Northcote Social Club

The Northcote Social Club sits on High Street in Northcote, a characterful suburb in Melbourne's inner north. A legendary live-music venue, it's a genuine fixture of the city's music scene — renowned for its intimate bandroom that's hosted countless acts over the years, alongside a much-loved front bar and a great beer garden, the kind of beloved spot music lovers and locals hold dear.

The appeal is that combination of a celebrated live-music program, a great pub-and-bar atmosphere and a lovely beer garden: catching a gig in the famous bandroom is a rite of passage for Melbourne music fans, while the front bar and garden are brilliant for a relaxed drink. Its history, atmosphere and quality line-ups have made it a treasured institution.

With a 4.4 rating from more than 1,800 reviews, it's clearly a much-loved venue. The live-music program, show times, ticketing, the bar and opening hours vary entirely with what's on, so it's worth checking the current line-up and booking directly before you go — particularly for a specific gig — though for a drink in the bar or beer garden, it's often just a matter of dropping in to this Northcote institution.