Looking for a cocktail bar in South Yarra? Start here
If you want a great cocktail bar south yarra , you are spoiled for choice. By day the suburb is designer boutiques and leafy streets, but at night the South Yarra nightlife scene comes alive with rooftop terraces, hidden stair-top bars and Italian-style lounges. It is one of the best parts of Melbourne for cocktails, and a strong alternative to the CBD.
This guide to the best cocktail bars in South Yarra covers the rooftops, the Chapel Street classics and the late-night spots, with tips on when to go.
The best rooftop bars in South Yarra
For sunset drinks, a rooftop bar in South Yarra is hard to beat.
Beverley Rooftop (Level 24, 627 Chapel Street). Set 24 floors up with roughly 270-degree views across Melbourne, this is the pick for after-work drinks. A 2025 guide noted that last drinks are called around 11pm on most days, so it suits an early evening more than a late finish.
Tetto di Carolina (48 Toorak Road). An Italian-inspired rooftop above Bar Carolina, with terrazzo tiling, a long walnut bar and a terrace with a retractable roof. It is a strong choice for date night in South Yarra: order an Espresso Martini or a signature cocktail, and share small plates. It comes from the team behind Il Bacaro, Sarti and Bar Carolina.
The Emerson (143-145 Commercial Road). A multi-level venue with live entertainment and DJs downstairs and a rooftop with daybeds and cushioned decks. The drinks list includes cocktail jugs for sharing with a group.
Chapel Street bars and Toorak Road cocktail spots
Katuk (517A Chapel Street). One of the best-known Chapel Street bars, hidden up a flight of stairs behind a green door. It has a library-themed front bar, a prominent whisky display and a cocktail-led menu. The venue has listed a South Yarra happy hour from 5pm to 7pm, with half-price classic cocktails on Wednesdays. Check current deals before you go.
Leonard's House of Love. A 1970s log-cabin-themed bar with beers on tap and some of Melbourne's best burgers and fried chicken. It is dog-friendly, which makes it good for a relaxed afternoon session.
Lona Misa (Ovolo South Yarra, 234 Toorak Road). Latin-inspired cocktails in a hotel bar that doubles as an all-day restaurant, and a good option for vegetarians.
Stella Restaurant & Bar (Chapel Street). Four levels of Italian-leaning dining with great cocktails, useful when you want a drink and a full meal in one place.
Late-night bars in South Yarra and tips
For late-night bars in South Yarra, head to the Chapel Street and Commercial Road strips, where the party venues cluster. The Emerson and Imperial South Yarra lean towards a livelier crowd, and the nightclub Chasers brings in DJs at weekends if you want to keep going.
- Book ahead. Katuk, Tetto and Beverley fill up on Thursday to Saturday nights, especially at sunset.
- Arrive early for rooftops. Beverley's views are best before dark and last drinks can be early.
- Plan a crawl. Chapel Street and Toorak Road are walkable, with trams and South Yarra station close by.
- Check before you go. Hours, deals and menus change, so confirm on each venue's page or Instagram.
Final round
Whether you want skyline views at Beverley, an Espresso Martini at Tetto or a quiet drink at Katuk, the best cocktail bars in South Yarra offer something for every night out. Pick one to start, then let Chapel Street and Toorak Road take you from there. For more ideas, compare it with other cocktail bar south yarra
