Benchwarmer

Hopheads and sake fiends alike treat this West Melbourne haunt as their personal clubhouse. Benchwarmer isn’t just a bar—it’s a bottle shop boasting a bonkers tap list of West Coast IPAs, sharp pilsners, and obscure takeaway tins you've never heard of. Craft beer purists camp out in the cozy taproom, while others grab a rare sake bottle from the fridge to crack open for a modest corkage fee. The food? An absolute riot of Asian-inspired street fare. Izakaya-style snacking hits hard with perfectly tender chicken katsu topped with fried curry leaves, while bold Thai flavors shine through the prawn toast and legendary Maryland chicken. Whether you're posting up on the chill street-side patio or dodging the rain in the remarkably comfortable backyard beer garden, the vibes here are undeniably heavy. Just grab a stool, order a sour or a stout, and dive into some of the wildest bar food in the city.