Toorak’s bar scene is not large, but it is polished. The suburb sits 5km south-east of the CBD in the City of Stonnington, and its drinking culture mirrors the neighbourhood: refined, wine-forward, and more likely to involve a Burgundy by the glass than a jug of Carlton Draught. Most of the action concentrates along Toorak Road and in Toorak Village between Canterbury Road and Wallace Avenue.
Here’s where to drink, depending on what kind of evening you’re after.
The Institutions
France-Soir — 11 Toorak Road
France-Soir has been pouring wine on Toorak Road since the 1980s, and the zinc bar at the front is one of Melbourne’s great drinking spots. You can sit without a booking, order a glass of Chablis or a Negroni, and watch the Toorak foot traffic through the windows. The French waiters are part of the performance. Late nights here — especially Thursday and Friday — have a Parisian energy that nowhere else in Melbourne quite manages. Wine from $16/glass.
Toorak Hotel — 459 Toorak Road
The Toorak Hotel (or “The Tok” to locals) anchors the eastern end of the strip. It’s been through several iterations but currently operates as a solid gastro-pub with a proper cocktail list and a beer garden that catches afternoon sun. It’s the closest thing Toorak has to a genuine local pub — somewhere you’d go weekly without thinking about it. Pints from $12.
Wine Bars
Toorak’s wine bar scene leans European. The village has several small venues with curated by-the-glass lists that favour French and Italian producers alongside Victorian boutique wineries. The staff at these places tend to know what they’re pouring — you can ask for a recommendation and trust what arrives.
The Toorak Road wine bars fill up from 5pm on Thursdays and Fridays with locals who’ve finished their day. By 7pm the tables are full and the conversation volume rises. Weeknights are quieter and better for actually tasting what you’re drinking.
Cocktail Options
Toorak doesn’t compete with Melbourne’s dedicated cocktail bars in the CBD or Fitzroy. What it offers instead are restaurants with strong bar programs — France-Soir’s Negroni, the cocktail list at Kazuki’s on Canterbury Road, and several Toorak Road restaurants where you can sit at the bar without ordering food.
The Honest Assessment
Toorak is not a nightlife suburb. If you want a big night out with venue-hopping, you’re better off catching tram 8 into South Yarra or heading to Prahran for Chapel Street. What Toorak does well is the civilised drink — a glass of wine with good food, a cocktail before dinner, a Sunday afternoon at the Tok’s beer garden. The drinking here matches the suburb: understated, quality-focused, and done by 11pm.
FAQ
What are the best bars near Toorak Road? France-Soir and the Toorak Hotel are the anchors. The village wine bars between Canterbury Road and Wallace Avenue fill out the middle ground.
Is there live music in Toorak bars? Occasionally at the Toorak Hotel, but this isn’t a live music suburb. Head to Richmond or Fitzroy for regular gigs.
What time do Toorak bars close? Most wind down by 11pm on weeknights, midnight on weekends. France-Soir’s bar runs later on Fridays and Saturdays.
Verdict
Toorak’s bar scene is small but genuine. You won’t find dive bars, late-night clubs, or craft beer tap rooms here. What you will find is well-curated wine, reliable cocktails, and venues where the service matches the price point. For a quiet drink with substance, the village delivers.
More on Toorak: Toorak Suburb Guide · Best Restaurants in Toorak · Toorak for Young Professionals
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