The taproom for the Intracoastal Brewing Co. in the Eau Gallie Arts District is ideally located within walking distance of great shops and right at the end of the Indian River bridge. This craft beer company is known for its beachy vibe and top-notch brew. If you want to enjoy the Florida weather, snag a spot outside at a picnic table, or for the traditional brewery vibe, pull up to the bar. The menu here is always changing, so even regulars can try something new. Or opt for a flight of beer to sample a variety. This brewery offers more than beer, too. Here, you can find yoga classes, trivia competitions and more.
Recommended for Melbourne's Best Nightlife because: The Intracoastal Brewing Co. is a popular microbrewery in the Melbourne area.
Aimee's expert tip: This is a great place to hang out near the Eau Gallie Arts District.
Coasters Pub is a Space Coast staple. It first opened about 25 years ago as one of the first bars to offer a wide variety of beer. It was so popular, in fact, that Michael Jackson is said to have visited the bar. Back then, Coasters made history as one of the first brewpub systems in Central Florida, thereby helping spark the revolution of drinking carefully crafted beers instead of run-of-the-mill yellow stuff. Today, Coasters is a popular sports bar hangout, with 13 TVs and a variety of sports channels — all of the major packages. Coasters is the official "football watch party venue" for various college alumni, too. The menu here won't disappoint. Try the "famous chicken wings" or build your own burger. You can even score sirloin here, as well as unique gourmet craft soda.
Recommended for Melbourne's Best Nightlife because: Coasters is where beer-lovers go out in Melbourne. Find some of the best microbrews here.
Aimee's expert tip: Although Coasters is known for its good eye for beer, the gourmet craft sodas are also fun and unique.
Dancing. Inexpensive drinks. Music. Did we mention inexpensive drinks? The Cold Keg Nightclub & Bar is known for its fun atmosphere and some of the most reasonably priced drinks in the Melbourne area. Drink specials are legitimately special; we're talking $2 pints and $3 bloody Marys. Get two-for-one drinks on ladies night. Enjoy theme nights (such as karaoke, bingo, talent shows, fundraisers or a pajama party) and other live entertainment and shows every night. If you're lucky, you might catch impersonators here. Cold Keg is welcoming to the GBLTQ crowd, so you can also find Melbourne's top drag queen shows here.
Recommended for Melbourne's Best Nightlife because: This gay-friendly night club has a wide range of entertainment every night, from drag queens to bingo to karaoke.
Aimee's expert tip: Get two-for-one drinks on ladies night. The Cold Keg has some of the cheapest drinks in Melbourne.
Foo Bar is downtown Melbourne's upscale bar and combo art gallery. Here, you can find mixed drinks in the full-service bar, nightly DJs playing live music and occasional special events, such as an '80s night, pub crawls, vintage-style cabaret shows and holiday celebrations. Foo Bar is a slightly different nightlife option that you may come to expect in the ultra-casual Space Coast of Florida, where a beer bottle and your toes in the sand is a common "night out." The dimly lit Foo Bar, accented by strands of white lights, tends to draw bigger crowds. Slip into that nice cocktail dress or trendy blazer and you'll feel at home. Keep your eyes peeled for happy hour drink specials.
Recommended for Melbourne's Best Nightlife because: Foo Bar is where to go out in downtown Melbourne. Enjoy the art gallery and live music with your drink.
Aimee's expert tip: Keep your eyes peeled for happy hour drink specials. Otherwise, the cocktails here can be a little pricier than some other more casual Space Coast bars.
This bar in historic downtown Melbourne is three bars in one: a copper whiskey bar, a black-light lava bar with a deck overlooking downtown, and an outdoor tiki bar that specializes in frozen drinks. What makes this pub truly stand out is its fresh-squeezed cocktails. You won't find any sour mixers here — only fresh fruit squeezed to order. This not only means some of the most delicious cocktails, but also significantly healthier. Mainstreet Pub also offers has a full live music calendar and serves up a small menu of light munchies, like fish tacos and crab-stuffed mushrooms. Staff also offers wine pairing recommendations with your meal.
Recommended for Melbourne's Best Nightlife because: Unsure where to go? This is like three bars in one, so you can find nightlife fun for everyone here.
Aimee's expert tip: Go here for the cocktails or whiskey bar (depending on your preference) and the view of the strip, but don't expect fine dining.
Island Root Kava Bar is a unique alternative to traditional, alcohol-centered nightlife. Melbourne features two kava, which serve cold kava, kava tea and kava pops, as well as electronic cigarettes and flavored oxygen. Kava is a traditional South Pacific drink made out of a pepper plant root that is ground down and served cold, often in a coconut shell (or plastic version thereof). People who drink kava say it leaves them feeling completely relaxed and even a little euphoric, and the effects last a few hours — sometimes longer. Some people drink kava as a natural alternative to synthetic anxiety medication. Although kava is legal in the United States, there is some controversy to the beverage and there is some concern that it may harm the liver.
Recommended for Melbourne's Best Nightlife because: Melbourne's kava bar is a unique nightlife alternative to the bars.
Aimee's expert tip: Inform yourself about kava before trying it. Or try flavored oxygen instead.
Off the Traxx is a sports bar — to the extreme. This Melbourne-based bar is huge, with more than 40 TVs and screens (including one oversized screen) that stream everything sport, including the NFL Sunday Ticket, the full DirecTV Commercial Choice Plus line-up and more. Bottom line: If your team is playing, you can watch it here. Off the Traxx has more than 350 seats and features surprisingly delicious food. Try the pizza. This bar also organizes interactive, fun games, including putting challenges, corn hole, pool, darts, video games, a dance floor, stage and other activities. Head out back, where you can find an outdoor bar that takes advantage of the Florida warmth. Off the Traxx also organizes parties, special events and contests (from breakdancing to bikinis).
Recommended for Melbourne's Best Nightlife because: Head to Off the Traxx to watch sports, place games and even grab a drink outside.
Aimee's expert tip: Grab a chair at a table out back in between games.
Feeling a touch Blarney? This downtown Melbourne pub is as Irish as they come, from the St. Patty's pot pie down to the tall, cold glasses o' stout. The authentic menu boasts Irish classics, including corned beef and cabbage and bangers and mash. Or try your luck and ask about the Fisherman's Catch of the Day and the new Butcher's Cut of the Day. Great happy hour specials (starting as early as 3 p.m.) and frequent live entertainment are boons, as well. Snag $5 Car Bombs and Irish coffees all day, every day. During football season, the pub is especially crowded on NFL Sundays and Mondays.
Recommended for Melbourne's Best Nightlife because: This is Melbourne's Irish pub, complete with authentic food and live entertainment.
Aimee's expert tip: Here, you can find six different ways to drink your Jameson, including our favorite, a Jameson and lemonade — served in a mason jar, of course.
Right on the beach just off A1A, you'll find this popular blues bar that rocks with live music seven nights a week. Here, not only will you find quite possibly the longest happy hour in existence (from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.), but also people-watching at its best. Lou's Blues is funky and full of character; beware of the "Special Dirty Bingo Wingo Menu," featuring drinks with the naughtiest of names. Before the bands start playing at 9:30 p.m., you can also often participate in (or laugh at) karaoke, and catch a decent dinner. The peel-and-eat shrimp are reasonably priced and the bacon blue cheese sliders are, well — talk about a naughty indulgence!
Recommended for Melbourne's Best Nightlife because: Kick back to blues music, seven nights a week, ideally located right off the main drag in Melbourne.
Aimee's expert tip: Try Lou's Ribs, made with a special dry rub so delicious it can turn any blues song upside down.