Caretaker's Cottage

Cannot recommend enough. Best bar I've been to in Melbourne by miles. We went once and were back 4pm on the dot the next day. Staff are lovely, drinks are amazing, the vibe is brillant. Inside seating is limited, but worth being there at open for.

A unique and casual bar fitted in a heritage listed bluestone cottage in the heart on Melbourne CBD! Staff are professional yet friendly. The drink menu rotates monthly and offers a range of cocktails from modern blends to classics with a slight twist. The vibe is very casual and there are seats both inside the cottage as well as some tables outside in the common area. It's rare to have a bar of this calibre in a convenient location and is for walk in customer only. Highly recommend 👍👍🍸🍹

Where do I start??? This is probably going to sound like a fake paid AI review… but this is me speaking (drunk) from my heart. Chantal and Izzy were the first people I met from here. 20/10 vibes. The boys here that I met over the FOUR DAYS OF REPEATEDLY COMING HERE BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST BAR IN MELBOURNE are also all cool. But Chantal is the greatest. The music is always different and banging. Even when they are busy they will find a way to make your visit happen. Their momento cocktail is probably the best from the menu. But I am a fernet lover and once they told me they had a secret bottle of fernet in the freezer, I was hooked. They don’t have coke. They have Fever tree cola. Probably better. If I come back to Melbourne from the USA, this bar will be a huge reason why. 3 minutes from my Marriott hotel. Immaculate vibes. Usually when I leave the bar, some random dude I never met says “bye Kenny” (how do you know my name????) It’s the little things. Chantal is the best but everyone else is right there too lol (maybe I fell in love IDK). Be nice to the people here and they will be nice back. This is one of my favorite bars in almost 40 countries I have been to. CC: I LOVE YOU M8S

I think this was the best service I’ve ever had. From the very beginning my partner and I felt like we were being welcomed into someone’s home. The staff were so attentive, genuinely invested in your experience and so kind. They even brought out a couple of champagnes on the house for my boyfriend’s birthday. Everything was so intentional and top end — 10/10 loved.

Every time someone I know visits/moves to Melbourne I bring them to CC. I’ve had some of the best cocktails of my life here—they change their menu monthly and you can tell they put so much love and careful consideration in every single cocktail. THE best customer service in Melbourne. I appreciate how much every CC employee cares about the business, the customers, and the craft. A special shout-out goes to Gracie, who was always serving with a smile on her face, and so keen for a chat. And Josh, with his amazing recommendations!!

Caretaker’s Cottage is one of those hidden gems that absolutely lives up to the hype. We waited about 10 minutes in line for a seat inside, but it was well worth it. The space is warm, intimate, and full of character — like stepping into a cozy, dimly lit home with great music and even better drinks. I ordered the Melonade cocktail and it was fantastic — light, refreshing, and perfectly balanced with just the right hit of melon without being too sweet. You can really tell the bartenders here care about quality and creativity in every pour. The service was smooth and professional despite the busy night, and once we were seated, everything felt relaxed and well-paced. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to stay for one more round. Highly recommend if you're into quality cocktails and a unique atmosphere. Just be prepared to queue, A DJ was inside playing music and spinning tunes. The menu was on a little gift bag with hard rock candy and lollies

Excellent service and yummy drinks. Small place, but we were able to get seats quickly. They change drinks monthly, which is fun. I had the Ash Wednesday, and hubby had a non-alcoholic spritzer. Both were tasty. The server came by and talked to us often and even offered up places nearby to eat. It's definitely a place to see when in Melbourne.

Makes sense why it’s in the top 50 cocktails bars in the world. Great vibes, amazing cocktails and the staff were super friendly. The rang of cocktails and drink available you can always find something you like, if not the staff are all experienced in the process so you can ask what they recommend. Defiantly a need to be a place to put in the visit list.

The perfect blend of new and old, Caretaker's Cottage is undoubtably the best bar in Melbourne. Don't take my word for it, take the word of the 3 other bartenders around town that unanimously answered "Caretaker's Cottage!" when I asked what do they think the best bar in town was. CC is also on the Top 50 bars list! At Caretaker's Cottage you get high end, modern cocktails wrapped in an old-pub feel atmosphere with interesting decor. Aptly named, the place is a converted old cottage behind the Wesley Place church. Step inside, and it's a mix of old and modern, maintaining the heritage and namesake of the place while having fun and modernizing it a bit to make it more suitable for a casual and fun bar. The drinks menu changes constantly and the bartenders avoid to make any modifications as they work tirelessly to perfectly blend the right amount of ingredients with each concoction. Don't worry, the drinks are that good that you wouldn't want to change a thing anyway. The team gets really creative, too, including ingredients such as ube, yuzu, kiwi, green melon, and charcoal. Both the bartenders and the rest of the staff are friendly, efficient, and happy to help when needed. The place is small but they make it work and on nice days, you can stay outside and enjoy the small yard. Overall, if you like creative cocktails, visiting Caretaker's Cottage is an absolute must!

- super friendly staff - free wifi - delicious drinks - lively scene - came generously recommended by the city's top bartenders