Fitzroy / Collingwood Bar Crawl: 4 Stops, One Evening

This is a working bar crawl through Fitzroy / Collingwood, Melbourne's most concentrated drinking neighbourhood. Cocktail Melbourne's indie heart. Four stops, one evening, mapped by editors who actually drink here on Friday nights.

The order matters. Start polished, peak in the middle, end somewhere quieter. Every room listed below is within a 10-minute walk of the next one — that's the value of a neighbourhood crawl.

Total time: about five hours. Total spend: depends on you, but plan Â£60-Â£100 per person. Save this page, send it to whoever you're meeting, and let Fitzroy / Collingwood take care of the rest.

The Route

Four stops, ranked

Walking distance: under 1km between stops. Treat the timings as guidance, not gospel.

No. 01

Stop 1 — 18:00 Aperitif

Above Board Melbourne

Local · $$$ · Cocktail Bars

Above Board is a 24-seat Collingwood counter cocktail bar from Hayden Lambert — formerly of Black Pearl. World's 50 Best Bars regular since 2017. The intimate r

Start at the most refined cocktail room in the area. One drink. You're warming up.

No. 02

Stop 2 — 19:30 First proper cocktail

Arbory Afloat

CBD · $$$ · Rooftop Bars

Arbory Afloat draws a steady local crowd in CBD. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.

Move to the room you'd take a first date to. Sit at the bar, talk to the bartender, order a house special.

No. 03

Stop 3 — 21:30 The destination

Arcadia Rooftop

CBD · $$ · Rooftop Bars

Arcadia Rooftop draws a steady local crowd in CBD. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.

The bar that defines the neighbourhood. Reservations help. Stay an hour.

No. 04

Stop 4 — 23:30 Last drink

Attic

CBD · $$$ · Cocktail Bars

Attic draws a steady local crowd in CBD. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.

End somewhere unhurried — a wine bar, a music room, or a quiet hotel bar. One simple drink.

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