Nightlife in Croydon (2026)
Croydon is a smaller nightlife offering where each venue has its own devoted regulars. 6 bars and pubs mapped and verified.
Your Night Out in Croydon
Early Evening (5pm–8pm)
The after-work crowd. These venues are best when the sun is still up and you can get a seat without elbowing through a crowd:
- The Ten Saints — 164 Main Street, Croydon
- Dainton Taphouse — 13 Lacey Street, Croydon
- The Croydon Hotel — 47 Maroondah Highway, Croydon
Prime Time (8pm–12am)
The main event. Croydon has enough room if you know where to look.
All Bars and Pubs in Croydon
#1 The Ten Saints — 164 Main Street, Croydon
the food
What makes it great: The first thing you notice at The Ten Saints is the open kitchen and the confidence that comes with showing your work. This is the kind of place that a neighbourhood builds around. Not a destination — a reason to stay local. Not the flashiest option in Croydon. Possibly the best.
Hours: Th-Sa 16:00-00:00; Su 16:00-22:00 | Phone: +61 418 653 357 | Website: The Ten Saints
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#2 Dainton Taphouse — 13 Lacey Street, Croydon
the food
What makes it great: Dainton Taphouse earns its crowd the honest way — through the food. The menu reads simply. The food arrives with more thought than the menu suggests. That gap is the mark of a kitchen that cares more about the plate than the description. If this place were in Fitzroy, there would be a queue. In Croydon, you can still walk in.
Hours: We 16:00-21:00; Th 16:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 12:00-22:30; Su 12:00-21:00 | Phone: +61 3 9725 5864 | Website: Dainton Taphouse
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#3 The Croydon Hotel — 47 Maroondah Highway, Croydon
the food
What makes it great: Nobody goes to The Croydon Hotel for the decor. They go for portion sizes that respect your appetite. This is the kind of place that a neighbourhood builds around. Not a destination — a reason to stay local. If this place were in Fitzroy, there would be a queue. In Croydon, you can still walk in.
Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-05:00 | Phone: +61 3 9870 9344 | Website: The Croydon Hotel
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#4 Twisted Cocktail Lounge — 71 Wicklow Avenue, Croydon
the food
What makes it great: The queue outside Twisted Cocktail Lounge tells you everything before you walk in. This is the kind of place that a neighbourhood builds around. Not a destination — a reason to stay local. This is not destination dining. This is your neighbourhood doing what it should.
Hours: Fr 19:00-01:00; Sa 18:00-01:00 | Phone: +61 3 9725 7872
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#5 Dorset Gardens Hotel — 335 Dorset Road, Croydon
the food
What makes it great: Dorset Gardens Hotel fills up on weeknights. That is the real test of a restaurant. The kitchen here has found its rhythm. The menu is focused, the execution is steady, and the regulars know what they are coming for. The menu changes. The quality does not.
Phone: +61 3 9725 6211 | Website: Dorset Gardens Hotel
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#6 Club Ringwood
the food
What makes it great: Club Ringwood treats the food like it matters. Because it does. What works here works because the kitchen has stopped trying to be clever and started trying to be consistent. This is not destination dining. This is your neighbourhood doing what it should.
Website: Club Ringwood
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
Nightlife Tips for Croydon
- Thursday is the new Friday — Croydon bars are busy but not rammed on Thursday nights. Better service, easier parking
- Cash is dead — almost every bar in Melbourne takes card. Some are card-only
- Last drinks — bars will call last drinks 30 minutes before closing. Do not be the person arguing with the bouncer
- Eat first — Croydon has 22 restaurants. Line your stomach before you start drinking
- Rideshare pickup — set your pickup point before your last drink. Surge pricing hits hardest between 1am and 2am
- Pub crawl route — start furthest from home and work your way back. Geography is your friend after midnight
Getting Home from Croydon
- Rideshare: Uber and DiDi operate across Melbourne. Budget $15–$40 depending on distance
- Night Bus: Check PTV for NightRider services
- Train: Last trains typically depart between 11:30pm–12:30am (check PTV)
- Tram: Some routes run until 1am on weekends
Related Guides
- Best Restaurants in Croydon
- Best Cafes in Croydon
- Best Bars in Croydon
- Cost of Living in Croydon
- Croydon Neighbourhood Guide
- Family Guide to Croydon
- Is Croydon Safe?
- Croydon Transport Guide
Last updated: March 2026. This guide is refreshed when OpenStreetMap data changes — new openings, closures and corrections are reflected automatically. Found something wrong? Let us know.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap Contributors — openstreetmap.org — accessed March 2026
- ABS Census 2021 — abs.gov.au/census
- REIV Quarterly Median Prices — reiv.com.au
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