Must-have sweet cocktails in Melbourne

Great Bulls of Fire cocktail

Golden Fleece Hotel, 120 Montague St, South Melbourne

The Great Bulls of Fire cocktail at the Golden Fleece Hotel in South Melbourne is not only sweet, but has that fiery kick at the end, taking it from a good cocktail to a great cocktail. 

Made with tequila, mezcal, spiced pineapple, mango and lime, it will tingle the tastebuds while you snap a picture in what is perhaps the most ‘Instagrammable’ pub in South Melbourne – one in which you’d be forgiven for feeling like you’re in an episode of Grand Designs. 

Fruit Tingle cocktail

Bourke Street Green, 501 Bourke St, Melbourne CBD

A leafy gem among bustling Bourke Street is this green sanctuary where local ingrediants is the name of the game. 

Sweet cocktails, like the Bees Tees, made with Alchemy chamomile gin, lemon juice, honey, bee pollen, and chamomile syrup, or the Get in My Berry, made with Four Pillars gin, Marionette Mure blackberry liquor, lemon juice, pineapple juice and berry shrub, are two of the best you’ll find city wide. 

But the real star of the show at Bourke Street Green when it comes to sweet cocktails is the immersive Fruit Tingle cocktail, guaranteed to have you ordering another.  

Tiger’s Tail cocktail

BangPop, 35 S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf

The Tiger’s Tail cocktail is the winner At BangPop, made with Havana spiced Cuban, Malibu rum, coconut syrup, raspberry puree, fresh lime, and mint – surprisingly refreshing, as well as perfectly sweet. 

The Passionfruit Mojito is another sweet cocktail you must try, made with Havana Club 3, passionfruit puree lime with sugar and mint – it's like being on holiday without even leaving Melbourne.  

Enjoy your sweet cocktails with Thai style hawker food, bar seating, and water views, making it the perfect place to sip away the afternoon or evening, all super close to the Melbourne CBD. 

Peanut Butter Negroni cocktail

The Wood Samaritan, 140 Lygon St, Brunswick East

Not exactly the sweetest cocktail you could choose, but the Peanut Butter Negroni at The Wood Samaritan, a North American-inspired log cabin bar, is a unique take on the classic bitter negroni that will leave you absolutely stumped. 

Paying homage to Canada, evidenced by décor such as hunting trophies and ancient ski gear, there are multiple cosy nooks to choose from to enjoy the Negroni, all featuring comfy couches, dim lighting, and homely feels – we highly recommend this one for date night.

But perhaps the best thing about The Wood Samaritan is that it’s a bar that doesn’t feel like a bar – but more of a cosy secret in Melbourne’s inner north. 

Honeycomb Highball cocktail

Her Bar, 270 Lonsdale St, Melbourne CBD

The Honeycomb Highball cocktail, made with HER Steward honeycomb, Beechworth sparkling honey and lemon, garnished with lemon and sage, might just be the pick of the bunch at this three-level mega venue open for both day and night cocktails in the Melbourne CBD. 

Relax with this cocktail and lounge on the sofa as you listen to a curated vinyl collection – and with HER open until 3am, it's a sophisticated and upmarket bar with a cocktail list designed to feel out of reach for the at-home cocktail novice, meaning you must head to HER for a version worth trying.  

Cosmopolitan cocktail

Trouble in Dreams, 297 Barkly St, Footscray

Paying homage to the origins of famous cocktails and where they came from, Trouble in Dreams have a 1934 edition of the popular Cosmopolitan cocktail, made with gin, curacao, lemon juice and fresh raspberries, all mixed together to create a sweet sensation. 

It's the perfect sweet cocktail if you’re wanting an intimate night with a few friends as there are only 25 seats and no bookings at this inner west gem ranked among the best cocktail bars in Melbourne - so get in early.  

Wilbury Twist cocktail

Wilbury & Sons, Shop 4, 6 Station Street, Moorabbin

Named after the famous songs from the musical namesake, 'The Travelling Wilburys', the Wilbury Twist cocktail has taken pride of place on the menu at Wilbury & Sons in Melbourne's south-east since the doors opened in 2021. 

Made with Patient Wolf Melbourne dry gin, Aperol, lime, simple syrup, mint and soda, all ingredients are shaken then 'dumped' (not strained) into a hi-ball glass, making for a robust, fresh, sweet, easy-drinking cocktail. 

Start the night with this one, and dive into some more sweet cocktails made bespoke by owner at this relaxed bar.

Bananaramadrama cocktail

Bad Frankie, 141 Greeves St, Fitzroy

One for fruit lovers: Sit at the high bar and chat with the bartenders as you try the Bananaramadrama cocktail made with St Agnes bartenders cut brandy, banana and Billson's creamy soda. 

Or, if you’re after something even fruitier, the Gummy Highball cocktail is your ticket, made with Starward two fold whiskey, strawberry gum and soda. 

And if you fancy a toastie to pair with your sweet cocktail, Bad Frankie serves up the goods - such as a jaffle made with vintage cheddar and mozzarella.