Melbourne's newest rooftop bars for summer

Melbourne believes a roof is wasted as a mere lid on the good times beneath. This summer, our fondness for rooftop bars reaches new heights with freshly minted eyries across the city adding burgers, craft cocktails, plunge pools and more enticements for those who join the race to the top.

Adelphi Hotel pool deck

The Adelphi did some land reclamation while renovating the ninth-floor pool deck earlier this year, swapping in a slightly smaller pool to create extra party space. Still glass-bottomed and cantilevered out over Flinders Lane, the pool's now complemented by circular sun loungers, potted palms, a vast umbrella and room for 60 to party. Non-residents can pay $35 (includes towel hire) to access the pool deck and its concise snack and drinks menu from the Om Nom kitchen downstairs. There's also a Four Pillars gin pop-up coming on Thursday and Friday evenings from January 19.

Ask for: A $45 Pimms jug – lasts longer and saves the waiter's legs.

187 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, adelphi.com.au

The Albion

It's been a long way to the top for the splendid, sprawling roof garden crowning The Albion's three spanking new levels. Three years ago, nothing but the South Melbourne pub's 1869 facade remained after an arson attack, and a syndicate of owners, including former Collingwood champion Dane Swan and ex rugby league players Robbie Kearns and Danny Williams, have brought the place back from the dead in grand style. The rooftop has city vistas, room for hundreds to party, and all-weather provisions including a retractable roof and fireplaces. Sunday's when the party really escalates, with live music and DJs from 2pm until late (there's a 5am licence).

Ask for: Carlton Draught Unpasteurised is smooth, fresh and sessionable enough for those long afternoons.

172 York Street, South Melbourne, thealbion.bar

Benzina Cantina

Who needs a building, when the upside of a shipping container provides a platform for tacos, tequila and full-throttle fun? Decked out with fairy lights and planters, this Preston rooftop is the secret weapon atop a box of good times from motorbike stuntman "Lukey Luke" Follacchio and Bruno Carreto of Brunswick's Los Hermanos. The taqueria abuts Follacchio's motorcycle workshop, but the real grunt comes from authentic Mex street food: tacos packing slow-cooked meats, beer-battered fish and plenty to rev up the vegetarians. Mescal and tequila cocktails, local and Mexican beers and a respectable wine list with Spanish and Chilean visitors guarantee a neighbourhood party.

Ask for: Robust but refreshing, the Watermelon Margarita (mescal, lemon juice, agave and watermelon) adds zest while you chow down on Gorditas – handmade cornflour pockets filled with refried beans and cheese and topped with house salsa verde. At $7 a serve they're easy to repeat. And repeat.

84 High Street, Preston, benzinacantina.com.au

The Osborne

After a long life as various nightclubs, this South Yarra corner building finally sees the light after an 18-month overhaul. Reborn as a shiny new pub, The O makes first use of its roof with a long, lounge-y garden space open from Thursdays to Sundays. Throughout summer, a weekend Hoegaarden pop-up (noon-3pm) brings an afternoon party crowd ready for their close-up in sunnies and skimpy threads, but the overall aim is approachable, as evidenced by a no-fuss pizza and fried chicken menu.

Ask for: The summer special, available from noon-3pm, is a tasty pairing of chicken teriyaki with parsnip puree, parsnip chips and a micro-herb salad, with a glass of Hoegaarden for $20.

117-119 Commercial Road, South Yarra, theosborne.com.au

Prince Alfred Rooftop & Bar

Happy days are here again for Carlton and its student population as this near-century-old watering hole makes a comeback after a three-year closure. Now in the capable hands of 100 Burgers (the group behind Mr Burger, Belles Hot Chicken and Welcome to Thornbury) and with an extreme makeover from Hot Black architects, the old joint is all new in rich blue and copper, with the added benefit of an umbrella-protected, sun-drenched rooftop oasis. Head chef Mostafa Morshed has wisely serviced the students with affordable pub classics as well as share plates, so you can smash a $16 chicken schnitzel or linger over mac-and-cheese croquettes. The PA has 60 beer taps, with a strong Victorian showing.

Ask for: Starving students and decadents alike flock to the PA's Bottomless Pancake Party, every Saturday from 11.30am to 2.30pm. As well as all the pancakes you can eat, your $65 ticket allows endless consumption of southern fried chicken and waffles, mimosas, bloody marys and Hoegaarden beer.

191 Grattan Street, Carlton, princealfred.com

Red Piggy

Take the moral high ground and trudge the six flights of calf-burning stairs, or zip straight up in the elevator to this very pretty sty in the sky with views across Chinatownand the CBD skyline. Tropical floral murals, French Indochina tiles and zaps of pink neon signage are undercover, while outdoors a fledgling jungle has 300 plants adorning an 11-metre wall, a leafy backdrop to tropical fruity pleasers like Freakin' Banana (Frangelico, banana liqueur, banana puree with fresh lime and tropical fruit nectar) and Tom Yam Siam (vodka, Malibu, lychee syrup, fresh lemongrass and kaffir lime leaf). The keenly priced southeast Asian menu is from former MoVida and Botherambo chef Kim-Maree Moore.

Ask for: The Feed Me option, at $30 a head (minimum two people) for any five share dishes is a good-value exploration of southeast Asian flavours.

Level 3, 263 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, redpiggy.com.au

Top Yard

This west CBD ode to Australian summertime serves its burgers and booze in an upstairs backyard, with umbrellas, plant pots and Astroturf borrowing the exuberant palette of Howard Arkley's technicolour suburb-scapes. Burgers are a big, juicy jawful, and Will Cabantog (ex Baroq House) has had fun Strayan-ising familiar drinks into the likes of Bundy Dark and Stormy, Iced Vovo and The Panty Dropper. Wines are also entirely Aussie. Top Yard's Tuesday rooftop cinema has just started, with cult classics showing weekly, there's themed trivia on Wednesdays and opening hours are extending back to midday on weekends to encourage DJ-driven afternoon dance parties.

Ask for: The Lammington is an unrepentantly jammy sippable riff on the cake, with Chambord, Malibu, coconut puree, Coke, chocolate topping and maraschino cherries.

Geddes Lane Rear, topyard.com.au

Johnny's Green Room

King and Godfree's metamorphosis from Melbourne's oldest deli to three-level food and drink templehas opened the doors to a sweeping space with 360-degree views across the city and room for 200 to enjoy classic and house cocktails, local and imported beer on tap, easy drinking wines and a casual bar food – from burgers to cheese platters and gelato from Pidapipo downstairs. The name, Johnny's Green Room, is inspired by a beloved '60s and '70s late-night Carlton haunt. Johnny's will perch atop King and Godfree's gathering of outlets, bars and restaurants described by general manager Anthony Musarra as a "pleasure dome".

297 Lygon Street, Carlton, kingandgodfree.com

State of Grace

After closing in Collins Street in 2016, State of Grace reopened in its new digs in November. And just in time for summer, the rooftop bar is now open for sunshine, moonlight, good times and pizza. Expect cocktails, tap beers and tinnies with your Italian share plates.

Ask for: Pizza with spicy sausage, wild broccoli, chilli and smoked scarmorze, and a cleansing tin of Stomping Ground Gipps St Pale Ale.

27 King Street, Melbourne, stateofgracemelbourne.com.au

ALMOST HERE

Reunion Island Pool Club

On the rooftop of Melbourne Central, glamping hotel St Jerome's has been replaced with a tropical-style pool club. Co-owner Jerome Borazio has swapped his tents for 10 plunge pools, palm trees, a bar, sauna, yoga and a snack kiosk curated by Easey's burger maestro Jimmy Hurlston. The plunge pools will be available for private bookings, but there's also communal pool space, and entry and a swim starts at $18. Although it's a summer pop-up, Borazio adds that extensive reinforcement work on the building was undertaken to accommodate the pools. He reckons it was worth it. "It's a first for Melbourne, and it's genius," he says.

Level 3, Melbourne Central, reunionislandpoolclub.com.au

COMING SOON

Richmond Japanese restaurant Future Future hopes to have its rooftop restaurant ready by December, and the meat-loving team from Swanston Street's Cheek restaurant are on the same timeline for their level three rooftop bar, Peaches.