Melbourne’s Best Whisky Bars
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By Ben Oliver || Last Updated: April 3, 2024
Looking for the best Whisky Bars in Melbourne? You’re in the right place! Our tour guides have trawled the city to uncover its best, most memorable whisky-drinking experiences. Whether you’re an experienced whisky drinker or you’ve recently discovered the intricate flavours of malt liquor, the bars on this list are guaranteed to treat your tastebuds.
Of course, our specialty is in drinking history tours. Catch up on some history first (read below), or fast-forward to the bars by scrolling down!
The History of Whisky in Australia
You may have seen the ads and heard the hype about Tasmanian Whisky, but for a very long time Victoria was the official home of the great Australian dram.
Tasmania was making whisky from around 1804 to 1839 when it was shut down by the local government, and this is where Victoria picked up the baton.
Our first distillery opened in 1862 in Ballarat, and by 1938, Australia was the fourth largest distiller in the world, led largely by Victorian production.
There was also a thriving black market for whisky making in Victoria’s south-west, eventually stopped by the man who came to be known as the Sherlock Holmes of Australia!
Most of our whisky was made in Corio, near Geelong, where the local distillery was pumping out 45 million litres of whisky per year – two thirds of the total Australian output.
Here are our favourite places in the Melbourne CBD to taste local and international whiskies. Explore or on your own, or why not do our Whisky Bars & Gin Joints Tour!
Boilermaker House || @boilermakerhouse
Why come here?
More than 900 whiskies behind the bar. An extensive craft beer list. And a general vibe which says classy but not pretentious.
The marriage of beer and whisky known as the Boilermaker is this bars speciality. Peruse and choose from their list of pre-paired libations or create your own.
What’s the food situation?
Good whisky deserves a good cheese slash meat board. Go hard and order “The Spread”: $200 worth of cured meat, cheese, olives and pate. Your gullet – and wallet – will eventually forgive you.
The final word
A bar that takes whisky seriously, but not itself.
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Mon-Thurs: 4pm-3am | Fri-Sat: 12-3am | Sun: 3pm-3am
Whisky & Alement || @whiskyandalement
Why come here?
Melbourne’s first whisky bar opened just as Australia began to embrace craft spirits in 2010, so Whisky & Alement is a required stop for all dedicated dram devotees.
A mind-bending 1000 whiskies lay behind the bar, but our advice would be to start with the local stuff. Australia’s whisky industry has come a long way since Bill Lark blazed a trail with Australia’s first craft distillery in 1992, and Victoria now boasts some of the best.
The atmosphere is first class, but the staff are the real stars. Anything they don’t know about whisky, as the saying goes, ain’t worth knowing.
What’s the food situation?
Basic, but everything you need. Cashews, pretzel and chocolate nuts are the mainstays, plus the mandatory cheese and meat boards.
The final word
The final word in whisky.
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Sun-Mon: 4-11pm | Tues-Sat: 4pm-1am
Eau De Vie || @eaudeviebar
Why come here?
The cynic may describe hidden bars in Melbourne as a tired cliche, but the optimist will point out EDV is worth the search.
Depending on who you speak to, EDV is either a whisky bar that does cocktails or a cocktail bar that does whiskies. The distinction here is irrelevant; EDV is just a cool, jazz-era inspired experience that will satisfy your drinking mood whether it leans towards single malts or magnificent cocktails.
What’s the food situation?
EDV is, as you would expect, strong on the meat and cheese front, but the kitchen provides more than just charcuterie. Their small, but well thought out menu has enough to make it a worth the trip as a dedicated dine-in experience.
The final word
Water of life for the soul.
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Monday : Closed | Tuesday : 5pm – Late | Wednesday : 5pm – Late | Thursday : 5pm – Late | Friday : 5pm – Late | Saturday : 5pm – Late | Sunday : Closed
Whisky Den || @whiskyden
Why come here?
Whisky bars have become a staple in Melbourne, but Whisky Den offers a nice point of difference in size and ambience.
With barely five stools in the front bar section and an upstairs mezzanine comfortably holding about double that number, having a dram at Whisky Den feels more like drinking at a knowledgeable mate’s place.
The bar is inspired by Tokyo’s famous hole-in-the-wall yokocho bars, an idea perfectly suited to a Melbourne bar scene favouring boutique over brassy.
Whisky Den’s friendly and knowledgeable staff are always eager to make a recommendation, and it doesn’t need to be neat. Choose from more than 350 whiskies, settle in and get ready to make some new friends.
Whisky Den also has one of the City’s best collections of Australian whiskies. Our recommendation is to try Timboon’s Christie’s Cut from Victoria’s south west. Named after one of Victoria’s most famous moonshine hunters, it comes in at a lazy 60% ABV.
What’s the food situation?
They do some nice snack basics: grab some wasabi peas, pretzels or soy chips
The final word
Tiny but perfectly formed.
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Thursday : 12 pm–12 am | Friday : 12 pm–1 am | Saturday : 12 pm–1 am | Sunday : 12 pm–12 am | Monday : 12 pm–12 am | Tuesday : 12 pm–12 am | Wednesday : 12 pm–12 am
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Food and Great Cocktails
Beneath Driver Lane || @beneathdriverlane
Another local classic, Beneath Driver Lane is tucked away exactly where you’d expect it to be: beneath Driver Lane. In an old bank vault, to be precise, making it one of the more unique locations on this list.
If you like your scotch whisky served with a side of Reuben sandwiches then this whisky and beer bar is for you. While they sport an extensive collection of whisky, the bartenders here are happy to treat guests to drinks of all kinds, putting together some of the best cocktails you’ll find in the city.
And with an upbeat, vibrant atmosphere it’s the perfect location for both whisky lovers and casual cocktail drinkers alike. Highly recommended if you’re with a group of friends.
Of course, if you are looking for their best, they also offer private tastings of their whisky and wine collection.
What’s the food situation?
Bar snacks, Reuben sandwiches, roast vegetables, sausage rolls. There’s no shortage of food to be found here.
The final word
Casual, but complete
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Tuesday-Thursday : 5pm - 1am | Friday & Saturday : 4pm - 2.30am | Sunday : 6pm - late
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SNACKS + DINNER