Arbory Afloat, Melbourne: Floating bar on the Yarra River
Arbory Afloat on the Yarra River – Melbourne’s largest floating bar – has a pool, cabanas, cocktails on tap and a theme that changes every year.
Arbory Afloat claims it is Melbourne’s largest floating bar. It’s the sister venue of the Arbory Bar and Eatery, and opens seasonally in the late spring.
This floating bar occupies a 69 metre-long platform in the Yarra River. There are two bars, and a pool on the upper deck. If you want to shed money, book some cabanas by the pool.
14 fantastic experiences that make the most of your free time in Melbourne
- Get the very best views – on a hot air balloon flight over the city.
- See the changing colours of the river – on a sunset kayaking tour – with dinner. (Highly recommended ✅)
- Feast and see the sights at the same time – on a four course dinner cruise along the Yarra River.
- A genuinely excellent street art tour, led by prominent street artists. (Highly recommended ✅)
- The also superb Aboriginal heritage, plants and bush food tour in the Botanic Gardens. (💲 Great value 💲)
- Best of Melbourne bike tour – you can see more on two wheels than walking.
- Hidden laneways bar crawl OR foodie discovery tour OR chocolate and dessert tour.
- Combo ticket for Australian Sports Museum and MCG tour.
- Hassle-dodging advance tickets for the Melbourne Skydeck, Melbourne Zoo, the Ice Bar (with cocktails) and Sea Life Aquarium.
Arbory Afloat theme
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Arbory Afloat, however, is that it has a different look every year. In 2021/22, Melbourne’s biggest floating bar is based on the Turquoise Coast in Turkey. Expect umbrellas with tassles, thatched roofs, coloured tiles and olives growing on the trees.
In the past, however, Arbory Afloat has been kitted out to look like Miami Beach, the French Riviera and Palm Springs.
The food menu changes along with the theme, too. So in 2021/22, it’s distinctly Mediterranean, cooked up by Turkish-born chefs. It’s not all Turkish dishes, mind – there are pizzas and other southern European favourites, too.
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- Great Ocean Road tour – with koalas 🐨.
- Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island tour – with penguins 🐧.
- Yarra Valley wine tour – with gin, cider and cheese 🍷.
- Grampians National Park tour – with bushwalks and LOADS of kangaroos 🦘.
- Mornington Peninsula tour – with hot springs bathing 🛀.
- Wilsons Promontory tour – with all manner of native wildlife 🦘🐨.
- Dandenong Ranges steam train ride – plus wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary and chocolate-tasting in the Yarra Valley.
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The cocktails are a little unusual, too, as eight of them are available on tap.
Walk-in slots are available at Arbory Afloat, but bookings are highly recommended for the beds, as they get ludicrously popular.
Where is Arbory Afloat?
Arbory Afloat is on the Yarra River behind Flinders Street Station, and next to the Princes Bridge. It neighbours the year-round Arbory Bar and Eatery, which is also famous for its al fresco riverside dining.
More Melbourne bars and restaurants
Agathe Patisserie | Bar Margaux | Bambu Asian Eating House | Bodega Underground | Farmer’s Daughters | Fonda Mexican | Goldilocks Bar | Horn Please | Middle Park Hotel | Naked For Satan | Pastuso | Ponyfish Island | Richmond Club Hotel