As a nation of drinking enthusiasts, Australia is home to more than a few spectacular drinking spots. Which makes naming the best of the best in watering holes no easy feat. But it’s one that Bartender Magazine takes seriously, taking into account service, atmosphere, concept, and execution. The publication recently naming the finalists for the 2017 Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards have just been released, with the top 10 as follows.

96 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW www.bigpoppa.com.au If listening to hip hop, drinking and eating cheese sounds like your ultimate night out, then Big Poppa’s is for you. Sit upstairs in the cosy, classic restaurant to devour Italian dishes, or venture downstairs to the larger, moodier cocktail bar, where you can order cheese and snacks to accompany your drink. There’s no need to rush, either – this sacred Sydney spot is open until 3am, including the kitchen.

209-211 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC www.boilermakerhouse.com.au Cocooned in earthy interiors and amber light, this Melbourne bar celebrates all things whisky and craft beer. Marvel at the expertly curated collection of 850 malt whiskies from one of the 14 seats at the bar, or find your drink’s perfect pairing from the range of cured meats and cheese. Fancy a slightly heartier feast? The dining room serves meals from the grill, all designed to effortlessly accompany the selection of beers and whisky, of course.

308 Queen Street, Brisbane, QLD www.thegresham.com.au Rich in both history and whisky, The Gresham boasts the only Heritage Bar License in Queensland. While it offers some of the best whisky, rum and wine in the country, the bar refuses to define itself, instead allowing people to use the space however they want. Regardless, there’s no better way to appreciate the opulent architecture that defines an era than with an expertly crafted, artistic cocktail in hand.

415-421 Rathdowne Street, Carlton, VIC www.thebeaufort.com.au Nautical features and an American theme combine in this Carlton dive bar with an offering great music, food, and an extensive range of craft beers and cocktails. The drinks mixed by an experienced crew and the range of burgers on offer (as well as the weekly Tuesday ‘Burgerpalooza’, where you can pick up a burger and Young Henrys tinnie for $12) means The Beaufort can be counted on to deliver an exceptional night out.

16 Phillip Lane, Sydney, NSW www.thekittyhawk.com.au Whether you choose to sit before the wall of windows that frame a city view or sink into the secluded leather booths, you wont be able to escape the Parisian aura offered here. Everything from the décor to the drinks are designed to transport you to the city’s liberation in 1944, topped off with an offering of contemporary French food. The right destination if you’re after exceptional cocktails, a lengthy wine list, or just to feed your inner Francophile.

Basement 152-156 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW www.thebaxterinn.com With a list of almost 800 whiskies, The Baxter Inn is a haven for whisky lovers – if you can find it. Hidden in an unmarked alleyway in the CBD, the basement’s dark interiors house a 10-metre bar that serves their hero liquor alongside the usual range of spirits and cocktails. For the true enthusiast, the Whisky Room stocks some more exclusive varieties that can be enjoyed in the intimate ambience of the cellar.

Rear 222 William Street, Northbridge, WA www.mechanicsinstitutebar.com.au Take refuge from the everyday and settle among the heritage rooftops of Northbridge, Perth. Formed in the spirit of the Mechanics’ Institutes of the 1800s, which served as an educational establishment for the working class, this split-level bar offers craft beer and artisan wines from around Australia, an ever-changing array of cocktails, and burgers from Flipside Burgers which lives directly below.

The honky-tonk that has stood the test of time, Shady Pines never disappoints at the best of times but its happy hour is a particularly fun draw card. Get cosy with a taxidermied buffalo, a bowl of peanuts and some of the cheapest drinks this side of Oxford Street, every day between 4-6pm. Beer and wine start at just $5.50, house spirits are a mere $6.50, and a negroni or margarita will cost you just $12. There is also plenty of live music on throughout the week so you can throw down those whisky apples then boogie to the blues all night long.

407 King Street, Newtown, NSW www.facebook.com/earlsjukejoint Concealed behind an unlikely King Street façade sits a bar that combines neighbourhood charm with New Orleans soul. The walls are decorated with portraits of blues greats and the space echoes with everything from jazz to hip hop. Help the atmosphere really sink in and choose from the selection of wine and beer (including Resch’s on tap), or indulge in an expertly crafted cocktail.

199 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW www.ramblinrascaltavern.com Set on the corner of Elizabeth and Park Street and marked only by a black sign with three skulls, this small bar is worth the search. Casting pretentiousness aside, the dimly lit space is relaxed and authentic, the drinks lists keeping things local by sourcing craft beers and wine from only Australia.