The happy hour at The Gem is one of the best going around. The staff is super friendly and there are spots to sit in the sun. However, if the weather isn’t just right the saloon-style bar is a cozy place to kick back and relax. The pub grub is also always a winner and the selection of beers and wines by the glass is on point. Happy hours: Tuesday - Friday / 4 - 7PM / $7 Pint and $1 Wings. Website | Instagram | Phone | 289 Wellington St, Collingwood

This saloon-style bar plays great music and the vibe is always right. The free pool table moves well so if you are keen stand around and wait for your turn. The burgers are pretty good too and now with the Full Moon Fever rooftop bar you can enjoy the sunshine while you enjoy a nice cold drink. Happy hours: Monday to Friday | 4 - 6PM | $9 pints and $14 cocktails | $14 Margs & Bloody Marys all day Sunday |Wednesday nights jugs are $18 and burgers are $12. Website | Instagram | 225 Johnston St, Abbotsford

Frankie's Tortas & Tacos started off in 2019 slinging excellent Mexican food from a food truck on Smith Street but since then they have stepped things up with a licensed restaurant on Johnston Street across the road from Casa Iberica. The tortas (Mexican sandwiches) are a must-try and you can always eat a taco or three. Walk-ins only. Happy hours: Wednesday to Friday / 3 - 6PM / $12 for a pot and shot, $7 for a pint of Mexican Lager or house wine, and $6 for a Seltzer. Website | Instagram | 30 Johnston St, Fitzroy

The Grace Darling is an institute of the inner north. We recommend that you arrive just before happy hour starts at 4PM because that way you can grab a half-price Coopers ($7 Pints) and enjoy it in the sun on Smith Street. With live music down in the basement (See gigs on their website) and food specials on most nights, everyone is sure to be happy after their visit to the Grace. Happy hours: Monday to Friday / 4 - 6PM / $4 pots and $8 pints of Coopers Lager or Furphy and $8 for a house wine. Website | Instagram | Phone | 114 Smith St, Collingwood

Tucked under the Victoria Park train station you will find Dr. Morse - a cafe, restaurant, bar, and sometimes even a club that is why we love Dr. Morse. Get Coffee in the AM from Jr. Morse and try an Asian-inspired food menu and a long list of cocktails to get you feeling right for a good old party night in the open-air courtyard. Happy hours: Tuesday to Friday / 4 - 6PM / $8 for pints or wine and $12 for an espresso martini. Website | Instagram | Phone | 274 Johnston St, Abbotsford

Very tasty beer here is half-price during happy hours but get in early to get a table/sit during happy hours because the Marquis of Lorne fills up fast with spots in the sun out the front or on the rooftop being the super hot spots. This classic Fitzroy pub has been standing for over 150 years and still serves ice-cold beers, wine, and food over all three levels. Happy hours: Monday - Friday / 4 - 6PM / Half-price beer cans. Website | Instagram | Phone | 411 George St, Fitzroy

The Union Club is on the corner of Fitzroy back streets, Gore and Webb. You will feel at home when you walk through their doors. With plenty of spots to sit, chat, and enjoy an ale or eat some pub grub. Play pool, chill in the lush beer garden or watch the footy on the TV next to the open fire in the winter. Happy hours: Monday - Friday / 3 - 6PM / $8 pints of Coopers / Sunday = Coppers jugs are $15. Website | Instagram | Phone | 164 Gore St, Fitzroy

The Royston is a laid-back pub with a horseshoe-shaped bar, pouring craft beers and local wines. Classic pub food on the menu and its back street location keep the place feeling relaxed. Note, the smoking area out the front get perfect afternoon sun, so you could pair this pub with an afternoon walk around the river as it’s very close to the banks of The Birrarung. Happy hours: Everyday / 4 - 6PM / $4 pots, $8 pints / Royston Pale Ale & Lager. Website | Instagram | Phone | 12 River St, Richmond

King & Godfree first opened its doors in 1884 but it wasn't until 1955 that Carlo Valmorbida took over and he was one of the first store owners in Melbourne to stock fine foods from Italian. Products like olive oil, parmesan cheese, and tinned tuna were extremely rare in Melbourne at that time. King & Godfree fast become an institute for the Italian community and introduced Melburnians to Italian food, wine, and culture. Nowadays, King & Godfree has a deli, grocer, espresso bar, wine bar, cellar, gelateria (Pidapipó), and a rooftop bar (Johnny’s Green Room). Happy hour: weekdays | 4 - 7PM, $10 Campari and soda, $8 Prosecco, and $5 Peroni tins. Website | Instagram | Corner of Lygon & Faraday

On the south side of the River, they brought us Leonard’s House of Love, and on the north side, they gave us Leonardo’s Pizza Palace which serves up some of the best pizza in town. Originally, this place was Da Salvatore Pizza by the Metre, which opened in 1959. Leonardo’s has kept some of those OG Italo vibes but they have just jazzed it up a little. With DJs spinning tunes on the regular this place is great for a catch-up with M8 or a D8. Happy hours: Monday - Friday / 5 - 7PM / $12 jugs of beers | Late night happy hours: Every night / 10PM to close /$12 Negroni / $5 Peroni cans /$35 for 1L of Barbera. Website | Instagram | Phone | 29 Grattan St, Carlton

The Vic Bar is one of the best spots for a drink on Victoria Street, even if it’s not the happy hour the drinks are cheap. You could easier spend a few hours here any night of the week drinking cocktails, beers, wine, or sprints, and you can order food from neighbouring restaurants at the bar. Happy hours: Tuesday to Saturday / 4 - 7PM and Thursday 4 - 10PM / $8 pints or wine and $12 Cocktails. Website | Instagram | 281 Victoria St, Abbotsford | 03 9421 3922

This is one of the best happy hours going around in Melbourne because of the quality of beer on all the taps. The food is great with something for everyone. Grab a sit by the fire or in the doggo-friendly beer garden. Plenty of screen for the footy too if that's what you’re into. Happy hours: Tuesday - Friday | 4 - 6PM | $8 Pints of house taps, fancy taps $10 | Tuesday = $20 Parma | Wednesday = $22 Steak | Sunday = $25 Roast of the day. Website | Instagram | Phone | 191 Nicholson St, Abbotsford

The Gaso plays an important role in the Melbourne music scene allowing local up and coming talent to showcase their skills. The main floor features a retractable roof allowing it to host some super fun open-air parties and there is a top level, which offers a great place to watch the party go down. Happy hours: Wednesday - Friday | 4 - 7PM | $6 basics, $7 pints. Gig guide | Instagram | 484 Smith St, Collingwood

Famous for its good pizza and good times. Trivia is on Wednesday from 8PM and DJs play Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from 9 to 3AM Happy Hours: Wednesday to Friday | 4 - 7PM | $6 schooners, wine or basic spirit. Website | Instagram | 179 Chapel St, Windsor

Hands down one of the best bottle shops ever. They always have what you are looking for and everything you didn’t even know you wanted, but Carwyn Cellars is much more than a shop. They have 28 beers on tap which are anyways changing and they also have some super nice spots to sit in the sun and have a beer. Happy hours: Monday - Thursday | 4 - 6PM | $8 pints of beer of the month. Website | Instagram | 877 High St, Thornbury

Moosa Bar specialises in craft beer from all over the globe with full flavour European varieties being a strong draw card but Moosa also offers a Japanese listening bar feel where you can sit back, relax, and take your time. Happy hours: Sunday - Friday | 5 - 7 | $10 pints of Australian craft beers and Suntory Premium Malts. Instagram | 653 Nicholson St, Carlton North