Near & Far Bar

Near & Far Bar is a Fitzroy neighbourhood bar at the meeting point of Brunswick Street and Rose Street, set up for an easy drink while watching the suburb move around you. Its main draw is a serious beer selection: 21 taps pour rotating independent craft beers, while the bottle shop and walk-in cool room hold hundreds of other options. The range is designed with keen beer drinkers in mind, but the venue also keeps hand-selected wines and cocktails on offer for anyone looking beyond beer.

There is plenty to do beyond choosing a drink. Upstairs, a private karaoke room can be hired by the hour, giving groups a dedicated space to sing together. Downstairs, the bar has a pool table, comfortable indoor seating and outdoor tables that continue along Rose Street. That mix makes it suitable for a casual catch-up, a group night built around karaoke or a solo visit centred on exploring the changing beer and wine selection. The website describes the tables as limited and encourages bookings for a time slot, while karaoke has its own booking option.

The interior has a lived-in, neighbourhood feel rather than a polished dining-room presentation. Exposed brick is paired with Tasmanian oak, Brunswick green leather booths provide seating for settling in, and upstairs includes century-old blackwood tables looking over Brunswick Street. Outdoor seating adds an alfresco option, while the pool table and karaoke room give the space a more social edge. It is a bar built around spending time there, whether that means trying something from the taps, browsing the bottle shop or joining friends for a few songs.

Near & Far’s stated aim was to create a place where everyone could feel at home, and the layout supports that broad approach without pretending to be a restaurant or a specialist tasting room. Beer enthusiasts have the deepest selection to explore, while wine and cocktail drinkers have clear alternatives. Groups can make use of the karaoke room or outdoor tables, and the central Fitzroy location makes it a handy stop on Brunswick Street. With a 4.6 Google rating from 153 reviews, it is a well-regarded option for drinks, music and a relaxed night out in Melbourne.