Melbourne has a never ending list of bars, restaurants and cafes that you can enjoy during your visit for the Australian Open.
Here are some Melbourne bars that you can walk to from the tennis. Also check out The Precinct and Melbourne Public, which are sports bars that will be showing the Australian Open on TV.
1. Riverland
Riverland is the bar that’s located on the edge of the Yarra River down below Federation Square. If you walk back to the city from Melbourne Park along the path at the edge of the river you’ll see it when you’re level with Fed Square.
It’s a lovely place to sit by the river and enjoy a drink on a nice day.
Riverland
2. Transit
The main bar at Federation Square is Transport. If you enter Transport and take the lift or the stairs you’ll find the Transit Cocktail Lounge at the top. They do fabulous cocktails and there is an amazing view of the city, especially at night.
There is more info on the Transport website.
Transit is the bar on top of Transport
3. The Melbourne Supper Club
The Melbourne Supper Club can be a little hard to find the first time you go there. Look for the door next to the European at 161 Spring Street. The entry has a subtle thin vertical sign near the top of the door that says Melbourne Supper Club. Open the big door and climb the stairs where lovely couches and a massive wine list awaits. I also recommend the ham and cheese sandwiches which are incredible and really hit the spot if it’s late and you’re getting snack-ish.
4. Ponyfish Island
Ponyfish Island is the bar underneath the bridge where you walk from Flinders Street to Southgate (the Elizabeth Street footbridge). It’s a very funky cool place, the service is good and it’s totally outdoors, making it a great option on a nice evening.
Ponyfish Island is under the Elizabeth Street footbridge
5. Bear Brass
Bear Brass is in Southgate. It has a great view of the river and Flinders Street station. They have 2-for-1 Cocktails on Thursdays, $20 Cocktail jugs on Sundays and Bear Brass is also offering Eat, Drink and Watertaxi to the tennis. Find out more about their specials.
6. The Left Bank
To find The Left Bank walk past the main group of shops and restaurants at Southgate and keep walking toward Crown, the Left Bank is on the last place on the left, before you come to the traffic lights at Queensbridge Street. If the outside area looks busy, go inside and walk to the right past the bar because there are some tables with funky comfy seats in the back area too.
7. World Restaurant and Bar
World is one of my favourite places in Southbank. Whether you want coffee or drinks or dinner or all three, they have great options. This map shows where it is located, quite close to the Left Bank.
You can pick it out because generally it’s the place that’s busy next to the places that aren’t so busy!
And if you’re looking for somewhere to eat that is on the edge of the river, has a good range of food, isn’t overly expensive, has plenty of tables and where you’ll be served relatively quickly, try Blue Train at Southgate.
These are just a few of the hundreds of places to eat and drink in the Melbourne CBD. It’s also worth checking out the inner suburbs like Brunswick, St Kilda, South Melbourne and Toorak.
Until next time
Grand Slam Gal
