Looking for a game? Here are the best places to play – with loads of other reasons to stick around, too.

When was the last time you played pool? Scoring a pool table isn’t just an excellent way to spend a night out, it’s also a brilliant ice-breaker. On a date and the conversation isn’t flowing? A game of pool should sort that out. Bringing different friends together and the dynamic isn’t working? Play doubles and watch the magic happen. A game of pool is often the answer, but beware – it can get competitive out there.

While pool tables have long been a big part of Melbourne’s bars and pubs, they’re becoming a little harder to find. Happily, there are still plenty around, and many are in brilliant venues, too. Think great tunes, good vibes, cracking drinks and enticing food that goes way beyond pub grub.

We’re not just about making great drinks at home – we also love to find, and share, the best venues around. So, to help you pick the perfect spot, we’ve rounded up a bunch of top bars and pubs with pool tables in Melbourne that tick all the boxes.

People playing pool at Melbourne's Paradise Alley

If you’re in the city, head for Dom’s Social Club on Swanston St. This multi-level destination has everything you need, including a pool table on Level 2 (it’s free to play, too). The rooftop is the place to be on a warm evening, and the woodfired pizza draws a crowd. Watch – and smell – a few get delivered around you, and you’ll be ordering one, too.

Melbourne’s inner north has no shortage of pubs, so pool players are spoilt for choice here. Local favourite Goldy’s Tavern, tucked away in Collingwood, delivers old-school pub vibes, complete with a pool table. The menu is worth a visit alone – steak night is good value on Wednesdays, which just so happens to coincide with the pool comp.

Collingwood is also where you’ll find relaxed warehouse bar Paradise Alley (pictured), with the site home to an art gallery, street artists, a knifemaker and other creatives. The pool room is complete with leather booths (you can even book it out), and fine wines and craft beers elevate the offering.

Another Collingwood gem is the friendly Fox Hotel – the sort of place you’d enjoy rocking up solo. You’ll find a taker for a game of pool, or at least a chat, and daily food specials are a drawcard – curry, steak and roasts included – along with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. You might even find a trivia night going on.

Nearby Fitzroy has a host of great picks, including The Union Club Hotel, Punters Club and Labour in Vain (unless there’s a band on). Then there’s the refurbished North Fitzroy Arms (three words: order the burger). With a pool table in the front bar, time your visit with a big AFL clash on the TV, stay for a meal and you’re in for a good time.

Further north in Coburg, you can play pool under a disco ball at the Hotel Lombardo. This relaxed Italo-American pub serves up pizzas, classic cocktails, wine and beer (Guinness is a highlight). It doesn’t take long to see why this place is so popular.

For those on the south side of town, Leonard’s House of Love is likely already a regular haunt. That might be for its Honky Tonk vibes, late hours and American-style menu (think burgers, fried chicken, mac and cheese and more), but there’s a pool table here that demands to be played. Pair it with a pickleback for the full experience.

And in the western suburbs, plenty of great pubs have pool tables, but we’re giving a shoutout to Moon Dog Wild West. It may not be the first place you think of for pool – It does have a mechanical bull, after all – but with several pool tables (they’re free on Mondays) and loads of space, it’s a great pick, especially if you and your crew are into good beer and hearty food.