Here are the best bars and pubs in Abbotsford on Victoria Street, Johnston Street and beyond, perfect for beers, wines, cocktails or catching live music.
While many Melburnians will tell you to head to Fitrzroy for the best bars and pubs in Melbourne, we reckon little old Abbotsford is one of the most underrated nightlife destinations. The very best bars and pubs in Abbotsford – with so many beautiful beer gardens to choose from – are right up there with the best of Melbourne.
They come nestled in a suburb that’s a real hotspot for Melbourne’s alternative culture. We’ve got vegan bars, 100-year-old venues, and plenty more, there’s really something for everyone in this suburb. Abbotsford’s got some pretty interesting history behind it, it was actually subdivided from the wider area back in the 1800s and sold at an auction. Soon after, it became home to many Irish settlers, who brought some original architecture to the area, much of which can still be seen across the Abbotsford streets.
You can also check out Melbourne’s most comprehensive guides to the best bars and pubs in each suburb and street here.
Abbotsford is a stone’s throw from the CBD but keeps a great suburban feel. The town’s filled with some great landmarks, it’s home to the Skipping Girl vinegar sign, a spot namechecked across a lot of music and in Melbourne pop culture. The housing is similar to that of most other inner-city suburbs, townhouses and heritage terrace apartments are the most common homes you’ll see in Abbotsford.
Abbotsford is home to the aptly titled Abbotsford Convent, a space that has become a staple of live music here in Melbourne, each year, there are a great deal of shows taking place across a variety of genres, there’s almost no question your favourite Aussie group has performed there before.
In this detailed guide to its best watering holes and some of its nightlife pillars, we’ve got you covered with some classics you know and love, some fresh spots to check out, and some hidden gems you probably didn’t know about. If you’re a local, also check out the best bars and pubs in South Yarra here, Windsor here, and Richmond here. If you’re keen to journey somewhere a little bit secret and ‘underground’ instead, check out our list of the best hidden bars.
Best bars and pubs on Victoria Street
Terminus Hotel
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Address: 605 Victoria St
Vibe: Chill
Dedicated Menu: Pub classics
Also known as the ‘Termo’, Abbotsford’s Terminus Hotel has been a staple of the bar scene for over 100 years now. There’s a bit of everything at the ‘Termo’, some great brews, a jam-packed menu, and some killer vibes. It went through a cool refurbishment pretty recently; so be prepared to hear a lot more about this venue as time goes on.
Like all good pubs out there, the ‘Termo’ has some killer weekly events, Thursday’s trivia night, Sunday’s live music day, and a lot more you can dive into here.
Two Hands
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Address: 311A Victoria St
Vibe: Shisha
Dedicated Menu: Burgers and Tapas
If you’re keen for kick-ons, look no further than Abbotsford’s Two Hands, a Shisha bar bringing some late-night style to the region. On top of that, their great rooftop area lets visitors view the beautiful Melbourne skyline, a great opportunity for an Instagram post.
The party doesn’t stop with the Shisha, there’s karaoke, burgers, tapas, too much to list here, dive into more info here.
Abbots Yard
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Address: 329 Victoria St
Vibe: Outdoor live music
Dedicated Menu: Snacks
As the weather gets a little better, Melburnians are looking for spaces to get out and enjoy the warmth.
Abbots Yard is one of Melbourne’s newest spots, it’s an outdoor music venue, and it’s got some of Australia’s best alcohol, paired up with some equally great food. Check out more info on Abbots Yard here.
The Aviary Melbourne
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Address: 271 Victoria St
Vibe: Modern Melbourne
Dedicated Menu: Pub grub
The Aviary has all the makings of a bar that is set to be a popular stomping ground for many Melburnians this Summer. Their spacious beer garden means you can enjoy a beer in peace, great for killing some time over the weekend with some mates.
On the food end of things, you can enjoy some great meals at The Aviary, like a homemade chicken soup, a sausage ragu, a flank steak, and plenty more that you can check out here.
Bakers Arms Hotel
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Address: 355 Victoria St
Vibe: Arty
Dedicated Menu: Burgers and Drinks
The Bakers Arms has been part of Melbourne’s scene since 1876, when it first came to life as a bakery, hence the name. You can grab some food here too, their array of burgers being the perfect accompaniment to watching an AFL match.
If you’re keen to catch some other sport, the Bakers Arms is a great location for live games, featuring the latest in MLB, Little League, and AFL games, among much more that you can see here.
Best bars and pubs on Johnston Street
Bodriggy Brewpub
Address: 245 Johnston St
Vibe: Spacious and varied
Live Music: Regular fantastic events
Bodriggy Brewing Co has converted an old mechanic’s warehouse into a stunning 400-person brewpub, which throws regular events with fantastic Melbourne bands. From the same people who brought you Dr Morse across the road, Bodriggy Brewing Co has revved into gear with its tantalising list of brews, a great food menu, and an always-enticing array of music gigs. Check them out in more detail here.
Dr Morse Bar and Eatery
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Address: 274 Johnston St
Vibe: Hip
Dedicated Menu: Bistro Meals
Dr Morse Bar and Eatery is a cosy joint that has some cool modern twists that make it one of Melbourne’s coolest spots for all things drinks.
There’s a few nice spaces spread throughout, you can enjoy everything from a seated meal inside away from the cold, or as the days warm up, you can kill some time on a weekend in their beautiful beer garden. Check out more info on Dr Morse Bar and Eatery here.
Range Brewing Melbourne
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Address: 272 Johnston St
Vibe: Chill brewery
Dedicated Menu: Beer and drinks
Melbourne’s one of the best spots when it comes to independent breweries, there’s no shortage of cool flavours and varieties. One of Abbotsford’s coolest is Range Brewing, a pub / brewery slinging some cool beers like pale ales, sour, ipas, dipas, and tipas, plus a bunch more, check out their full menu here.
If you’re looking to rep Range Brewing out in the world, they’ve got some pretty nice-looking merch, check it out here.
Lulie Tavern
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Address: 225 Johnston St
Vibe: Modern Pub vibe
Dedicated Menu: burgers and burritos
The Lulie brings vibes of all school pubs and mixes it in with the modern styles we all love. The Lulie celebrates the best of Melbourne nightlife too, with a massive ‘luliepalooza’ on the horizon, a mini festival praising all things live music. Check out more info on that here.
Their burgers and burritos top off an already cool place, you can enjoy some cool things like a chicken burger, lentil burger, beef burger, and much more you can check out here.
House of Plants
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Address: 366 Johnston St
Vibe: Summery bar
Dedicated Menu: Aussie liquor
As the name suggests, this spot is a joint bar and plant nursery, can you get any more Melbourne than that? They are focused on slinging some of the finest Aussie spirits and plants.
You can head to House of Plants from Thursday through to Sunday, check out more info on their Insta here.
Nicholson Street
The Park Hotel
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Address: 191 Nicholson St
Vibe: Laid-back tavern
Dedicated Menu: Standard pub fare
While we’re still experiencing some record low temperatures at the time of writing, we’re all trying our hardest to warm up by any means possible. The Park Hotel has some great open fireplaces, ready for you to enjoy a beer next to – it’s definitely one of the nicest Abbotsford bars and pubs to check out in the winter months.
On the food side of things, there are some great classic pub meals, to name. a few, a fish burger, cauliflower steak, and even cheeseburger spring rolls. Among much more that you can check out here.
Retreat Hotel
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Address: 226 Nicholson St
Vibe: Classic Pub vibe
Dedicated Menu: Pub fare with cool twists
Abbotsford’s Retreat Hotel is a great old-school watering hole that has a few modern stylings that move it into this modern era. Visitors can enjoy some great food while visiting The Retreat, to name a few, there are pizzas, pies, burgers, and even nachos. Check out the full menu here.
If you’re keen to represent The Retreat out there in the world, you can pick up some great merch, check out some more info on that here.
The best pubs and bars in the rest of Abbotsford
Mr Boogie Man Bar
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Address: 160 Hoddle St
Vibe: Music venue
Dedicated Menu: Drinks
The Mr Boogie Man Bar is the epitome of the live music scene in Melbourne, the chill vibes and great staff make for a venue that’ll make you feel at home.
There’s always a lot happening at this spot, they often hold a muso jam where gear is provided, you can jump on stage and live out your dream of becoming a Rockstar. Check out what else is happening at the Mr Boogie Man Bar here.
Moon Dog OG
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Address: 17 Duke St
Vibe: Modern brewery
Dedicated Menu: Pizza
With the rip-roaring success of Moon Dog, we get the feeling that nestled among the other Abbotsford bars and pubs, Moon Dog OG is a future icon. There’s no doubt you’ve enjoyed a Moon Dog brew once or twice before, now you can head to the spot where it all began in Abbotsford. Some of their top brews in the past have been their IPA, Hot Toddy Sour, their array of popular seltzers. Their range of brews can be bought online here.
To pair with their great array of beers and drinks, Moon Dog OG has some tasty pizzas available too. Check out more info on Moon Dog OG here.
Carringbush Hotel
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Address: 228 Langridge St
Vibe: Modern Pub vibe
Dedicated Menu: Vegetarian and vegan versions of pub grub
It’s hard to believe there aren’t more spots like this across Melbourne. The Carringbush Hotel is a pub that is focused on slinging vegan and vegetarian pub grub. To name a few, these are things like battered cauliflower, haloumi and mushroom burgers, and a celeriac steak. On the drinks end, there are 22 beers on tap, perfect for pairing with their great veg meals.
The Carringbush is also focused on some awesome art and culture events, over the next little bit, there’s an art exhibition opening, music from artists like Laing McLelland and Nitida, and a heap more that you can dive into over on their website here.
Carlton Brewhouse
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Address: 24 Thompson St
Vibe: Chill brewery
Dedicated Menu: Beer + Beer Snacks
Abbotsford bars and pubs range from the boutique to the straight and narrow – if you’re a fan of the mega-popular brews that CUB sling, then the Carlton Brewhouse is the spot for you. There are all your favourites available – Carlton, Melbourne Bitters, and plenty more you can see here.
If you’ve ever wanted to dive into how beer is made, the Carlton Brewhouse puts on some brewery tours, keep an eye on the next dates here.
The Laird
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Address: 149 Gipps St
Vibe: Gay bar + accommodation
Dedicated Menu: Drinks
The Laird was established way back in the 80s, and has been going strong since, it’s now one of the longest-running gay bars in the country. They’ve also got some cool accommodation available, if you’re up for a bit of a holiday.
There are a bunch of regular events taking place at this spot, to name a few, a celebration of leather, trivia nights, mini-festivals, and lots more.
Health Bar
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Address: 6/71 Victoria Crescent
Vibe: Coffee shop
Dedicated Menu: Healthy foods
If there hasn’t been anything on this list for you so far, this is the bar for you. As the name suggests, the Health Bar is a spot that stocks all things health, you can grab some tasty breakfast items like a bircher muesli, a chilli scramble, and even a rainbow plate.
There are a fair few lunch options, check out the full menu of the Health Bar here.
The Yorkshire Stingo Hotel
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Address: 48 Hoddle St
Vibe: Classic and relaxed
Dedicated Menu: Standard pub fare with some added specialties
We’ll end this list of the best Abbotsford bars and pubs with the oldest -The Stingo has been around for a whopping 140 years, but still does a great job in keeping modern. They’ve got burgers with ‘beyond’ meat, gnocchi, and even nasi goreng ready for you to chow into.
Like all good pubs out there, The Stingo puts on some great events, like regular live music, musical bingo, and each Monday, you can grab a $20 Parma and pot, Tuesday’s home to a $15 curry, and plenty more.
Check out what else is on at the Stingo here.
