Melbourne's Bars and Pubs 2012 is not only a guide to hidden laneways and secret pubs but also to a host of popular night spots scattered throughout the beautiful city of Melbourne.

The people at MBP began this guide, as they, like many of us who live in Melbourne, felt they were missing out on all that Melbourne had to offer.

A city known for her late night spots and continual surprises. A concoction of rooftop bars and dimly lit basement drinking holes.

This guide blends eye-catching artwork by Belinda Suzette and detailed summaries on pubs and bars. 

It provides essential information such as phone numbers, operating hours, dress codes, atmosphere, food, average prices, drinks available, eftpos access, cover charge fees and average age of customers. 

Icons are also displayed for each pub showing what's on offer, including; live music, sport telecasts, DJs, beer gardens, fireplaces and function spaces. These details are very insightful and helpful.

The book is well designed and easy to navigate. All pubs and bars are categorised alphabetically and indexed by suburb. Professional colour photographs brighten up the pages.

Of course, they couldn't include every pub or bar in Melbourne, in fact they have hardly scratched the surface, but what they have done is include a good variety on what can be found. It simply shows how extensive the Melbourne nightlife is.

Being a Melbournian myself, I can safely say a few inclusions are a little bit sketchy for the "best" bars and pubs in Melbourne category. Yet, there are enough pubs and bars mentioned throughout this book to please all tastes and ages.

The people who brought us this book, are also the same people behind a neat little iPhone and Android App of the same name (Melbourne's Bars and Pubs). The phone app includes all of the relevant details listed in this book, as well as loads more pubs and bars.

The book is a handy, easy to use guide. Melbourne's Bars and Pubs, 2012 is a great tool to organise that crazy night out, or that quiet drink with friends. However, unlike a phone, the guide is not pocketsize, so it's not convenient to carry around on a night out.

This Pub-Goers Bible is available at all good bookstores, newsagencies, airports and online. RRP $19.90.

ISBN 978-0-9871717-0-2