Lily Blacks is far and away one of the best bars in Melbourne. It's got everything you want. Great cocktails and staff who know how to make them with some good banter as well. Good beer like hawthorn on tap, a great little smoking area that looks over Meyers place lane way and it's open long hours.
Lily's is very much a Hospo bar so it really picks up late at night. I've spent many a time here at around 1-2 am on a sunday or monday and it's been humming with life. As mentioned the staff are very good at their craft as well as chatty and it has a very classy yet relaxed decor. Do an image search on google to get the idea.I used to really hate this bar because a friend who introduced me to it ended up dating my ex girlfriend, but that not really their fault so i decided to forgive them. Great place for after work drinks, a date or just hanging solo at the bar.
Also check out Iron Bartender when they go head to head with other Bartender around Melbourne and try out new drinks. The guys who own this also run Double Happiness, New Gold Mountain and Mr Wow's so they know a thing or two.
