Australia’s best bars

Wild Rover, Sydney

The Rover distils the essence of the craic into a fresh-looking two-tiered venue with a curiously compelling jungle theme to the décor. With the team from CBD favourite Grandma’s running the show, the drinks come present and correct, whether you’re talking something loaded with the house-specialty Irish whiskey (the Jane Doe sees 12-year-old Redbreast stirred down with Del Maguey mescal, Drambuie and bitters) or just a split of Champagne to throw back with the oysters.

Bar Economico, Melbourne

The crew at Bar Economico are serious about the rum and the talent behind the bar will make sure it’s blended well – whether it’s in the form of a Poco Loco Tea Punch (rum with fresh lemon and a smoky tea syrup) or Wrong Island Iced Tea (a blend of aged and spiced rums, pisco, curaçao, fresh citrus and cola). Plastic cups in the air!

Clever Little Tailor, Adelaide

Previously a vintage store, this 60-seat, twin-level boutique bar melds hipster cool and plush comfort, running from 1920s-inspired lanterns to exposed-stone walls and upholstered booths. The drinks aren’t cheap at Clever Little Tailor, but you get what you pay for, whether you’re talking craft beers on tap and a small, high-turnover wine list, or luxurious classic cocktails – try a Negroni made with Dolin French vermouth, and graze on small plates of smoked almonds, duck rillettes, prosciutto and the like.

Enrique’s School for to Bullfighting, Perth

Though they’d just about qualify for inclusion on the strength of the excellent name alone, Enrique‘s, a pop-up restaurant-bar hybrid from the teams behind The Beaufort St Merchant and The Trustee, serves some of the most exciting Spanish-influenced cocktails and wines Perth has to offer. Expect cold-drip Negronis, tailor-made G&Ts and Spanish snacks aplenty.

Reserve Wine Bar, Newcastle

Reserve Wine Bar provides Novocastrians with a serious drinking destination – although they don’t want customers to be too serious about it. The words “wine should be entertaining not intimidating. Fun, not fraught with indecision” are scrawled across the top of their list. And what an extensive list it is, with a focus on NSW, the selection covers well-recognised producers from Australia and beyond.

Thomas Olive, Melbourne

Thomas Olive, the drinking hole atop the smash-hit Collingwood eatery Saint Crispin, combines a mix of 1930s-style cocktails with a killer whisky portfolio and a selection of small eats from the menu downstairs (eel croquettes? yes please). We’ll drink to that.

Sabotage Social, Brisbane

Our Queensland editor, Fiona Donnelly, calls this Valley newcomer a counter-culture whisky bar that channels the spirit of the 90s. Sabotage Social offers more than 50 different whiskies, snacks on skateboards and a room decked out for maximum good times. We like.

Nomad, Sydney

At Surry Hill’s Nomad in Surry Hills, Al Yazbek, with partner Rebecca Littlemore, managed to enlist the services of Rob Geddes MW to ensure their all-Australian wine list is both intriguing and satisfying. The venue offers delicious homemade cheeses, charcuterie and pickles to accompany the food-friendly wines sourced from up-and-coming makers with an eye on interesting grape varieties.

The Gallery, Adelaide

Packed pretty much as soon as it reopened, The Gallery has had an extensive renovation that has doubled its size. This eclectic venue takes in art gallery space, dining areas and a large function room, but its main appeal is the epic rooftop bar with a large retractable roof and nice wall of potted plants.

Brewski, Brisbane

Listen up, beer and cider lovers: Brisbane’s Brewski has more than 70 craft varieties on offer – IPAs from Yeastie Boys and Sierra Nevada, and Brew Cult’s Supa Fly Rye among them. Pair that with a relaxed room and unpretentious atmosphere and you’ve got good times all round.

Sidecar, Hobart

Sidecar is moodily lit with a huge central bar created from black rolled steel and framed by sandstone walls with their “skirting board moat” of used corks. It feels somewhere between a stylish kitchen and a sexy dungeon. With only 20 seats, space comes at a premium, but comfort is high.

A. Baker, Canberra

A. Baker is so much more than a wine bar. For a start, it’s also a bakery that makes wild yeast sourdough, a restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a providore selling produce made in-house as well. A. Baker has it all.