Melbourne is known as one of the liveliest cities in Australia. Boasting a wide range of restaurants, entertainment venues, cultural diversity, and excellent coffee, it’s no wonder that Melbourne is renowned for being possibly the most welcoming city in the world.
Aside from daylight activities, Melbourne’s nightlife is equally exciting. The capital city of Victoria offers an array of nightlife venues, from live music venues to bars to raves.
It doesn’t matter how well-versed you are in the world of clubbing – you’ll find exactly where you belong in Melbourne.
If you’re overwhelmed by the number of options available, we’ve got you covered. We’ve created the ultimate guide to Melbourne’s nightlife, including the type of music each club has to offer, and the type of atmosphere you can expect. Here are the 15 best clubs in Melbourne!
Where else could we start this list but with the legendary Revolver Upstairs?
Affectionately nicknamed “Revs”, Revolver Upstairs is known as one of Australia’s best nightclubs. This club hosts an array of local and famous DJs, with each evening belonging to a specific genre of music, ranging from deep soul to techno.
The thing people love most about Revolver Upstairs is that Friday nights run straight through to midday on Saturday, which is ideal for the hardcore clubbers who just love to dance the night away.
Plus, during the day, the dance floor turns into an elegant Thai restaurant. Talk about versatility!
Chasers Nightclub is a legendary club in Melbourne, mostly because the club frequently hosts special events and international acts. These special events range from specific music genre nights, DJs, dress codes, and most popularly – drag nights.
Chasers Nightclub is possibly most well-known for ‘Poof Doof’, an LGBTQIA+ club night that features a range of queer music and acts, including local and internationally famous drag queens.
Chasers is also known for its legendary birthday parties to celebrate the life of the club, which is nearing 40 years. When a place has been open for that long, you know it’s got to be one of the best clubs in Melbourne.
Sometimes, all you want in a club is pure tackiness. The Lame Duck is the home of disco, karaoke, and pure cringe – and it’s oh-so-good. The decor is bright enough to make your eyes water and the music is bound to get you dancing after every song.
It’s not all tacky, though – this club also offers a vintage pinball machine and pool table, making an awesome backdrop for the 70s disco music. There’s absolutely nothing subtle about this club, which is why locals love it.
For a fun time, this is one of the top clubs in Melbourne.
On the complete opposite side of the scale to The Lame Duck is Sub Club, a basement nightclub featuring nothing but bass, techno, electro music. Be prepared for your ears to burst at the 10,000 Watt speakers, but in the best way possible.
The club is based inside an old ANZ vault, making for an intimate and somewhat brooding atmosphere. However, don’t feel too terrified of this place – the staff and bouncers are particularly strict when it comes to drunkards who take it too far.
Colour Nightclub (spelled the Australian way) is a fairly recent addition to Melbourne’s nightlife. After beloved club Lounge was shut down in 2018, Colour took over, and has since earned its place on our list of the best clubs in Melbourne.
Complete with a hi tech sound system and a band room on the first floor, it’s a great addition to the Melbourne club scene.
Editor’s Update:We’ve heard that Colour Nightclub will close at the end of 2022. Make sure you get there for one last dance before it goes! Its end will be a sad day for many of us.As this is the case, why not try here instead…?
The self-described Home Of The Underground, Levels Melbourne is heaving on a Saturday night, which is never a bad thing in the clubbing world.
As the name implies, this night club is a multi-level affair, so if you’re getting too hot and sweaty on one floor you can head up to a less busy space.
Patrons particularly rave about the RnB Nights when the venue is rammed, the vibes are good and the place goes off. After midnight this is one of the liveliest dance floors in town, if you enjoy this type of music. And as Levels is open until 7am on Sunday morning, you don’t have to rush out in the evening to get some time partying.
So if find your self in the city on Saturday night and you feel like a dance, check out Levels. It’s one of the top clubs in Melbourne.
If you’re not in the mood for a rave or intense dancing, check out Black Rabbit Bar. This is the place to go to hang out with mates with some of the tastiest craft alcoholic beverages in Melbourne without the mental atmosphere of a club.
However, that doesn’t mean Black Rabbit Bar is quiet. Saturday nights are when this bar turns into an old school R&B club, which is the perfect place to feel nostalgic and dance the night away.
The Emerson is all about versatility. One minute you’re sweating from dancing on the dance floor, the next you’re sipping a cocktail on the rooftop bar.
This is certainly one of the more sophisticated clubs in Melbourne, which is the perfect excuse to dress up with your friends for a glamorous yet highly entertaining night ahead.
With the rooftop bar and lounge as well as the dance floor, you can balance your night between dancing and mingling with strangers without having to shout over one another.
Speaking of sophistication, if you want to turn it up a notch and feel extra special, make sure to check out The Toff In Town.
Located in Curtin House (filled with some of the widest range of clubs and bars in the city), The Toff In Town is known for its private booths and stage, home to some of the best live music acts in Melbourne.
If you feel like having a dance, sweat it out on the dance floor. If you want to chat with friends over some cocktails, hire a booth.
As the name suggests, Angel Music Bar is all about good music first and foremost. After all, if the music is excellent, the chances are that good times will follow. The whole club is run on the basis that great music is played, whether it’s a well-known DJ or local live music act, on every floor.
Each floor features different music genres, from 70s bangers to legendary DJs to hardcore rock. Angel Music Bar is also a notoriously pitch-black club, so it doesn’t matter how ridiculous your dancing is. Nobody will see anyway!
Glamorama is certainly one of the most unique clubs in Melbourne. At first glance, the red neon signs on the front of the building are inviting and exciting.
Once you enter the club, you’re met with mutilated mannequins dangling from the ceiling. Subtlety doesn’t exist in Glamorama, which is why it’s so brilliant.
Keep an eye out for special live events, and get ready to wear shoes comfortable enough for a lot of dancing. Plus, due to the popularity of the club, you might want to book ahead!
The Night Cat is the best club in Melbourne for inclusivity, diversity, and equity. Prepare to have a new experience with every visit, whether it’s meeting new and fascinating people or listening to a new genre of music.
The Night Cat is known for its Latin, disco, soul, funk, hip hop, and R&B nights. Intriguingly, it’s also home to a unique 360-degree dance room where the DJ or live band’s stage sits in the middle of the dance floor.
In terms of accessibility, there are no pillars to obscure your view from the stage. In addition, the venue is on ground level with no steps for wheelchair users.
La Di Da has been known as Melbourne’s go-to venue for live music for the last 14 years. Not only is La Di Da great for its club nights, but the main stage is home to local and international live music acts, festivals, and even open mic nights. In fact, there’s something new every night.
Make sure to keep up to date with events, because no two nights are the same at this club.
New Guernica is the type of club you go to for versatility and making memories. Like La Di Da, no two nights are the same at New Guernica. ‘Guerns’ on Thursdays is a much-loved rave night and there’s an array of events happening on Friday and Saturday nights.
This club is home to some of the best local and international DJs in the world, which is the main reason why Aussies will often travel across the country to be in the same room as their favourite DJ.
In the suburbs and looking for some late-night music? La Perla in Camberwell has DJ nights on Fridays. Read more here.
You don’t get much better than a night at a gay club. The 86 is a well-known gay club in Melbourne, specialising in nights of nothing but queer music and drag queen events.
The music is completely unapologetic old school disco and pop, so be prepared for a night of pure nostalgia. This is an inclusive venue that invites people regardless of sexual identity and gender. So as long as you like to dance, you’re welcome to come in!
Possibly one of Melbourne’s most unique clubs, Section 8 is located inside a car park in a bunch of shipping containers. This is because Section 8 started as a pop-up nightclub back in 2008, but due to the fast popularity of the club, it kind of stuck.
Section 8 is charming and endearing for all the right reasons – it’s intimate, original, slathered in street art, riddled with interesting people, and filled with some of the best dance parties in Melbourne.
When it comes to great places to eat in Australia, the list really is endless. There are so many different restaurants, cafés, and chains to try that you really are spoiled for choice. From Italian food, to Japanese food, to a good ‘ole rump steak, the food options are endless.
This is why I decided to set up my blog, Eatability, to share the best food and drink spots in Australia with as many people as possible. Hi, my name is Dylan Cole, and I moved to Australia five years ago from England, UK.
Through this blog, I will be sharing and recommending some of my favorite places you need to visit, such as where to find the best pizza in Adelaide, and the best bakery in Brisbane. Whatever food you are fancying, I have got you covered!
