Finish off your weekend in style at one of most cruisy and easy-going Melbourne Sunday sessions.
As the sun-soaked days and balmy evenings of the summer season beckon, there’s no better way to embrace the weekend’s leisurely finale than by indulging in relaxing, vibrant and music-filled Melbourne Sunday sessions.
Whether you’re looking for a chilled-out garden bar with a refreshing cocktail in hand, a waterfront locale with picturesque views, or a pulsating dance floor to keep the weekend vibes going, we’ve got you covered.
You can also check out Melbourne’s most comprehensive guides to the best bars and pubs in each suburb and street here.
Embark on a journey through Melbourne’s most enticing venues, where you can bask in the sun, enjoy delicious food and drinks, and savour the best live music and DJ sets, all while making the most of those lazy, sun-drenched Sundays.
Get ready to discover your new favourite places for Sunday sessions in Melbourne!
Sunday Sessions Melbourne CBD
The Duke of Wellington
- 146 Flinders St, Melbourne 3000
It’s only fair to kick off this list with Melbourne’s oldest licensed pub.
The now modernised, two-storey pub has been kicking it since 1853 and offers all the pub classics like a good chicken parma, scotch fillet with chips and aioli or the classic cheeseburger, making it a no-brainer for boozy and cruisy Melbourne Sunday sessions.
Not only does The Duke’s food make for a good time, but their wide range of drinks paired with live sports guarantees a Sunday afternoon of kicking back and taking in that warm summer sun, especially with its rooftop bar.
Section 8
- 27-29 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne 3000
Shady Sunday afternoons are best spent down Tattersall Lane in the hidden gem that is Section 8.
Nothing screams chilled-out and laid-back like Section 8 does. With a team of expert bartenders serving you out of a shipping container in a cosy laneway cutout, it’s the perfect setting to chill out, lay back and fight off the Sunday scaries with a frozen marg.
Set in what feels like someone’s garage, Section 8 hosts some of the best DJs every Sunday through summer, spinning disco, house, and techno tunes for cosy Melbourne Sunday sessions.
Garden State Hotel
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- 101 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000
Melbourne’s CBD is brought to life by institutions like the Garden State Hotel. With enough space to fit 800 people in a multi-storied wonderland fit with growing vines and house plants galore, it’s the perfect spot for getting weekend wasted.
Made central by its location, the Garden State Hotel remains true to its name with a sprawling tiered beer garden made complete by the lush greenery and enormous ficus trees tower, bringing the outdoors indoors and making you feel miles away from the business of Melbourne’s CBD.
The public bar is a favoured watering hole for those seeking a refreshing ale after work or those winding down at the weekend. Down in the basement level, the Rose Garden provides an intimate setting for lovers of cocktails meeting with friends.
The Garden State’s commitment to the pub setting goes even further with a decked-out menu of true pub classics and produce-driven fresh dishes, fitted with fresh oysters, olives and burrata to start, some deliciously crafted burgers, parmas, pizzas and pastas for main as well as some sweets to top it all off.
The Garden State Hotel has you covered on all fronts for your Sunday sessions in Melbourne.
Rooftop Bar
- Curtin House, Level 7/252 Swanston St, Melbourne 3000
If meaty burgers and expertly crafted drinks served in an open-air venue featuring city views is your thing, then your next Sunday session should be at Rooftop Bar.
Open from midday right through to 1am every Sunday, the Rooftop Bar provides good-looking cocktails with good-looking food with a good-looking view. The lawn is a perfect spot for kicking back and chilling with mates, giving you plenty to talk about with city views you won’t find anywhere else.
There are plenty of beers on tap for those who are thirsty and a wine and spirits list which is likely to place the high-storied bar atop anyone’s list of favourite watering holes.
Melbourne’s favourite Rooftop Bar is committed to delivering on good times with great views for all of your upcoming Melbourne Sunday sessions.
Miscellania
- 2/401 Swanston St, Melbourne 3004
While the Sunday sessions as Misc aren’t always “chilled-out”, they are certainly always a good time. The alternative club has a reputation for throwing some of the most exilarating day parties in town with DJs, performance art, fashion shows, live music and a whole host of other fun stuff as well. Great drinks too.
Events aren’t on every Sunday, but when they are, they’re a doozy. Keep an eye on their calendar to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
With a midday Happy Hour, an all-day lineup and pop-up food stalls on the rooftop (the perfect place to recover with a smoke) it’s one of the top choices of Melbourne Sunday sessions for those who believe in juicing every single last drop of fun out of the weekend.
On the Northside
Lulie Tavern
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- 225 Johnston St, Abbotsford 3067
Lulie Tavern is the heart of rock n roll in Abbotsford; its eclectic wooden interior clad with prints and framed hangings transports you back in time to the rock era of the ’70s and ’80s, and its impressive menu and team of lovely staff will make you want to stay.
With live music and vinyl spinning every Sunday, it serves up excellent Melbourne Sunday sessions every single week.
Building onto their already impressive display with a fully decked-out rooftop bar donned Full Moon Fever late last year, Lulie is the place to be when the sun is shining over Abbotsford, especially with offers like bottomless booze and taco platters to fill your tummy on a lazy afternoon.
Northcote Social Club
- 301 High St, Northcote 3070
Live music, good food, great drinks and fantastic company delivered in a hip, laid-back joint with regular live bands and a spacious outdoor deck area: the Northcote Social Club is a prime spot for a Melbourne Sunday session.
Sundays at the Northcote Social Club mark the live interactive jukebox events where patrons are welcome to select what they want to listen to all afternoon, making the trendy pub one of the best spots for a tune-filled Sunday.
Naked For Satan
- 286 Brunswick St, Fitzroy 3065
There’s almost no chance you’ve never heard of Naked for Satan.
The multi-level bar lives on one of Melbourne’s coolest streets in the heart of Fitzroy and is popular for its rooftop views and downstairs lounge.
A grazing menu filled with summer faves like oysters, sliders and an array of shared dishes makes it a perfect hangout spot for groups seeking a Sunday afternoon pick-me-up either in Naked’s sunny rooftop bar or dimly lit and cosy downstairs area.
Howler
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- 7-11 Dawson St, Brunswick 3056
Traditionally, a woolshed was the last place anyone would be expecting to spend their day off, but Howler’s converted woolshed in Brunswick is the coolest place for a Sunday party.
Howler is an institution built around the Northside creative community which surrounds it and there are usually some different events every Sunday.
Happy Hour at the Howler is from 12pm to 3pm, with $10 pints of craft beer and bloody marys to cure last night’s hangover.
Your Melbourne Sunday sessions might best be spent Northside thanks to Howlers and places like it.
Kewpie
- 376 Brunswick St, Fitzroy 3065
A longstanding pillar of the community located in one of Melbourne’s coolest suburbs, Kewpie bar in Fitzroy is a must-try for anyone who likes cheap drinks and eats.
Cooking up $5 pizzas all day every day, Kewpie is the perfect hangover cure, with Happy Hour running between 5 and 7pm from Wednesdays right through to Sundays for anyone wanting to keep the party going.
Kewpie is Fitzroy’s one-stop shop for cheap eats, dope drinks and all-round good times. There are plenty of options available to keep you hydrated no matter your poison and on any given night of the week, Melbourne’s best and finest DJs can be found performing at Kewpie.
Dr Morse Bar and Eatery
- 274 Johnston St, Abbotsford 3067
This brick-lined bistro dishes up eclectic cocktails inside a pristine beer garden, with DJs and other live music acts providing the perfect backing for a hip and cruisy Sunday session.
Dr Morse has it all, serving breakfast for those keen early birds and carrying on ‘til late in the beer garden. It’s open from 8am every Sunday and offers $10 drink specials every Saturday and Sunday, including Bloody Marys, fresh gin and juice and mimosas.
For those looking to make their brekky a little more adventurous, pair your cheap drink with their scrumptious toasties served from 11am right through to 4pm.
The extensive all-day menu, coupled with the wide array of approachable tap beers available at the two bars, has established Dr Morse as a favoured destination for a Sunday session, keeping the party going with an impressive assortment of wines and cocktails.
During weekdays, the Jr Morse takeaway window provides a tranquil respite for Victoria Park station commuters, offering specialty coffee choices such as single-origin iced lattes, cold drip and yummy chai.
Grace Darling Hotel
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- 114 Smith St, Collingwood 3066
Collingwood’s Grace Darling Hotel takes centre stage in providing some warmly welcomed northside pub rituals and offering a cosy and ornate spot surrounded by the original bluestone and brick walls for friends and family to enjoy a beer or two with some pub classics.
The galleon-themed wallpaper surrounding the flickering candles that adorn the pub’s front bar and dining room makes the Grace Darling a nice change of pace from your typical pub setting. Grace’s bandroom lives upstairs and marks the already famous spot a popular fixture on the local gig circuit, hosting a regular roster of launches and live acts and the underground gallery doubles as a cool function space.
The local, on-tap microbrews and classy take on pub food classics, like a hefty Hunter Valley rib-eye and a parma loaded with pancetta and provolone make the Grace Darling Hotel a must-visit for your next Melbourne Sunday sessions.
Pop in between 12pm and 11pm with some mates for great beer, a great feed and a great time in one of Melbourne’s classiest pubs.
Public House
- 433-435 Church St, Richmond 3121
Richmond bar Public House has made a name for itself as one of Melbourne’s most popular spots for a Sunday session with its sliders and cocktail carafes on offer.
Further famed for its weekend good times, Public House serves up tasting boards and cocktails every Sunday from midday, with DJs providing the perfect tunes on the balcony from 5pm for that sunny Sunday tip-off.
Your next Sunday session may be best spent in Richmond catching up with mates over a few rounds and a side of sliders thanks to Public House.
On the Southside
College Lawn Hotel
- 36 Greville St, Prahran 3181
Whoever said your weekend in Prahran had to be spent on Chapel Street?
Nestled in the back streets of Prahran’s backstreets is the College Lawn Hotel on Greville Street is one of the biggest and best venues for a lazy Sunday session in Melbourne. The College Lawn’s Sunday evening soiree is made almost world famous with live music from 6pm and enough space to fit all your mates – and theirs too!
And as if the popular Prahran institution wasn’t popular enough, the College Lawn hotel has extended its reputation as an appealing and ever-welcoming spot with its Paws on the Lawn events, inviting visitors to bring their furry friends for a day of bevs in the beer garden, fit with cocktail specials and free doggy treats, as well as a gold coin donation for the Lost Dogs Home.
Bring your best mate and enjoy a couple of refreshing bevvies for a relaxing day in the sun in Melbourne’s most adored suburb or for a long weekend night out on your next Sunday session.
Hotel Esplanade
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- 11 Esplanade, St Kilda 3182
Nothing beats a sunny afternoon by the beach and the Hotel Esplanade delivers just that.
The laid-back and longstanding hangout spot is a classic and a favourite of locals and tourists alike, with a patio overlooking St Kilda’s scenic beach and offering typical pub fare with cocktails and beers galore.
Every Sunday sees the Espy dedicate itself to an evening of cocktails prepared by a super-skilled crew of bar staff paired with an unmissable St Kilda sunset: there’s nothing like sweet drinks and a gorgeous sunset to wrap up your week with one of the best Melbourne Sunday Sessions at the Espy.
The Montague Hotel
- 355 Park Hotel, South Melbourne 3205
Feeling fancy and old-fashioned? Head over to the Montague Hotel in South Melbourne for your next Sunday Session, where bistro meals, live music and trivia are popular commodities.
Open from 12pm ’til late every Sunday, The Montague Hotel combines a contemporary aesthetic with a traditional atmosphere, offering a relaxed meal with drinks to match.
The South Melbourne pub has an extensive menu to cater to anyone, with a long list of wines to match. The Montague aims to please.
Just a stroll or short tram ride away, The Montague could be your next local for a Sunday session.
Hotel South Melbourne
- 160 Clarendon St, South Melbourne 3205
First established in 1854 and living on Clarendon Street is Hotel South Melbourne where you should be spending your next Sunday session.
The iconic pub is the perfect place to dine, drink and catch up with friends and family, offering a range of pub classics from the more traditional setting, right through to beef burgers and parmas.
With fresh beers brewed right there at the brewery, the Hotel South Melbourne creates the perfect community environment sure to make anyone feel welcome.
The Emerson Rooftop Bar and Club
- 141-145 Commercial Rd, South Yarra 3141
The Emerson in South Yarra has you covered from Friday night right through to Sunday evening with its split rooftop bar and club settings.
The elegant yet oh-so-casual rooftop space sits beneath a retractable roof and is surrounded by ample heating for those cold and rainy nights, but lets the sun shine right on through during spring and summer.
During the warmer months, see the Emerson’s rooftop light up thanks to Sky High Sundays with big names DJing and performing to the tune of $9 drinks between 4 and 7pm. Entry is free and the vibes are great, but before Sky High Sundays kicks off, the Emerson rooftop sees Go Go dancers and live drag performances from 3pm every week with drink specials to match.
Downstairs, the Emerson’s nightclub space is where music meets celebration on the dancefloor thanks to the local and international DJs bringing the crowd to life. At 5pm all three levels of the Emerson’s club come to life and booths are available for those wanting an intimate VIP setting for their crew, complete with bottle service provided by a booth hostess and a package selection of your choice and where a steady flow of drinks and canape selections perfectly balance the brilliant city skyline views.
The Emerson’s wide selection of happenings is sure to leave you feeling satisfied and delighted.
For a Sunday Session you’re sure to never forget, head to the Emerson in Melbourne’s southside for an unforgettable afternoon, evening, or weekend as a whole.
For more information on Melbourne Sunday sessions, head here.
