The best rooftop bars in Melbourne's CBD
Melbourne's rooftop bars are a warm-weather institution and a cold-weather surprise. Here are the CBD and inner-city ones worth the climb, and how to use them well.
The short answer: for a first rooftop in Melbourne’s CBD, start at the Rooftop Bar at Curtin House on Swanston Street - it is the best-known, the easiest to find, and open year round. From there the city has a genuine spread, from tapas terraces to European-styled perches with cathedral views.
Melbourne is a rooftop city despite its weather, not because of it. The good venues run heaters, blankets and, in a couple of cases, a roof that closes when the sky opens, which means the rooftop season here stretches well beyond summer. In this guide we cover the ones worth the climb, what each is known for, and how to avoid the common mistakes. Prices, hours and menus change often, so treat this as a map rather than a menu, and check the venue’s own page before you go.
Which rooftop bar should you visit first?
Go to the Rooftop Bar at Curtin House if you want the definitive Melbourne rooftop experience. Set on top of the Curtin House building on Swanston Street, in the middle of the CBD, it is the one most locals name first, and in summer it doubles as an open-air Rooftop Cinema. It is casual, walk-in friendly and unmistakably Melbourne.
It is also a useful anchor for a night out, because it sits within a short walk of most of the city’s other rooftops and small bars. If it is heaving - and on a clear evening it can be - you are never far from an alternative.
What are the best rooftop bars for city views?
For a view with a bit of romance to it, the inner-city rooftops that look out over the older skyline are hard to beat. Two stand out.
Siglo perches above the Melbourne Supper Club near Parliament, at the top of Spring Street, and looks out over Parliament House and the spire of St Patrick’s Cathedral. It is the grown-up end of the rooftop scale - European in feel, known for classic cocktails, and more terrace than party.
Bomba sits on Lonsdale Street with a plant-filled rooftop above its Spanish-leaning kitchen. It is a lighter, breezier proposition than Siglo, built around tapas and cocktails, and a reliable early-evening option before dinner.
Are there rooftop bars open in winter?
Yes - this is where Melbourne surprises people. Several rooftops are set up specifically to trade through the cold, with heaters, blankets and covered sections, so a rooftop drink in August is entirely doable if you dress for it. The Curtin House rooftop, in particular, keeps going year round.
The trick in winter is to go earlier, aim for a covered corner, and treat the view as a bonus rather than the point. Our guide to making the most of a Melbourne winter weekend leans on exactly this - the city’s outdoor scene does not hibernate, it just adds layers.
How do you use a Melbourne rooftop well?
A few things separate a good rooftop night from a frustrating one:
- Go early for sunset, or late for the lights. The awkward middle - straight after work on a warm Friday - is when the queues are worst.
- Check whether it takes bookings. Some of the best are walk-in only, which is freeing on a quiet night and painful on a busy one.
- Have a backup within a block. The CBD’s rooftops cluster, so a full one is rarely a dead end.
- Dress for up there, not down here. It is always a few degrees cooler and windier on a roof than at street level, in any season.
A quick comparison
| Rooftop | Where | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Rooftop Bar, Curtin House | Swanston St, CBD | The classic; summer cinema; year round |
| Siglo | Spring St, CBD | Parliament and cathedral views; classic cocktails |
| Bomba | Lonsdale St, CBD | Plant-filled terrace; Spanish tapas |
Where to go from here
Rooftops are the start of a Melbourne night out, not the whole of it. Once you have had your drink up high, the city’s small bars and laneways take over - and if you are hungry, Chinatown and the dumpling houses are a short walk from any of the CBD rooftops above. See our guide to Melbourne’s dumplings and Chinatown for where to land, and our laneway coffee guide for the morning after.
One last note: rooftop venues change hands, close for private events and adjust their hours with the seasons more than most. Always confirm on the venue’s own page or socials before you make the trip up.