Exposed brickwork, red hues and dark timber create a warm, immaculately presented venue. Sample a cocktail during 2-for-1 happy hour, or perhaps you'd prefer a little nibble from the tasty array of bar fare.

One of the latest additions to St Kilda's eclectic bar scene, Freddie Wimpoles is a beer lover's paradise with 13 craft beers on tap. The bar is named after Frederick Wimpole, who bought The George Hotel – the venue's location – in 1873 and was the director of the Melbourne Co-operative Brewing Company. The quirky décor includes neon lights, taxidermy deer heads, a jukebox and a wall made entirely out of beer cans.

Loop Project Space and Bar is a hipster hangout, housing a tiny dancefloor and an ever changing "project space" with audio visual performances, ensuring there's more to watch than just the wallpaper while sipping from a seasonal list of cocktails. Other drinks on offer in this elite open-to-5am venue include a variety of wines, cider, beers and even mulled wine in a thermos – during winter of course.

For the Saturday night megaclub experience with the cream of Melbourne's DJ talent on hand and a suitable Docklands setting as a backdrop, Alumbra ticks all the boxes. Club and house classics give way on Sunday to funk and soul grooves and the weekly Sunday Soul Sessions night regularly features live band Afodescia.

With four different areas across three levels, Brown Alley is probably the largest club in Melbourne. It regularly hosts some of the coolest local and international DJs, whose sets range from psy-trance and electro to deep house. Significantly, Brown Alley is the proud owner of a 24-hour liquor licence and one of the best sound systems in the city.

Seven is one of Melbourne's premier nightclubs. With the best in high-tech sound and lighting equipment and two levels of dance floors, this is the perfect spot to groove the night away to tunes turned out by talented local and international artists.

The Evelyn is a popular student hangout in Fitzroy, not far from the University of Melbourne. It caters to a wide demographic of music lovers with up to eight gigs a week, booking both local up-and-coming acts and more well-known touring artists.

Located just outside of central Melbourne, The Croxton first opened in 1844 but the huge ballroom that now hosts weekly concerts was not built until the mid-twentieth century. After a recent renovation, the venue is slowly rebuilding the prestige it lost with the decline of eighties rock - when anyone who's anyone (including ACDC, INXS, and Men at Work) wanted to play at the Croc.

Host of live music in the seaside suburb of St Kilda for six decades, The Prince has played host to some of the world's best and well-known artists and DJs such as Lenny Kravitz, Jack Johnson, Scissor Sisters, Ben Harper, Pink, Coldplay, Bright Eyes and Goldfrapp to name but a few.