Correction (4 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two independent sources on 4 October 2026, and every price was copied from the page it was published on.
A good date bar gives you something to talk about besides the menu, and a plan B if the weather turns. This page covers six bars in and around Richmond: three in Richmond, two in Cremorne and one in East Melbourne. Restaurants are on the date-night page, so this one sticks to bars.
Each bar was checked against two independent sources, and we say whose listing every hours line and tag comes from. Where a venue lists music or a DJ, we flag it, because that tends to make conversation harder.
We could not find accessibility details published for any of these six, so ring ahead if step-free access matters.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Order this | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cocktail masterclasses | The Blacksmith | see below | not printed here |
| Rooftop and dining room | Union House | see below | not printed here |
| Late wine bar drinks | Attria Wine Bar | see below | not printed here |
| Low-light lounge and aperitivo | Lilac Wine | spritz | $12 |
| Courtyard drinks | The Tippler & Co | see below | not printed here |
| Daytime two-course lunch | Fred’s Bar | EXPRESS TWO COURSE LUNCH MENU | $55 |
The Blacksmith — 69 Swan Street, Richmond VIC 3121
The Blacksmith’s own site lists Monday to Thursday 4pm to late and Friday to Sunday 2pm to late. It lists Cocktail Masterclasses and a Friday Happy Hour. The site also says the original structure of 69 Swan Street dates back to 1924, as McNaughton’s Ironmongers, which can still be seen on the facade.
Stage: A third date, when doing something together beats staring at a menu, since the site lists Cocktail Masterclasses.
Union House — 270 Swan Street, Richmond VIC 3121
Union House’s own site describes a public bar, an intimate dining room and a rooftop. AGFG tags it Romantic, Alfresco Dining and Child Friendly. We have no reliable hours for it, because AGFG’s listed hours contradict themselves, so check with the venue before you go.
Say this: Shall we start on the rooftop and move to the dining room if the weather turns?
Attria Wine Bar — 107-109 Swan Street, Richmond VIC 3121
Attria Wine Bar’s own site lists Tuesday to Thursday 4pm to 10pm, Friday 4pm to 1am, Saturday 12pm to 1am and Sunday 3pm to 10pm. AGFG lists it as Romantic and Alfresco Dining, and those tags come from the AGFG directory listing, not from the venue. Treat this as the after-dinner option rather than the main event.
Exit plan: The site lists Friday and Saturday to 1am, so a late finish is possible, but plan your way home before the last round.
Lilac Wine — 31 Stephenson Street, Cremorne VIC 3121
Lilac Wine’s own site lists Monday to Wednesday 4pm to late and Thursday to Saturday 3pm to late. It calls itself a Manhattan loft party meets low-light lounge and names date nights, aperitivo, snacks and DJ stacks. It also lists an Aperitivo Hour and a vegan menu. Its What’s On page prints a spritz at $12 as an Aperitivo Hour price, and steak Wednesday at $30.
On the menu (copied from lilacwinebar.com.au and lilacwinebar.com.au/menu on 4 October 2026):
- spritz: $12
- WOODFIRED SOURDOUGH, GARLIC OIL: $13
- CHOCOLATE MOUSSE, BUTTERSCOTCH, SMOKED ALMOND: $16
- APPLE AND RHUBARB CRUMBLE: $18
Talk-ability: The site mentions DJ stacks, so ask about music levels when you book if you want to hear each other.
The Tippler & Co — 58 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002
The Tippler & Co is on Wellington Parade in East Melbourne, not Richmond. Its own site lists Tuesday to Saturday, 5pm to late. The site describes greenery, natural wood textures and a sunlit courtyard, and lists Tipple Time, its happy hour. AGFG tags it Romantic and Alfresco Dining.
Talk-ability: We could not find live music listed, and the site describes a courtyard with greenery and natural wood textures.
Fred’s Bar — 9-11 Cremorne Street, Cremorne VIC 3121
Fred’s Bar sits next to Frederic Bistro on the same Cremorne site. Frederic’s site lists Tuesday to Friday 12pm to 11pm and Saturday 5pm to 11pm, with Monday and Sunday closed. It also lists a happy hour of Monday to Friday 4pm to 7pm, though its opening hours show Monday closed, so check which is right.
On the menu (copied from frederic.com.au on 4 October 2026):
- EXPRESS TWO COURSE LUNCH MENU: $55
Split or splurge: The site prints the EXPRESS TWO COURSE LUNCH MENU at $55, a daytime option; check what the price covers.
Quick answers
Which bars near Richmond have a rooftop?
Union House on Swan Street lists a rooftop on its own site, alongside a public bar and an intimate dining room. AGFG tags it Romantic. We have no reliable hours for it, so check with the venue.
Which Richmond date bars are open late?
The Blacksmith’s site lists Monday to Thursday 4pm to late and Friday to Sunday 2pm to late. Attria Wine Bar’s site lists Friday and Saturday to 1am. Lilac Wine’s site lists late closing every day it opens. The Tippler & Co lists Tuesday to Saturday, 5pm to late.
Where can I find happy hour or aperitivo near Richmond?
The Blacksmith lists a Friday Happy Hour. Lilac Wine’s What’s On page lists an Aperitivo Hour with a spritz at $12; check the page for its window. The Tippler & Co lists Tipple Time as its happy hour. Fred’s Bar lists a happy hour of Monday to Friday 4pm to 7pm, though its opening hours show Monday closed.
What is a plan B for a Richmond bar date if it rains?
Union House lists an intimate dining room as well as its rooftop, so there is an indoor option. Lilac Wine describes itself as a low-light lounge. The Blacksmith is a bar with its original building facade. Check the venue about covered outdoor space before you go.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 4 October 2026: OpenStreetMap, the places’ own websites and the Australian Good Food Guide. Every price is copied exactly as printed on the page linked under Sources, on 4 October 2026. Menus, prices and opening hours change, so check with the venue before you go. The cover photo is illustrative, from Unsplash, and does not show any place on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- The Blacksmith: openstreetmap.org/12532777311, theblacksmithbar.com.au, agfg.com.au/the-blacksmith-bar-80498, theblacksmithbar.com.au/happy-hour
- Union House: openstreetmap.org/9404528717, unionhouse.com.au/contact, agfg.com.au/union-house-68843, unionhouse.com.au/functions
- Attria Wine Bar: agfg.com.au/attria-wine-bar-74042, attria.com.au
- Lilac Wine: openstreetmap.org/946747672, lilacwinebar.com.au, agfg.com.au/lilac-wine-139445, lilacwinebar.com.au/whats-on-at-lilac, lilacwinebar.com.au/menu
- The Tippler & Co: openstreetmap.org/1231866160, thetipplerandco.com, agfg.com.au/the-tippler-40072, thetipplerandco.com/melbourne-bar-with-a-story, thetipplerandco.com/melbourne-midweek-specials
- Fred’s Bar: frederic.com.au, agfg.com.au/freds-bar-74639
