Bar Guide 2013: and the winners are

In conjunction with the launch of the first ever Time Out Melbourne Bar Guide – a pocket-sized key to the city’s 50 best bars – Time Out Melbourne recently held its first ever Bar Awards.

Industry legends and the heavy-hitting newcomers to the bar scene came together for a lunch at Trocadero, where they were recognised for consistently going above and beyond in terms of service, and quality drinks.

“All our reviews are independent, and we’re proud to be providing Melbourne with a unique, agenda-free guide to the best drinking that this well stocked city has to offer,“ said Time Out Melbourne’s Food and Drink Critic, Gemima Cody.

Elegant speakeasy cocktail bar the Everleigh took out the award for Bar of the Year, while Hihou, Simon Denton’s new Japanese den of fine drinks, took home Best New Bar.

Crazy rum den the LuWOW took the gong for Best Entertainment, and in an egalitarian move, the entire Black Pearl/Attic team were awarded the prize for Best Bartender. The first annual People’s Choice award, determined by Time Out readers through an online vote, went to cocktail apothecary, the Alchemist Bar.

EDV, the pusher of cocktail-matched degustations, came out on top for Best Bar Food and Smith Street’s old-girl-made-new brew’n’music house the Grace Darling brought it home with the award for Best Pub.

Between the pages of Time Out Melbourne's first bar guide, you'll find maps, bar crawls and the 50 new stars and old favourites that represent the best in Melbourne drinking right now. So raise your glasses and let Time Out tell you where to fill 'em.

The winners:

Bar of the Year The Everleigh	Best New Bar Hihou	Best Bartender The Black Pearl team
Best Entertainment The LuWOW	Best Pub The Grace Darling	Best Design The Bridge Hotel
Best Bar Food EDV	People's Choice The Alchemist Bar