From the moment you walk down the stairs and past the painting by local artist Steen Jones you know you're in a very Melbourne basement.

A very unique bar opened in Exhibition Street named 1806, and whether they planned to or not, they have successfully placed themselves as one of the top cocktail venues in Melbourne.

Hidden above Captain Melville on the site of Melbourne's oldest pub and accessed from an old wooden staircase is the very intimate Loch & Key.

Looking for a basement bar in the heart of the city that literally has all the bells & whistles? This is where Flinders Lane becomes memory lane as you follow the flashing lights to Bartronica.

Dark, brooding and equally majestic stands The Emerald Peacock on Lonsdale Street, silently and gently wooing Melburnians into his sanctuary, calling to them seductively to climb the stairs and be embraced by his warmth.

You can't live in Melbourne and not know about Cookie. And if you don't then you do now. There's no going back once you've climbed the stairs to Level 1 in Curtin House and through the door into this wonderland.

If you like to sit and sip amongst lush greenery with the sky so close you can almost touch it, then the Loop Roof is a little Garden of Eden in an urban jungle.

Usually when there's a bolt of lightning you're guaranteed of mass destruction. However when this one hit Heffernan Lane a new watering hole magically appeared called Union Electric Bar.

Sometimes a club, always a bar, this unique space at the bottom of Euro House in Corrs Lane called Pulp Club completes a trio of venues in the one building.

Lounge makes you think of space that's comfortable, chilled and unpretentious. Add Lounge Kitchen into the mix and you've got a relaxed bar with tasty eats.

Legend has it that Maximon, a folk saint revered by the Mayans in Guatemala slept with all the women in the village while the men were working the fields.

Melbourne's love of Vietnamese food has seen the city go totally phở crazy, but how many of these eateries can boast a brilliant bar as well and service that goes beyond the norm. That's what happens when you bring together passionate owners who not only oversee all aspects of operations but are there with the...

You may think that East and West Berlin no longer exist, but on the second level of Euro House in Corrs Lane, the two parts of a city separated until the wall came down in 1989 are very much alive in the form of Berlin Bar.

With over 700 whiskies, 12 rotating craft brews on tap at any one time and great wines as well, you won't go thirsty, and your hunger is taken care of with charcuterie boards made to order laden with freshly sliced meats and cheeses.

Enter Transit Rooftop Bar. Perched high up above the Yarra at the top of Federation Square is this quirky space run by David Wright.

Melbourne is a melting pot of so many cultures, filled with people who appreciate fine food and hunger for new and interesting cuisines. Dean and Jeanelle Mariani have done our city a little favour and taken inspiration from their travels within Africa to create Polēpolē Bar in Little Collins Street.

The Paris end of Collins Street. Synonymous with high fashion, beautiful boutiques and stunning architecture. Near the corner of Exhibition Street, tucked away in a lovingly preserved Victorian terrace is the swanky Collins Quarter.

Do you remember that feeling you had as a little kid when you discovered something hidden, something new, and it felt so precious. Stepping into Belleville Melbourne is just like that.

Eau de Vie Melbourne is a bar where science meets beauty and craftsmanship is key. A place where a martini is not just a martini. The bartender places a jar of Sicilian olives in front of you and then skilfully finishes your beverage with liquid nitrogen. As the mist playfully dances in front of you, does it really...

There is something so special about whisky. Whether it's from Scotland, Ireland, Japan, Australia or most recently Taiwan, whether it's peated or unpeated, 40% abv or cask strength, there are just so many choices. That being said, there's only one place to try them all and that's Whisky & Alement.

Here we bring you a sneak peek into Melbourne's iconic Gin Palace. Known as one of this city's first lane way bars, it opened in 1997 thanks to the very savvy and entrepreneurial Vernon Chalker who created a place to meet and drink in a dark and mysterious basement in Russell Place.

Walk along Russell Place off Little Collins Street and look for the glow. That's where you'll find Bar Ampere. This place gently hums on an operational electrical sub-station and warms its patrons with house specialities of absinthe and vermouth. If you're lucky you'll get looked after the very friendly and...