s most colourful history, led by a local guide who knows the passwords (and where the bodies are buried).

BOOK YOUR TOUR

Melbourne’s Best Bars Don’t Exactly Put Up Signs.

  • Melbourne Is Hidden

    The city’s most memorable bars are hidden behind unmarked doors, down laneways, and below the street. Finding them is half the adventure, and half the frustration.

  • You Shouldn't Have To Choose

    Most tours make you choose: a dry history walk, or a loud bar crawl with no story. Neither is the Melbourne you came to find.

  • You Deserve Better

    You didn’t travel here for a forgettable night. A great city deserves a great experience, and lord knows you deserve a drink (and the history).

  • Visiting Melbourne?

    See more of the city in one evening than most tourists see in a week.

  • Live Here?

    The bars you’ve walked past a hundred times, and the stories behind them.

  • Friends Night Out?

    Finally, something everyone agrees on: from birthdays to work drinks and friends in town.

  • Like you, we remember our own first night here, wandering past amazing bars without knowing they existed. That's why we've spent years hunting down the bars Melbourne doesn't advertise.

Our Hidden Bar Walking Tours Have Featured In…

  • Trip Advisor Travellers Choice 2023 Award
  • Time out Melbourne listed Drinking History Tours
  • Australian Traveller Logo
  • The Herald Sun Logo, a daily newspaper based in Melbourne Australia
  • A logo of the The World Loves Melbourne travel blog
  • East drink pray listed Drinking History Tours
  • Weekend Notes listed Drinking History Tours
  • Littel Grey Box
  • Trip Advisor Travellers Choice 2023 Award
  • The Herald Sun Logo, a daily newspaper based in Melbourne Australia
  • Time out Melbourne listed Drinking History Tours
  • A logo of the The World Loves Melbourne travel blog
4.9
672 reviews
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4.9
672 reviews
google logotripadvisor logo
5
632
4
26
3
6
2
4
1
4

Booking Your Tour Is Easy

  • Choose Your Tour

    Pick from hidden bars, creepy tales, rooftops, or whisky & gin. Not sure? Our most popular is Hidden Bars & Laneway Legends

  • Select Your Tickets & Drinks

    Add the number of people and choose your drink package (whisky & gin tastings are included in the price)

  • Book & Get Ready

    Confirmed in seconds. We’ll send you everything you need: the meeting point, what to wear, timings, FAQs.

Our Melbourne Hidden Bar Tours

Your Night, Sorted.

Meet your guide as the sun drops over the laneways to hear how Melbourne was built by brewers and barmaids, slip through unmarked doors into the city’s best-hidden bars, or…

Spend your Melbourne night walking past the same streets every tourist walks, and never know what was behind that door.


  • Come as a Visitor

    Just another visitor in Melbourne.

  • Leave As An Expert

    The one who knows where the doors are hidden.

Looking for something private? 

Grab the gang and book a private walking tour of Melbourne. Personalised routes, private tour hosts and an experience you won’t forget.

 Melbourne’s Hidden Bar Guide

  • Homepage Guides – Best Laneway Bars

    Melbourne’s Best Laneway Bars

    From Melbourne’s first illegal grog shops in 1854, we have always loved a hidden bar down a deserted alley. Here are the best hidden laneway bars first time visitors to Melbourne should check out.

    Read Laneway Bar Guide!
  • Homepage Guides – Best Rooftop Bars

    Brews With A View: Rooftop Bar Guide

    The first attempt to marry views with drinks was back in 1970, when the ‘Top Of The Town” opened to much fanfare on Collins Street. Here are five rooftop bars all first time visitors to Melbourne should visit.

    Read Rooftop Bar Guide!
  • Homepage Guides – Best Cocktail Bars

    Your Cocktail Bar Bucket List

    Melbourne’s first cocktail bar was Cafe De Paris, opened in King Street in 1859 and the place for a Sherry Cobbler.  Melbourne’s cocktail bars are classy, unique and numerous: here are our five of our favourites.

    Read Cocktail Bar Guide!

Love exploring on foot? 

Check out our extensive list of Melbourne’s best walking tours!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which bars will I get to visit?

From hidden bars in high-rise buildings to Melbourne’s iconic laneway bar scene, there are so many incredible bars throughout the city. We have a wide selection of bars we tour, but change up the bars we visit regularly so there’s always something different to see. This way it doesn’t matter when you book, you’re always guaranteed a unique and unforgettable experience.

Is this a walking tour?

Absolutely! But with a twist. You might have guessed from the name, but our Melbourne walking tours involve a look at some of the city’s most iconic historical sites and great bars. The entire walking tour is on foot, so make sure to wear your walking shoes!

Do you do private tours?

For sure! You’ll find all the information you need to book a private tour on our private tours page. Our Melbourne walking tours are great for birthday parties, corporate events, or just getting together with friends for a fun night out.

Can I choose my tour guide?

If you’ve taken our tours before and would like to request a specific guide, you can book a private tour and place your request in your message. If they’re available for your booking we’re sure they’ll be more than happy to take you on a drinking history tour.

How much walking is involved?

Not as much as you’d think for something called a walking tour! Generally, there’s only about a 10-minute walk between bars and historic sites, but this will depend on the tour you’ve chosen.

How long does a tour last?

Our tours last for about three hours, all up, although they can go for up to four hours if we have delays or if everyone is just having a really swell time! That includes about two hours of walking and one hour of socialising/bar visits. During that time you’ll visit three of the city’s best bars, with 30-40 minutes at each bar to try some delicious cocktails and really soak up the atmosphere.

Of course, we finish our tour at the final bar, so you’re welcome to stick around there for as long as you want!

Does the tour include food?

No food is included on the tours. We recommend you eat lunch or dinner before coming on the tour!

What safeguards are in place to guarantee tour participants’ comfort and safety?

Our first goal is to make sure guests on our walking tours of Melbourne are comfortable and safe. We monitor local conditions and adhere to rules for safety. If you have questions or need accommodations, please let us know, and we’ll do our best to assist.