30 bars worth the trip across Australia, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Australia guides.
Black Pearl ★ 4.8 · Melbourne
fitzroy · 304 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Black Pearl on Brunswick Street has been named among the world's best bars: serious craft cocktails in a Fitzroy corner pub built around technique above.
Maybe Sammy ★ 4.8 · Sydney
cbd · 115 Harrington Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
Maybe Sammy on Harrington Street, The Rocks, Sydney. Italian-American mid-century cocktail bar, longstanding presence on the World's 50 Best Bars list.
Cantina OK! ★ 4.8 · Sydney
cbd · 1 Council Place, Sydney NSW 2000
Twenty-seat mezcaleria on Council Place, Sydney CBD. On the World's 50 Best Bars extended list; rare agave-distilled spirits. Daily 4pm-2am, walk-ins only.
Cobbler ★ 4.7 · Brisbane
west-end · 7 Browning Street, West End QLD 4101
Cobbler on Browning Street in West End is the cult whisky and rum hideaway. 350-plus whiskies and seasonal cocktails behind a heritage shopfront.
The Baxter Inn ★ 4.7 · Sydney
cbd · 152-156 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Whisky basement on Clarence Street, Sydney CBD. Over 1,000 bottles on the back wall; the bartenders dress in arm-bands and braces. Mon-Sat from 5pm.
Old Mates Place ★ 4.7 · Sydney
cbd · 199 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Two-level cocktail bar on Clarence Street, Sydney CBD with a rooftop terrace and Aussie native-ingredient cocktail program. Open Tue-Sat from 5pm.
Dean & Nancy on 22 ★ 4.7 · Sydney
cbd · Level 22, A by Adina, 2 Hunter Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Top-of-tower cocktail bar on Hunter Street, Sydney CBD. Floor 22 of A by Adina Hotel; harbour view, theatrical martini service, bookings essential.
Death & Taxes ★ 4.6 · Brisbane
cbd · Burnett Lane, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Death & Taxes hides on Burnett Lane in Brisbane CBD. Speakeasy-format bar in a laneway off Adelaide Street, classic cocktails and deep wine list.
Bar Americano ★ 4.6 · Melbourne
cbd · 20 Presgrave Place, Melbourne VIC 3000
Bar Americano fits 10 people in a CBD laneway and does not take bookings: the Negroni standard for Melbourne and a lesson in what a small bar.
Above Board ★ 4.6 · Melbourne
collingwood · 1/306 Smith Street, Collingwood VIC 3066
Above Board in Collingwood seats 8 at a U-shaped counter and serves rotating seasonal cocktails from a hidden room accessed via Chopper Lane.
Ramblin' Rascal Tavern ★ 4.6 · Sydney
cbd · 60 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Cocktail dive on Park Street, Sydney CBD. Dive-bar aesthetic, top-shelf bar program; hot dogs at midnight and a sound system that runs loud.
PS40 ★ 4.6 · Sydney
cbd · 40 King Street, Sydney NSW 2000
House-soda cocktail bar on King Street, Sydney CBD. The team distil their own sodas in-house; the rosehip-and-pepper soda highball is the bar signature.
Maker ★ 4.5 · Brisbane
south-brisbane · 9 Fish Lane, South Brisbane QLD 4101
Maker on Fish Lane in South Brisbane runs a 20-seat craft cocktail bar behind a 7.5-metre brass counter. Order the native g&t with quandong and finger lime.
Savile Row ★ 4.5 · Brisbane
fortitude-valley · 667 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Savile Row on Ann Street in Fortitude Valley is the dark-panelled speakeasy from the Death & Taxes team. Hidden entry and vintage spirit selection.
The Gresham ★ 4.5 · Brisbane
cbd · Corner Adelaide & Creek Streets, Brisbane City QLD 4000
The Gresham on Adelaide and Creek Streets in Brisbane CBD is a heritage 1929 bank turned classic bar. Polished gin, whisky and Negronis service.
Seamstress ★ 4.5 · Melbourne
cbd · Level 1, 113 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Seamstress on Lonsdale Street occupies a former garment factory with a cocktail bar on top: dim sum, Asian-influenced plates and a rooftop that fills by 9pm.
Siglo ★ 4.5 · Melbourne
cbd · 161 Spring Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Siglo above Spring Street has rooftop views of Parliament House: aperitivo hours, a serious Campari selection and reliable late-night crowds on the terrace.
Dr Morse ★ 4.5 · Melbourne
collingwood · 274 Johnston Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Dr Morse on Johnston Street in Abbotsford sits beneath Victoria Park station: a two-room bar with a serious whisky list from Scotland, Japan and Australia.
Shady Pines Saloon ★ 4.5 · Sydney
darlinghurst · 256 Crown Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Below-street dive bar on Crown Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney. Taxidermied walls, country music, American whiskey and Tecate-and-shot service.
The Lobo Plantation ★ 4.5 · Sydney
cbd · 209 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Cuban-Caribbean tiki bar on Clarence Street, Sydney CBD. Rum-forward cocktails, jazz nights and the city's deepest rum back-bar. Open Wed-Sat from 5pm.
The Roosevelt ★ 4.5 · Sydney
potts-point · 32 Orwell Street, Potts Point NSW 2011
Cocktail bar on Orwell Street, Potts Point, Sydney. Long mahogany counter, a Sazerac on the menu since 1942 and a piano on Sundays. Open 7 nights.
Naked for Satan ★ 4.4 · Melbourne
fitzroy · 285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Naked for Satan on Brunswick Street is the Fitzroy rooftop bar: pintxos, cheap vermut and a top-level terrace that draws weekend queues from midday onwards.
Earl's Juke Joint ★ 4.4 · Sydney
newtown · 407 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Whiskey-and-beer dive on King Street, Newtown, Sydney. American whiskey-heavy back bar, country playlist, a New Orleans Sazerac on every menu.
The Wild Rover ★ 4.4 · Sydney
surry-hills · 75 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Two-storey Irish whiskey bar on Campbell Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. Live music upstairs, 200+ Irish whiskeys behind the bar. Open Tue-Sun from 5pm.
Tio's Cerveceria ★ 4.4 · Sydney
surry-hills · 4-14 Foster Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Mexican spirits and beer bar on Foster Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. Modelo on tap, micheladas, tortas at midnight, a cult crowd of bartenders.
Brooklyn Standard ★ 4.3 · Brisbane
cbd · Eagle Lane, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Brooklyn Standard on Eagle Lane in Brisbane CBD is the New York-inspired dive bar tucked in a CBD basement. Live music every night, American snack bar food.
Cookie ★ 4.3 · Melbourne
cbd · Level 1, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Cookie on Swanston Street runs Melbourne's longest craft beer list alongside a Thai kitchen: live music downstairs and a crowd that arrives after midnight.
Heartbreaker ★ 4.3 · Melbourne
cbd · 234 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Heartbreaker on Russell Street is Melbourne's best near-dive bar: natural wine, punk records and a room that rejects any attempt at pretension from its crowd.
The Doss House ★ 4.3 · Sydney
cbd · 77 George Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
Whisky-bar in 1840s sandstone cellars on George Street, The Rocks, Sydney. Single-malt regional flights and an underground room with stone walls.
Bopp & Tone ★ 4.3 · Sydney
cbd · 60 Carrington Street, Sydney NSW 2000
All-day restaurant-bar on Carrington Street, Sydney CBD. Italian small plates, oysters at the bar, the city's most reliable after-work spritz address.