Moonee Ponds has a better bar scene than most people expect. A handful of genuinely excellent wine bars in Moonee Ponds, a craft beer pub with serious rotating taps, a heritage venue inside a restored 1938 building, and a cellar door that opened in 2018 and already has a loyal following. Nearly all of it is within a 10-minute walk.
Moonee Ponds has no shortage of places to grab a drink, whether you’re after a casual pint, a well-made cocktail or somewhere to settle in for the evening. We’re often asked where to go, so we’ve rounded up the bars we’d genuinely recommend in Moonee Ponds, along with a few local favourites in nearby Ascot Vale and Maribyrnong.
Bars in Moonee Ponds
1. Saros Bar and Dining | Ground floor, 41 Homer St, Moonee Ponds
Instagram: @sarosbardining
Let’s start here. Saros is on the ground floor of The Sebel, which means if you are staying with us, you do not need to go anywhere to begin your evening. But location aside, it genuinely earns the top spot on any list of Moonee Ponds bars.
It is a New York-style bar and dining room with a marble bar, comfortable booths and moody lighting, and a menu built around European and Mediterranean-inspired tapas. The Saros happy hour runs Monday to Saturday from 3pm to 6pm, including Fridays. It covers drink specials every day they are open and it is one of the most generous happy hours in the neighbourhood.
What You’ll Find Here
- Saros happy hour Monday to Saturday, 3 to 6pm
- Craft cocktails, international wine list, 20+ scotches, gins and vodkas
- European and Mediterranean-inspired tapas menu
- New York-style marble bar and booth dining room
- Private event spaces and group bookings
2. Penny Young | 22 Young St, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039
Image source: pennyyoung.com.au
Instagram: @pennyyoung_bar
Penny Young has built a genuinely loyal following, and once you visit it’s easy to see why. The craft beer selection is exceptional with 18 to 19 rotating taps pouring local and imported brews. The food is Italian with a contemporary edge, elevated classics rather than standard pub fare. The space is versatile, suited to a casual afternoon drink just as much as a long group dinner. Weekend bottomless brunch is also worth knowing about.
Among the Moonee Ponds pubs and bars on this list, Penny Young is the clear starting point for anyone who takes craft beer seriously.
What You’ll Find Here
• 18 to 19 rotating craft beer taps plus an extensive bottle and can selection
• Italian-inspired menu with elevated classics
• Cocktail bar and wine list
• Versatile indoor and outdoor spaces, bookable for private events
• Bottomless brunch on weekends
3. Strangeloves Wine Bar | 577 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039
Image source: strangeloves.com.au
Instagram: @strangeloveswinebar
Strangeloves is the wine bar in Moonee Ponds. Husband and wife Chris and Nikki Exell have been running it since 2010, and the place still feels like a discovery. Over 500 wines by the bottle, more than 200 spirits, comfortable lounge seating, heaters throughout, a private courtyard, and staff who can genuinely talk you through the list without making it intimidating.
It works equally well for a first date, a small group catch-up or a solo glass with nowhere particular to be. If someone asks you for the best wine bar in Moonee Ponds, this is the one to send them to first.
What You’ll Find Here
• Over 500 wines by the bottle, with around 20 available by the glass daily
• Over 200 spirits including an exceptional whisky and gin selection
• Classic and house cocktails
• Sharing boards: cheese, charcuterie, arancini and croquetas
• Private courtyard and dog-friendly space
4. The Valley Cellardoor | 18-20 Hall St, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039
Image source: valleycellardoor.com.au
Instagram: @valleycellardoor
Brothers Mark and Tony Pendreich opened The Valley Cellardoor in 2010 with a simple idea: great wine, great beer and a space where people actually want to stay. It worked. The venue seats 140 people across its wine room and front beer garden, with over 400 wines and 150 craft beers on offer. The food menu runs to pizzas, tacos, wings, pastas and charcuterie boards.
They also run a daily happy hour and regular Musical Bingo nights. Live music features on Sundays. Check their socials before you go because there’s usually something on.
What You’ll Find Here
• Over 400 wines and 150 craft beers
• Daily happy hour (check their website for current times)
• Live music Sundays and regular Musical Bingo nights
• Front beer garden and outdoor seating
• Pizzas, pastas, tacos, wings and charcuterie boards
• Online wine store and gift cards also available
5. Tote Bar & Dining | 14 Feehan Ave, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039
Image source: totebaranddining.com.au
Instagram: @totebar_dining
A Moonee Ponds bar worth going out of your way for. Tote Bar and Dining is set inside the heritage-listed 1938 Tote Building at Moonee Valley Park, originally built as one of the first totalisator betting facilities of its kind in Victoria. The building has been carefully restored into five connected rooms with an oval olive bar that mirrors the shape of the racecourse. The food is contemporary Australian, focused on seasonal and sustainable produce.
They run happy hours, steak nights and porchetta nights alongside regular events. Note the hours: open Wednesday to Saturday from midday and Sunday from 11am for lunch.
What You’ll Find Here
• Heritage-listed 1938 Tote Building at Moonee Valley Park
• Contemporary Australian cuisine, focused on seasonal and sustainable produce
• Full bar with craft beers, wines and signature cocktails including a Native Espresso Martini
• Private and function dining spaces
• Regular events: happy hour, steak nights, porchetta nights
• Hours: Wednesday to Saturday from 12pm, Sunday from 11am. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
6. Trombar | 492, Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032
Image source: trombar.com.au
Instagram: @trombar.melb
Trombar is an Italian fine dining restaurant and cocktail bar. The food is authentic Italian, made fresh daily. The cocktails are handcrafted and the spirits list is curated. Monthly events, live DJ sets and exclusive parties mean there’s usually something going on beyond the standard dinner service.
A great pick if you want a proper sit-down Italian meal alongside your evening drinks rather than just bar food. One of the more distinctive additions to the Puckle Street strip.
What You’ll Find Here
• Authentic Italian fine dining menu, made fresh daily
• Handcrafted cocktails, premium spirits and curated wines
• Monthly events, live DJ sets and exclusive parties
• Group bookings welcome
7. Lulu’s Social | 162 Union RoadAscot Vale VIC 3032
Image source: lulussocial.com.au
Instagram: @lulussocia
Lulu’s Social is built for a group night out. The vibe is relaxed and social, the food is a Tex-Mex style sharing menu and the drinks list covers cocktails, beers on tap, a large wine selection and mocktails. There’s also a cosy dog-friendly courtyard out the back.
They handle private events well: birthday parties, hens nights, corporate functions and engagement parties. If you’re planning something for a group, they’re worth getting in touch with.
What You’ll Find Here
• Tex-Mex style sharing menu
• Cocktails, beers on tap, wine and mocktails
• Cosy dog-friendly courtyard
• Private event and function bookings
• Great for birthdays, hens nights and group celebrations
8. Brother Hen | 154 Pascoe Vale Rd, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039
Image source: instagram.com/brotherhen
A note on Brother Hen: it’s a well-loved neighbourhood cafe, not a bar. We’re including it because it’s genuinely excellent and guests ask about it often. If you’re looking for a relaxed breakfast or lunch before a day in the neighbourhood, this is the spot. Seasonal all-day breakfast and lunch menu, a spacious courtyard with a vegetable garden and a warm, local feel.
They also do catering and picnic boxes if you’re planning something more informal during your stay.
What You’ll Find Here
• Seasonal breakfast and lunch menu with all-day options
• Spacious courtyard with vegetable garden
• Indoor and outdoor seating
• Catering, picnic boxes and grab-and-go options
• Hours: Monday to Saturday daytime. Check their website for current opening times.
9. The Suburban Cellar Door | 24 Puckle St, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039
Image source: thesuburbancellardoor.com
Instagram: @suburban.cellar
The Suburban Cellar Door opened in 2018 and quickly became one of the most characterful Moonee Ponds bars. It is a wine bar, bottle shop and function space in one, specialising in Australian small-batch wines alongside craft beers, spirits and cocktails. Owner Adam genuinely loves what he stocks and will talk you through it properly. Not in a pretentious way, but in a “let me find you exactly the right thing” kind of way.
Open seven days a week from 1pm. BYO food is welcome, which means you can pick something up from a nearby restaurant and bring it in. Happy hour runs Sunday to Thursday from 3 to 6pm. The function space is also available for private events. One of the most characterful bars on this list.
What You’ll Find Here
• Australian small-batch wines, craft beers, spirits and cocktails
• Owner Adam: genuinely knowledgeable, approachable wine guidance
• Happy hour Sunday to Thursday, 3 to 6pm
• BYO food welcome
• Function space for private events
• Hours: Open 7 days a week from 1pm
• Established 2018
Make a Full Night of it
The simplest way to enjoy Moonee Ponds’ bar scene is to not have to think about getting home. The Sebel Melbourne Moonee Ponds puts you within walking distance of every venue on this list. Saros Bar and Dining is on the ground floor of our building, so you don’t even have to step outside to start the evening.
Our apartments are spacious and comfortable. Whether you’re here for work, a weekend away, or just want to explore what Melbourne’s inner north-west has to offer, we’re a short trip from the CBD and in the heart of a neighbourhood that rewards people who know where to look.
Questions about what’s on locally or where to book? Our team at reception is always happy to help.
If you are a looking for a wine bar in Melbourne, we have put together a guide: How to choose the best wine bar in Melbourne.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. While Moonee Ponds is better known for its village atmosphere than late-night clubs, it has a growing nightlife scene with wine bars, cocktail venues, craft beer spots and traditional pubs all within a walkable area.
Moonee Ponds offers a mix of wine bars, cocktail bars, craft beer venues, gastro pubs and relaxed neighbourhood bars. Whether you’re looking for a casual drink after work or a venue for a special occasion, there are options to suit most tastes.
Absolutely. Many of the area’s most popular bars are located within a short walk of each other, making it easy to explore multiple venues in one evening without needing transport between stops.
Yes. Most of the bars featured in this guide are located within a 5 to 15-minute walk of Moonee Ponds Station, making them convenient for both locals and visitors.
Yes. Tote Bar and Dining, located within the Moonee Valley Park precinct, is one of the closest venues to the racecourse and combines contemporary dining with a full bar experience. Saros Bar and Dining, Penny Young and several other popular Moonee Ponds bars are also just a short distance away, making them ideal for pre-race drinks, post-event celebrations or a relaxed evening out.
Yes. Several venues offer happy hour specials throughout the week, but one of the most popular is the Saros Happy Hour at Saros Bar and Dining. Running Monday to Saturday from 3pm to 6pm, it features discounted drinks in a stylish New York-inspired setting. Other local venues also offer happy hour promotions, with times and offers varying throughout the year.
Wine bars generally focus on curated wine lists, intimate settings and share-style dining, while pubs tend to offer a broader range of beers, larger dining spaces and a more casual atmosphere. Moonee Ponds has excellent examples of both.
Staying in central Moonee Ponds allows you to enjoy the local bar scene without worrying about transport. Many of the area’s most popular venues are within walking distance of The Sebel Melbourne Moonee Ponds.