Melbourne’s Best Gin Bars
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By Ben Oliver || Last Updated: March 31, 2024
Australia’s spirits craze kicked off around 2010, and by 2012 our first craft gin distilleries started appearing.
Of course, we’ve been making spirits since the 1860s, but that’s another story…
Victorian distilleries like Melbourne Gin Company (2012) and Four Pillars (2013) really put Australian gin on the map and led to a craft distilling boom. In 1992, there was just one craft distillery in Australia.
As of 2019, there are more then 210 distilleries – 46 of them in Victoria.
In 2019, Australian distillers created 1 million bottles of gin, while domestic consumption of local gin now accounts for about 15% of the total gin-drinking market.
Ready to try some local stuff? We put together a list of our favourite gin bars, complete with all the reasons you should visit them. We like to think we’re subject-matter experts but don’t just take our word for it. Explore on your own, or jump on board our Whisky Bars & Gin Joints Tour!
Little Lon Distilling || @littlelondistillingco
Why come here?
In the heart of Melbourne’s old red light district sits a tiny, red brick dwelling dating back to 1877. This tiny cottage has served many purposes: illegal grog shop, brothel and since 2018, a gin distillery.
Nestled inside 17 Casselden Place is Little Lon Distilling, a 20-person capacity bar (soon to be increasing) and the only distillery inside the Melbourne CBD.
Their 200l still pumps out a variety of gins referencing Melbourne’s seedy past: Miss Yoko is a lychee-infused gin inspired by Tiecome Ah Chung, a Chinese prostitute who worked the area in the 1910s. Or you could try Ginger Mick, a ginger and citrus-infused gin inspired by a WW1 larrikin who was said to have (at least partly) inspired the Digger mythology.
What’s the food situation?
No food, but groups can work with the bar team to have food available for events and special occasions
The final word
A tiny gin distillery inside an old brothel. ‘Nuff said.
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Thurs-Fri: 3pm-late | Sat: 5pm-late
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No Food
Gin Palace || @ginpalacemelb
Why come here?
All bars stock gin. But only Gin Palace obsesses over “Mother’s Ruin”.
Much like a good city, Gin Palace is a large place that feels like a collective of nooks. The name of the bar is an homage to the original Melbourne Gin Palace, Melbourne’s original gin bar, which was shut down in 1870 for being in a less than salubrious condition. The new incarnation is anything but, with plush sofas and lounges offering an air of comfortable sophistry.
Peruse the gin menu, but be bold and try the (original) Dutch drink Jenever. It’s rougher, but some say more complex and interesting.
What’s the food situation?
No food, unless you’re organising an event
The final word
You next Gin Craze starts here.
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Mon-Sun: 4pm-3am
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No Food
Lily Blacks || @lilyblacks
Why come here?
Not technically a specialised gin bar, but the bar’s extensive menu of gins and gin cocktails gets it on our list.
Inspired by the 1920s Golden Age of saloons and speakeasies, Lily Blacks sits on Meyers Place, the laneway which gave birth to Melbourne’s laneway bar renaissance in the 1990s following alcohol deregulation.
Besides their impressive gin collection, Lily Blacks has a love of bitters, boasting arguably the largest collection of bitters of any bar in Melbourne. Also try one of their famous picklebacks, a shot of liquor followed by a shot of pickle brine, said to be the cure for a hangover.
What’s the food situation?
Cured meats and cheese. Our favourite.
The final word
You’ll never feel blue at Lily Blacks.
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MONDAY-FRIDAY - 5PM | SATURDAY - 6PM | Sunday - CLOSED
Time to Get Your Gin On
We’ve tried to keep this list specifically for bars that specialise in gin. However, there are plenty of other gin bars in Melbourne to discover, including Eau de Vie, Union Electric Bar, and the Four Pillars gin distillery.
If you’re keen to try a gin or two, why not make a day of it? Our Whisky Bars & Gin Joints Tour takes you to some of the best Melbourne gin bars and whisky bars, with a healthy dose of local history along the way. Whether you’re a gin lover or looking for something new, you’re sure to have a blast. Book for yourself or a group and discover a hidden side of Melbourne!