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Friend catch-up

Friend catch-up in Melbourne

Two to six, conversation-forward, new friends or old.

Example nights

Real Melbourne venues, put together by our planner. Refreshed Jul 20.

Drinks at Medusa Shisha Lounge & Bar in Oakleigh, then dinner at Vanilla Dessert Bar.

  • 01Medusa Shisha Lounge & BarOakleigh · $$
  • 02Vanilla Dessert BarOakleigh · $$$

Drinks at Mr West Bar & Bottle Shop in Footscray, then dinner at Rudimentary.

  • 01Mr West Bar & Bottle ShopFootscray · $$
  • 02RudimentaryFootscray · $$

Drinks at Garage Wine Store & Bar in Ripponlea, then dinner at Lyrebird Lounge.

  • 01Garage Wine Store & BarRipponlea · $$
  • 02Lyrebird LoungeRipponlea · $

Top 12 venues

  1. 01

    Brooklyn Cocktail Bar

    Elwood · $$$

    Neighborhood cocktail bar where the owner knows your name. Dogs welcome, quality drinks, events hosted — the kind of place you become a regular.

  2. 02

    Double Happiness

    Melbourne (3000) · $$

    Laneway cocktail bar, Communist-kitsch decor, bartenders who actually care. Tight, packed, still feels intimate.

  3. 03

    Bar Bellamy

    Carlton · $$$

  4. 04

    Better Days Cocktail Bar

    Windsor · $$

    Board games, cheap cocktails, owner who actually cares — the kind of bar where nights get weird in the best way.

  5. 05

    The Joint Bar

    Melbourne (3000) · $

  6. 06

    Kent St Bar

    Fitzroy · $

    Dive-bar staple: house lager at $10, Wednesday trivia, barmen who actually care. Pints and catch-ups, unpretentious as they come.

  7. 07

    Rebel Rebel

    Preston · $$

  8. 08

    Bahama Gold

    Brunswick · $$$

    Wine by the glass from taps to fancy bottles, wood-fired pizza, packed shoulders at the bar — dive-bar warmth in Brunswick.

  9. 09

    Public House - Richmond

    Richmond · $$

    Two-storey rooftop, city views, DJs all afternoon. Modern Australian share plates and cocktail carafes — the $39 Feed Me menu actually delivers.

  10. 10

    Fonda Mexican Windsor

    Windsor · $$

    Fresh tacos and margaritas on Chapel Street — rooftop views, chill staff, portions lean but worth it.

  11. 11

    Hudsons Road Wine & Beer

    Spotswood · $$

    Wine list, meat and cheese boards, pizza, chatty staff — the kind of local spot you keep coming back to.

  12. 12

    Gibson's Wine Bar hawthorn

    Hawthorn · $$$