Melbourne Laneway Bars Are the City's Trick

Melbourne's nightlife signature is the laneway bar — small rooms hidden in alleys with no signage. 1806, Eau de Vie (through an unmarked door), Romeo Lane are the famous ones. Central city's network of small alleys is specifically zoned and licensed for this, and it's a uniquely Melbourne nightlife format.

For pubs and live music, Fitzroy north runs The Tote, The Old Bar, Night Cat. Brunswick further north has more of the indie music clubs; St Kilda south has beach-side bars and Esplanade Hotel live music.

Victorian licensing allows some venues to run late (3 AM, some to 7 AM); most pubs close at midnight. Trams run late; Uber is reliable.