The 12 best bars in Darwin

In the centre of the CBD, a walk down Austin Lane will take you past an inconspicuous graffiti-covered roller shutter. If not for the light beaming onto the footpath, you’d never know about the delight that awaits you up the stairs. Inside the cocktail lounge, the leather Chesterfield lounges and dark wooden tables will make you feel like you’ve stepped straight into another city – but Charlie’s of Darwin brings you straight back to the Northern Territory with its signature gin: a crocodile on the label and Kakadu plum, water lily and native lemongrass infusions. If you’re equally as enticed by fare as tipple, dining in style is on the cards too, with Charlie’s marvellous, copper distilling equipment sitting tableside. Imaginative dishes are churned outta the kitchen, with some requiring a little sense of adventure. If you’re up for it, tuck into the NT Crocodile Dumplings with Szechuan numbing sauce, Davidson Plum, sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds. Curiouser and curiouser. 

Time Out tip: Head outside to the Raintree Lantern Terrace for more specialty gins, cocktails and pitchers with park view and a spot of live music.

Address: 56 Smith Street, Darwin

Opening hours: Wed-Thurs 3pm-11pm; Fri-Sat 3pm-1am; Sun 3-10pm

In recent years, Darwin has seen multiple hidden bars open behind graffiti doors, and the most recent addition to that scene is Hanky Panky Lounge. With the identifying phrase “behind the birds on Mitchell Street”, it’s almost Darwin’s worst best-kept secret. Once you find the door, give your eyes time to adjust so you can take in the sparkling chandeliers, marble bar and velvet upholstery – there are no windows in here, so don’t bring your pal who’s scared of the dark. What there is, however, is a cocktail menu that is pages long, plus cosy booths perfect for date nights or after-work drinks with friends. We won’t blame you if you’re stuck for choice either, just ask the more than accommodating, apron-clad bartenders for their killer recommendations. 

Time Out tip: This is one you’re not going to want to miss. Hanky Panky Lounge has claimed a slew of awards each year – from the food list and the cocktail menu to the joint’s overall atmosphere. It’s a winning combo.

Address: 3/32 Mitchell Street, Darwin

Opening hours: Tues-Thurs 4pm-11:30pm; Fri-Sat 4pm-1am; Sun 6pm-11pm

A very literal hole in the wall, Poco Bar has been born out of what used to be a loading zone. However, once the shutters are up and the European-style furniture is out, you can’t walk past without wanting to pull up a seat and order a drink. You also may be pleased to know that Poco is brought to you by the same team behind one of Darwin’s best restaurants, Moorish Café – so you can rest (and sip) assured that you’re in safe hospitality hands. Open only during the Dry Season months from May to August, this small bar has kept to the theme and only offers five cocktails, five white wines, five reds, five beers and five drink-friendly snacks. Florals and tropical fruit crown the vibrant cocktails, making them as pretty as a picture, worth taking a picture of. The nibbles, on the other hand, sound a little like charcuterie of pickled octopus, 24-month aged Serrano ham, along with some punchy Spanish cheeses. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Time Out tip: If you’re after something a little more substantial than Poco Bar’s five bar snacks, pop around to the other side of the building, where you’ll find the team’s OG Moorish eatery – tapas-inspired eats incoming!

Address: Behind Moorish Café, Spain Place, Darwin

Opening hours: Tues-Thurs 4pm-11pm; Fri 4pm-11.30pm; Sat 5pm-11:30pm

It’s nine o’clock on a Saturday…and Darwin’s newest hotspot is booming with the sound of not one, but two pianos. As the first addition to the multi-million-dollar Cinema Collective on Mitchell Street, Sweethearts promises to keep the party going until 3am every day of the week, offering live music, elevated pub fare and an all-Aussie drinks list. Opt for Sweethearts’ twist on a Margarita with tequila, kaffir lime leaf, orange liqueur and agave, you won’t regret it. The purple fluorescent lighting and a roving photographer are a sound reminder that this clubstraunt means business, too. It’s no doubt rowdy, but the youngins of Darwin have claimed it as one of the top spots for a good time that lasts a long time. Plus, the multi-precinct venue means you can experience a full-on night out without even leaving the building – convenience at its finest.

Time Out tip: Start the night with Territorian tucker at one of the best restaurants in Darwin, Flick’s, then slide next door to Sweethearts, where the after-party kicks off nightly with talented, local musicians playing between the duelling pianos.

Address: 74 Mitchell Street, Darwin

Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10am-3am

Tucked on the fringe of the city, this chic garden bar creates an atmosphere where you’ll feel like you’re sipping cocktails at a fancy friend’s house. The Trader Bar is a beautifully converted old Darwin house – a garden sanctuary that welcomes guests from Friday afternoons until Sunday nights. The bar’s three-day working week makes it all the more enticing, with seats beneath the blue and white-striped umbrellas filling up fast. In the AM, you can pop in for a flat white alongside a buttery ham-cheese croissant, which is a pretty decent addition to a morning stroll through nearby and seaside Bicentennial Park. Then, return to Trader Bar later in the day for a super refreshing cocktail during the house DJ set out back. How does the DIzzy Aloha of vodka, watermelon and aloe vera sound? Or perhaps a Bloody Mary to suit Darwin’s spicy, tropical climate. Sit on the steps under the vines for a tried and tested Instagram backdrop or simply pretend you’re at a poppin’ house party on the lawns. 

Time Out tip: The Trader Bar welcomes those who are all about that work-from-home life. Get comfy, flip open your laptop, and lock in (to both your online duties and pastry, of course).

Address: 3 Harriet Place, Darwin

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 7.30am-11am; Fri 7.30am-11am, 3pm-12am; Sat 8am-12am, 3pm-12am; Sun 8am-12pm

A glowing red neon sign that says ‘booze’ welcomes you at the entry of Smoke and Oak, which hints at something a little New Orleans-y and a little bit underground New York-y. With a fabulous racket that sounds like live jazz and blues on the weekends, you can’t miss the jumping hideout. Step inside and you’ll be greeted with old-timey light fixtures that deliver a warming atmosphere, along with a crimson lick of paint and yesteryear placards that adorn the timber-clad walls. A portrait of Bill Murray that looms above the serving station also serves as the bar’s overlord. Dark spirits and bold wines are Smoke and Oak’s tipple highlight, but craft beers and cocktails are a mainstay too. The tavern also dishes out tasty Asian-inspired bites from the adjoining Nirvana Restaurant to complement the booze – think pandan chicken parcels, crab curry laksa and Vietnamese pork skewers. 

Time Out tip: If you’re looking for a drink in Darwin on a weeknight, Jam Night from 8.30pm on Tuesdays is always entertaining.

Address: 14 Dashwood Crescent, Smith Street, Darwin

Opening hours: Tues 6pm-12am; Wed-Thurs 6pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 6pm-12am

If you're in search of excellent cocktails, air conditioning and prime positioning on Darwin's waterfront, you can't look past The Loose Goose. Open all day for brunch and coffee from 7am and then ticking over into party-ville at night, this airy venue has consistently great happy hours (ahem, $8 wines and tap beers everyday from 4pm to 7pm), loads of zesty bites like native bush roasted pork belly and Top End tiger prawns on housemade foccacia, and plenty of exciting cocktails that utilise the Top End's rainbow cornucopia of native ingredients. 

Time Out tip: Try the Salty Plum Negroni. 

Address: 14/69 Mitchell St, Darwin City

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 7am-10pm; Fri-Sat 7am-12am; Sun 7am-2pm

In an inconspicuous shed in Winnellie, Darwin’s industrial area, you’ll find one of the Top End’s coolest brew houses. One Mile Brewing Co wouldn’t be out of place in Melbourne with its industrial graffiti feel, but the brews are very Darwin. Try a paddle featuring beers with names like the ‘RDO’ and ‘4:21’ (which is actually the real-time that government workers clock off in the NT), or get a refreshing cider in a slushie. Fear not if jugs of gold aren’t your thing though, the brewery is out here diversifying their customer base with their new gin and vodka range, which is a little weird and touch wonderful. How about the V8 Juice vodka, or perhaps the sour gummy worm number or a coffee pick-me-up? We’ll try anything once. The Brewery is open Thursday and Friday from the late-arvo, and all day Saturday until 8pm, which we’re going to say is very sensible. You won’t be going hungry either, with One Mile’s on-site pizza truck doing absolute wonders when it comes to hot discs, oozy cheese and saucy affairs.

Time Out tip: One Mile Brewing Co keeps a keen eye on the calendar and often celebrates international days with special edition brews – take the super verdant green St Patrick’s Day beer, for example.

Address: 8/111 Coonawarra Road, Winnellie

Opening hours: Thurs-Fri 4pm-8pm; Sat 12pm-8pm

Darwin isn’t usually associated with the discerning wine connoisseur, but in Stone House, you’ll find a selection of cocktails and mocktails, grazing platters, charcuterie, cheese, and most importantly, an extensive wine list with more than 200 drops up for grabs. Beer lovers don’t go thirsty at Stone House either; there’s a great range of local craft brews on tap, and the courtyard is the perfect place to enjoy a pre-dinner tipple and soak up Darwin’s seemingly endless sunshine. The European-inspired interior may seem out of place in the Territory's rural, laid-back setting, but welcomed by those in search of something with a touch of class. Exposed brick walls and polished concrete floors amp up the rustic atmosphere, while mid-century Italian posters keep things fresh. The long-standing haunt is nearing a decade in business, and it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best to do it.

Time Out tip: Stone House’s smack bang central local means that bar hopping is totally attainable – perfect if you’re only in town for the weekend and looking to squish in as many experiences as possible. Or maybe you’re a local looking to diversify your evening to the max. Either way, Stone House is a great starting or ending point to your adventure.

Address: 33 Cavenagh Street, Darwin

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 3pm-9pm; Fri 12pm-10pm; Sat 3pm-10pm

Following on from One Mile Brewing Co, Willing Distillery is also just down the road in another unassuming warehouse. It caters to the everlasting thirst for refreshment in the tropics – with a gin distillery and cellar door out the back and an air-conditioned cocktail bar in the front for those high-humidity nights. The motto adorning their bar mats is “We’re willing, you’re welcome”, and if you try their Rosella Gin, you will understand the slightly demanding line. It’s truly delicious, as is their cocktail menu with alterations to old favourites, like the Darwin Sling and the Bush Negroni. Since day dot, Willing Distillery has taken home both national and international awards – it really is the big tin shed with the most. 

Time Out tip: If you’re heading to the northern Winnellie locale, you may as well make a day of it and hop from Willing Distillery to One Mile Brewing Co for a bit of this and a bit of that. And while it sounds kinda far out, in reality, the suburb is only a ten-minute drive from Darwin’s CBD – so stay safe, catch a ride-share, and let the day be merry and bright.

Address: 1/31 Benison Road, Winnellie

Opening hours: Thurs 4pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 12pm-10pm