Thornbury

Owner Phil Gray built this High Street shop around the boutique and the hard-to-find: small-run wines, rare spirits and craft beers picked out for character rather than shelf appeal. The shop is also home to its own label, Bespoke Thornbury Gin, distilled locally and blended with a botanical mix Gray selected himself, alongside a house whiskey and other spirits developed exclusively with local distillers. Customers are encouraged to taste before they buy, and if something isn't on the shelf, Gray will track it down. The stock leans toward Australian producers and lesser-known imports, with a standing relationship with small local makers — recent additions include an artisan Italian vino cotto. In a strip increasingly dominated by supermarket-owned liquor barns, it remains an independent pouring real knowledge into every recommendation. Worth a stop for Melburnians building a serious home bar, not just picking up a six-pack.

On Thornbury's High Street since 2007, this bottle shop and bar has stayed independent through a strip that has seen plenty of turnover around it. The shop side curates craft beer, wine and spirits from small producers; next door, a bar pours from 32 rotating taps with a kitchen and beer garden attached, so a bottle bought at the counter can just as easily be opened on the spot. It holds a packaged liquor licence separate from the bar, and offers free click-and-collect alongside shipping across Australia. The pairing of retail and bar under one roof gives it a different rhythm to a standard suburban liquor store, with customers lingering rather than just grabbing and going. Open daily from midday, later on Fridays and Saturdays. A solid anchor for anyone exploring Melbourne's inner-north craft beer scene beyond the more heavily marketed venues.

A records shop at 301 Rossmoyne Street in Thornbury, Melbourne.