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The best late-night spots to drink, dine and disco in Melbourne

Sofia Levin
Sofia Levin

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Other states can have the white-sand beaches and scenic surf; in Melbourne it's more about staying up late without being told when to call it in. The after-hours venues and infrastructure are some of the best in the country: public transport runs all night on weekends, museums have special after-hours access events, cinemas host cult movie screenings and there's bars, clubs and restaurants that never close. Schedule in an afternoon nap and take advantage of Melbourne's midnight playground.

Prop yourself up 'til the wee hours at Trinket's bar.
Prop yourself up 'til the wee hours at Trinket's bar. Carmen Zammit

Drink

New bar on the block,Trinket, has an Alice-in-Wonderland vibe. To enter, twist a giant knob beneath an eerie ballerina, which plays a tune and slowly opens the door to the bar. The ritual mimics consuming a 'Drink Me' potion before you've ordered a cocktail. Speaking of which, they're good here, especially the take on a sherry cobbler made with house lemon and almond syrup and finished with a spray of absinthe. The standout snack is the triple cheese cigars, presented on a metal ashtray with smoked ash aioli and honey pearls for dipping. Snuggle up by the fire and admire the deco touches, or take the hidden entrance through a closet to a cavernous, candle-lit basement bar.

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Trinket, 87 Flinders Lane, trinketbar.com.au

Three more to try:
Bodega Underground – A den of mezcal, tequila and tacos in the city, open until 3am daily.
55 Little Bourke Streetbodegaunderground.com.au

Bar Tini – A Spanish bodega from the MoVida crew with vermouth on tap, abundant sherry, tinned Spanish seafood and a snack-happy menu.
3-5 Hosier Lanebartini.com.au

Murmur Piano Bar – a New York-inspired piano bar with happy hour between 4.30pm to 6.30pm and tunes from 8pm, requests welcome.
17 Warburton Lane murmur.com.au

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Dine

Melbourne is a city set with late-night eats. Butcher's Diner, from the good folk at the European, is up there with the best. With an orange colour scheme and sides of meat on display, the diner looks straight out of a film set. Breakfast is served from 6am to 11am and can be as light as fresh seasonal fruit with yoghurt or as heavy as a pork sausage burger. It's filter coffee only here (for $2.50), but a few hours later – or a few before – you can work your way through craft tinnies. Juicy, oversized steamed pork and beef dim sims are a treat just before birds start chirping. Also good: blood sausage and devilled egg brekky rolls, yakitori offal and a vegan falafel salad with hummus. Don't miss the daily specials and see the vegan vending machine out the front – for interest, if nothing else. Cash only but there's an ATM onsite.

Butcher's Diner, 10 Bourke Street, butchersdiner.com

Three more to try:
Doodee Paidang – A packed hawker hall in the Causeway 353 Hotel basement with unapologetically traditional flavours. A hit with the student crowd and open until 3am on Friday and Saturday, 1am every other day.
Basement, 353 Little Collins Streetdodeepaidang.com

Ling Nan – Open until 3.30am daily in Chinatown, this two-storey hospitality favourite is known for it's efficient service, BYO policy, XO pipis and fried chicken ribs.
204 Little Bourke Street

Arlechin – This small, mod-European bar by the Grossi family has wine on display and a killer late-night bar menu, including its infamous midnight pasta.
Mornane Place, arlechin.com.au

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Heroes karaoke at 188 Bourke Street, Melbourne Heroes bar in Melbourne.
Heroes karaoke at 188 Bourke Street, Melbourne Heroes bar in Melbourne.Eugene Hyland

Disco

Start on the rooftop at Heroes, the new multi-storey venue from the Fancy Hanks team. It's a snug with colourful raised tables and stools, hanging plants and if you're there at the right time at the right hour, rooftop yum cha. But when the sun sets, descend to the restaurant decked out in gaudy-but-great Asian paraphernalia for barbecue chicken wings and szechuan brisket. In the kitchen is Alicia Cheong, who worked at Fancy Hanks andspent a couple of years in Singapore at two-Michelin-starred Restaurane Andre before landing at Heroes. Having polished off cocktails with names like 'Let's Pandance', you'll be well lubricated to venture down once again, this time to the karaoke room. It's a steal at $40 per person (including $30 towards the bar), or try your luck at the open mic competition every Thursday.
Heroes, 188 Bourke Streetheroesbar.com.au

Three more to try:

Heartbreaker – A favourite on late-night lists, there's always a makeshift jukebox party happening in the wee hours here, as well as pizza slices being consumed from the attached Connie's Pizza.
234A Russell Street heartbreakerbar.com.au

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Howler – Still the best multi-purpose venue in the north, this live music and performance space hosts everything from DJs to fringe theatre, with decent food and booze also in the former woolshed.
7-11 Dawson Street, Brunswick,h-w-l-r.com

Boney – Dancing, DJs and Asian-inspired dining, daily until 3am. Order the Magic's Pork Platter and see the website for special events like free comedy, trivia and live tunes.
68 Little Collins Street, boney.net.au

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Sofia LevinSofia Levin is a food writer and presenter.

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