The best happy hours in Melbourne
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04.04.2023

The best happy hours in Melbourne

Happy hour Melbourne
Words by Mia Casey

Here's our list of the best happy hour deals in Melbourne bars, pubs and restaurants. Whether you're after a happy hour cocktail or beer, these are the best venues for cheap drinks across the city.

The Penny Black, Brunswick

With its ’70s-inspired interior and rock’n roll aesthetic, The Penny Black is the place to visit for live music and a good time. Open to 7pm, everyday, with schooners, basics and wine from $7.

They also have Daily Food Specials:

      Wed – $20 Steak Sandwich
      Thurs – $20 Parma 
      Fri – $2o Fish and Chips
      Sat – $20 Burgers and $19 jugs
      Sun – $20 Pub classics
  • 420 Sydney Rd, Brunswick VIC 3056
  • More info here

New Wind, Windsor


This Vietnamese restaurant may not be the oldest or the cheapest spot for Happy Hours, but it has one of the best varieties of $12 cocktails. From the classic espresso martini to the new variation of a Long Island ice tea, known as the fresh island ice tea – New Wind knows how to gather an audience.

Their happy hours are from 4:30 pm to 7:30 and 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm every day, so whether you’re heading for knock-off drinks after work or going out for the night, New Wind has got you covered. With welcoming staff, great food and a prime spot in Melbourne, New Wind has established itself as the place to be.

  • 120 Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181
  • More info here.

Stay Gold / Ollie’s Pizza


$10 Young Henrys, $7 basic spirits.

Ollie’s crafts a unique pizza that blends New York and Neapolitan styles. Their thin, crispy base and chewy crust are topped with the freshest ingredients for unbeatable flavor. They prove their dough for 36 hours and hand-stretch it before cooking it super hot and fast. Dedicated to the art of pizza-making, they honor the great pizzaiolos with every slice. Located at 133 Sydney Road, Brunswick, Ollie’s is perfect for after-work drinks or lively weekend nights. You’ll find a warm welcome at the bar!

  • 133 Sydney Road, Brunswick
  • More info here.

Railway Hotel, South Melbourne

The Railway Hotel is the definition of a good old pub and with one of the best happy hours, it is the place to visit in South Melbourne.

The Railway Hotel is offering $5 pots, $10 pints, $7 wines, $8 spirits and $14 cocktails on weekdays. As well as a great Happy Hour 5 days a week, the Railway Hotel also has a $25 steak night on Wednesday and a $30 Sunday roast.

The Railway Hotel offers everything from Fox Sports to live music, which is what makes it a classic pub.

  • 280 Ferrars St, South Melbourne VIC 3205
  • More here here

Blondie Bar


Located on the corner of Sturt Street and Southbank Boulevard, Blondie Bar is an elegant place to go for a happy hour. Blondie Bar offers free live entertainment including Friday jazz jams from 5pm and DJ sets Thursday from 6 pm – however, this may be subject to change as the weather begins to cool down. Happy hour has returned to Blondie Bar from 3 pm to 6pm.

Blondie Bar also serves delicious plates, there truly is something for everyone.

  • Cnr South Bank Boulevard and Styrt St, Southbank VIC, 3006
  • More info here

Antique Bar, Elsternwick

 

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Walking into the Antique Bar is like stepping into a black and white movie. With $12 Cocktails, $8 pints, $5 house wine and $5 spirits, the Antique Bar in Elsternwick has to have one of the most delicious Happy Hours available.

The Belgian chocolate Martini, liquid cheesecake and apple crumble are perfect for those with a sweet tooth. Also providing a range of classic cocktails, the Antique bar has a list of speciality drinks, including names like the Zombie, lemongrass and chilli Mule, and hot buttered Rum.

With fantastic service and a vintage layout, this is one of the best Happy Hours to visit in Melbourne from 3 pm to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday and 4 pm to 7 pm Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

  • 218 Glen Huntly Rd, Elsternwick VIC 3185
  • More info here.

Father’s Office

With two locations in Melbourne’s CBD, Father’s Office is becoming a popular place to visit for a good drink ad some live music. With DJs performing Fridays from 6 pm and Saturdays from 6 pm, this is your place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Father’s Office has one of the most extensive Happy Hours that we have seen including $12 cocktails with drinks such as pornstar martini, Aperol spritz, pina colada and frozen margaritas on offer. If cocktails aren’t to your taste there are also $9 premium spirits like Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire and Jack Daniels up for grabs. Father’s office also offers $8-$10 pints and $8 glasses of wine.

You can visit both of their venues in the city at the addresses listed above.

  • 121 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000
  • 249 Little Lonsdale st, Melbourne 3000
  • More info here.

The Banff, St Kilda


 As a relaxed spot, it is a favourite for locals around St Kilda. Located on Fitzroy St, The Banff is a beautiful restaurant formerly in army barracks by American and Canadian soldiers in World War II and used as a galley to prepare meals.

Banff has an extensive Happy Hour daily day from 3 pm to 6 pm and 9 pm to 11 pm. Banff offers pots beer, pots cider/snakebite, glass DB Cleanskins at $5, all house spirits at $6 and jugs of beer, jugs of cider/Snakebite at $15, as well as Bottle DB cleanskins at $22.

With a rustic charm, The Banff is the spot to visit if you want a calm and homely experience.

  • Unit 29/145 Fitzroy St, St Kilda VIC 3182
  • More info here.

Prince Alfred, Richmond

With a prime location, friendly staff members and great food, the only thing that could make this Richmond pub any better is a great happy hour. Luckily for us, they offer $10 pints, $8 house wines and $8 basic spirits every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 pm to 6 pm.

Some other weekly specials at the prince Alfred hotel are half-price pizzas every Monday from 12 pm, $25 steak every Tuesday from 4 pm, $20 burgers every Wednesday from 4 pm and $24 parma every Thursday from 4 pm.

On top of all of these great deals, there are live music performances every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 4 pm-7 pm

  • 619 Church St Richmond, VIC, 3121
  • More info here.

Bang Bang, Elsternwick

 

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Once again, the South East suburbs are proving to be a hotspot for great Happy Hour deals. Bang Bang, a reformed rifle club, is the place to be for a French-Indochina bite and a cheap but delicious cocktail in hand.

With $8 spritz or a selection of beer, wine and bubbles for $6 everyday from 4 until 6pm. Bang Bang is a new and contemporary restaurant that is always pumping.

On top of their happy hour, Bang Bang also provides a Boozy Brunch with 2hrs of Bottomless drinks and a good menu selection at $75 per person. You’re missing out if you haven’t been to Bang Bang already.

  • 294 Glen Huntly Rd, Elsternwick, Vic, 3185
  • More info here.

College Lawn Hotel

 

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As a popular spot, College Lawn Hotel is everything you want in a corner pub. With one of the largest beer gardens in Prahran, the college lawn offers you some great deals. Visit the College Lawn Hotel every Thursday from 4 pm for a $14 summer sundown spritz or every Friday for their usual happy hour. From 5 to 7 pm on Fridays, you can enjoy an $8 house pint, spirit and wine.

They also offer 30% off steaks on Tuesday, trivia every Wednesday, pie Thursday for $20, and as of April 9 will offer a Sunday roast for $15 alongside a cocktail from 12 pm.

  • 36 Greville St, Prahran VIC 3181
  • More info here.

Tyranny of Distance, Windsor  

With a happy hour every day from 7 pm and 4 pm to 7 pm, Tyranny of distance is a great meeting spot for people in Melbourne. With a beautifully curated menu including share plates and flavourful mains, Tyranny of Distance has it all.

Located in Windsor, the best night to go is on a Friday, where happy hour is from 7 pm to 9 pm, and $12 espresso martinis are up for grabs.

  • 147 Union St, Windsor, VIC, 3181
  • More info here.

The Workers Club, Fitzroy  

 

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For dinner and a show, a classic and well-known watering hole for Melbournians is the Workers Club. Located on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, this corner pub offers big meals and great drink prices on Monday nights. With a DJ and a band room for local artists to perform, the Workers Club has $6 house spirits, $2 pots, $4 pints and $8 jugs on Mondays from 6 pm till late.

Though there is a $5 entry fee, it is worth it for a great atmosphere and is located on one of the best streets in Melbourne.

  • 51 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065
  • More info here.

Amarillo, Fitzroy

 

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Amarillo’s atmosphere is a carefully curated bar with a chic and relaxed nature. It is the perfect place for a quiet drink with friends in Melbourne’s inner North. Amarillo offers $15 Negroni’s, $13 Aperol Spritz, $9 Amarillo Barbera and $8 schooners daily from open till 7 pm.

Although it does not have the most competitive Happy Hour, Amarillo is a small neighbourhood bar with charm, and if you’re looking for a night of style, good share plates and drinks on a budget, this is the place.

  • 149 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, VIC 3065
  • More info here.

Hotel Collingwood

Born out of lockdown 5.0, Hotel Collingwood is yet another iconic corner pub that was formerly known as the Robert Burns hotel. Despite being a fairly recent pub Hotel Collingwood offers some great deals including Sunday and Monday with a $15 schnitzel and $15 jug. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday offer a Happy hour with $8 pints, $8 wine and a $15 schnitzel as well as a $2.50 oyster special. Lastly, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday offer a worker’s lunch special from 12 pm to 3 pm for only $20.

  • 376 Smith St, Collingwood, VIC, 3066
  • More info here.

Fifty-Five, Melbourne CBD

 

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You’ll find Fifty-Five in the city’s heart with a tropical meets rustic interior. Fifty-Five are offering $8 House pints and Wines from 5 pm to 7 pm on Tuesday to Thursday. Fifty-Five has a $14 Espresso Martini deal from 8 pm to 10 pm on Friday and Saturday.

Fifty-Five is a hidden basement bar on Elizabeth street. If you like secret, independent bars, you’ll find that fifty-five does not disappoint. On top of having a great happy hour, Fifty-Five are beer connoisseurs with six taps on regular rotation, making it the perfect recipe for a popular bar.

  • 55 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC, 3000
  • More info here.

Carlton Brewhouse, Abbotsford

Carlton Brewhouse is worth the visit for live music, sports and a good happy hour deal. With Wednesday to Friday offering $7 pints and $5 house wine from the hours of 4-6 pm, it is the perfect place to visit right after work.

Carlton Brewhouse also offers a trivia night on Wednesdays with $15 burgers and $15 jugs for you and your friends to relax at the end of the day. If trivia isn’t your forte, Thursday at the Carlton Brewhouse offers $15 steaks and $15 parmas on Friday.

Lastly, if you’re not up for a midweek special, the Carlton Brewhouse has $10 snacks and a 2-for-1 dessert special all day.

  • 24 Thompson St, Abbotsford VIC 3067
  • More info here.

Three Monkeys, Prahran

Three Monkeys bar is a popular venue on Chapel Street with a highly regarded happy hour. With cocktails and pints at $10 and wine at $6 from Wednesday to Sunday, this cocktail hour is nothing short of competitive.

Three Monkeys is a popular destination on the weekends as it is near some of Melbourne’s best clubs and bars. Three Monkeys is a staple if you’re in the area and looking for a good quality drink and some good music performed by DJs from around Melbourne.

  • 210 Chapel St, Prahran, VIC 3181
  • More info here.

Golden Fleece Hotel, South Melbourne


Be transported to the waters of Santorini at this popular South Melbourne Hotel. The Golden Fleece Hotel is like a breath of fresh air with its Greek-inspired architecture and relaxed nature. Grab a refreshing $7 house wine, $4 pot or $10 cocktail from 5 pm to 6 pm any weekday and sit back and enjoy the atmosphere.

The Golden Fleece hotel offers different Greek dishes, adding to its European summer charm, even in the middle of Australian autumn.

  • 120 Montague St, South Melbourne VIC, 3205
  • More info here