Melbourne insiders know the city comes alive on 31 December. With waterside bars, coastal brunches, music festivals and riverfront dining, there are options for every kind of celebration. To help you navigate the choices, here are five New Year’s Eve destinations located entirely within Melbourne or its immediate suburbs. Each entry includes key details like pricing, address and highlights so you can choose the celebration that fits your style.
Abry Afloat – Yarra River
Celebrate New Year’s Eve aboard Melbourne’s most exciting floating bar. For 2025, Abry Afloat and its sister venue, Arbory Bar and Eatery, will host a Tulum Jungle–themed party inspired by Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Think tropical décor, samba rhythms and roaming performers, all set against panoramic views of the Yarra River fireworks. Bottomless drinks and roaming canapés are included, and long shared tables make it perfect for groups. The venue is moored next to Flinders Street Station, so arriving by train is simple.
- Address: 2 Flinders Walk, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Pricing: A$185 per person; all food and drinks included
- Highlights: Tropical theme with samba and percussion performances, bottomless beverages, communal seating and unbeatable riverfront fireworks views
- Booking: Reserve your place through afloat.melbourne
Flour Child – St Kilda
If you’d rather ease into the evening with cocktails and pizza, Flour Child in St Kilda offers a bottomless brunch that extends into night. This stylish pizzeria and cocktail bar hosts multiple sittings on New Year’s Eve, combining shareable pizzas with free‑flowing cocktails and a DJ soundtrack. Its location near St Kilda Beach lets you stroll along the foreshore between sessions or enjoy sunset views before heading indoors.
- Address: Level 1, 77 Acland Street, St Kilda VIC 3182
- Pricing: From A$69 per person for a bottomless brunch, including cocktails and pizzas
- Highlights: Beachside atmosphere, multiple sittings throughout the day, unlimited cocktails, gourmet pizzas and live DJ sets
- Booking: Book a session at flourchild.com.au
When Pigs Fly music festival – Abbotsford
Fans of live music can welcome 2026 in festival style at When Pigs Fly. Hosted at Collingwood Children’s Farm, this boutique festival transforms a leafy riverside property into a party with two stages of DJs and bands, craft beer stalls and gourmet food trucks. Attendance is capped, ensuring space to dance and explore. Gates open mid‑afternoon and the music carries on through midnight, so you can spend the whole day celebrating.
- Address: Collingwood Children’s Farm, 18 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067
- Pricing: Tickets start at A$100 per person and include entry plus food and beverage credit
- Highlights: Intimate festival atmosphere on a working farm, two stages featuring local and international acts, craft beer and foodie stalls, afternoon to midnight schedule
- Booking: Purchase tickets at whenpigsfly.com.au
Transport Public Bar – Federation Square
Located in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, Transport Public Bar offers an energetic yet accessible way to celebrate. For New Year’s Eve 2025 it will open from 11 AM until late with free entry all day. Live bands perform from late afternoon, followed by DJs spinning disco and feel‑good classics as the countdown approaches. The bar’s glass‑fronted space and floor‑to‑ceiling windows provide views across the Yarra River, and big screens broadcast the midnight fireworks. You can step outside into Federation Square for a front‑row view or stay cosy inside.
- Address: Ground floor, Transport Hotel, Federation Square, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Pricing: Free entry; pay for food and drinks à la carte
- Highlights: Central location opposite Flinders Street Station, live bands and DJs, themed cocktails, floor‑to‑ceiling windows overlooking the Yarra and big screens for the countdown
- Booking: No tickets required—walk‑in on the day via transporthotel.com.au
Ludlow Bar & Dining Room – Southbank
For diners looking to toast the new year over a decadent meal, Ludlow Bar & Dining Room on the Southbank promenade delivers. The venue offers two distinct packages: a family‑friendly Twilight Dinner featuring a three‑course set menu and early seating, and a Late Dinner with DJs, dancing and riverside views. Both packages include a glass of sparkling on arrival and access to outdoor terraces where you can watch the city’s fireworks. Its location along the Yarra River makes it a prime spot to soak up Melbourne’s skyline while enjoying modern Australian cuisine.
- Address: 6 Riverside Quay, Southbank VIC 3006
- Pricing: Twilight Dining – A$120 per adult and A$50 for children; Late Dinner – A$209 per person inside or A$229 for terrace seating
- Highlights: Riverfront dining, three‑course menus with wine, early and late sittings to suit families or night‑owls, DJs and dancing at the late session
- Booking: Secure a table at ludlowbar.com.au
Melbourne’s New Year’s Eve scene offers something for everyone. Abry Afloat brings a splash of tropical escapism to the city centre, while Flour Child offers pizza‑laden celebrations by the beach. When Pigs Fly provides a boutique festival experience in leafy Abbotsford, and Transport Public Bar ensures the party atmosphere without a hefty ticket price. For those seeking a sit‑down meal with a view, Ludlow Bar & Dining Room pairs riverfront dining with music and fireworks. Whichever destination you choose, you’ll be part of Melbourne’s vibrant countdown to 2026.