In its latest iteration, Geoff Lindsay (formerly Pearl and Dandelion) has taken command of the kitchen and is serving his famous red duck curry alongside pub favourites such as veal schnitzels and aged steaks. This happy little pub is our pick for the best family-friendly joint in town because even if your family is two mums and a dog you’ll be welcomed with open arms. But walk in and you’ll know you’re someplace different. It's easy to spend all day at the Espy and go from front bar to restaurant, band room to basement bar, public bar to courtyard, and cocktail bar to balcony before realising it's going to be quite the stumble home.The Palace remains one of the brightest jewels in the crown of Melbourne pubdom. Big screens populate most walls, with bar staff more than happy to accommodate requests for background music to be subdued in favour of blaring commentary. Lilai sails off into the sunset with the neighbourhood goodwill borne of five years of Italian excellence, while Donovan – the chef who turned around Footscray’s Station Hotel and South Melbourne’s Wayside Inn and has proven he knows his way around a pub – has arrived in Fitzroy packing meat.The venerable Wesley Anne is one of Melbourne’s oldest and prettiest pubs. The cases contained 60 left-footed rubber shoes. It’s furnished with hard wooden benches and squeaky bar stools, the floors are sticky, and the solo drinkers all look like they were members of punk bands in the ’80s. Fridays & Saturday’s showcase traditional Irish and folk music, while on Sundays, the DP hosts bluegrass.No kitchen to speak of, but they do a pretty killer toasted sandwich.From Melbourne laneways bars to Fitzroy hipster pubs The newly reopened Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda, one of Melbourne’s most iconic pubs, is far too big and sprawling to simply pop by for a pint. Find a table . South Melbourne Nestled away in the Inner North, this sprawling sports pub has a well-earned reputation as the premier destination for locals and visitors alike to watch the game. Try another? A rookie at the lingo, Les retorted: "What do you think this is — an orchestra! Inside the Auburn, however, you’re greeted with a pristine warmth akin to an upmarket country pub. Warmly lit by tiny lamps ensconced in the walls, it feels like an old fashioned gentlemen's club that just happens to have one of the best craft beer lists in the city. Déjà vu! On every scale one could judge a pub, these guys top the list. At any of three bars, chipper and quick-witted staff pour ultra-safe beers like Fat Yak and Peroni, with an excellent amber from McCracken’s.Set against the hustle of an ever-gentrifying Brunswick Street, this corner pub has clearly seen its fair share of loud music and good times. After many a lunch at other city venues , the members would retire to the Duke for further refreshment . It’s practised at being cosy and comfortable and here’s why: this Melbourne gem has graced the corner of Napier Street, Fitzroy for over 130 years.The exterior of this Hawthorn East mainstay has a commanding, fortress-like presence along the skyline as you approach via its namesake road. The beer cellar is situated under the house, and is barricaded with battens and barbed wire. Not so here, where the crowd is diverse in age and employment, kids are welcome, and the big shady beer garden is proudly pooch positive. ), Imperial’s rooftop bar is perfect for any occasion. We already have this email. South Melbourne Hang out at the cosy front bar to enjoy great banter across the counter, a live blues, jazz, country or soul performance and a pint of their constantly changing craft taps pouring local craft heroes like Killer Sprocket, Cavalier and Three Ravens, with many more in the bottle. Regardless, the Captain Melville has been an iconic inner city pub since 1853Seemingly out of place surrounded by modern CBD buildings, the Melville is one of the few bluestone buildings left in the city. High bar tables run the length of the bar side, while the main part of the room is now a dining area, filled with comfy booth seating.
More Déjà vu! We already have this email.
You might not expect to find a place like the Grosvenor here on Brighton Road in St Kilda East. The south side is now a lean, clean beer bar full of shiny fixtures, blonde wood and a beer-friendly menu. It’s nice to see a younger demographic holding up the bar and exploring the huge tap beer list – hailing from all over the world, with tasting paddles and a focus on local craft and Euro brews. Downstairs you’ll find the public bar and lounge serving a wide variety of local craft beers in comfortable surrounds. These are not the kind and generous gods of your Meredith Festival, nor the flower-clad and saffron-robed ones your parents remember fondly from the days of your conception before they cut their hair and put on a suit. Officially the oldest pub in Melbourne, The Duke has been standing on this spot since 1850, and serving beers since 1853. This pub’s interior is exactly what you were expecting - dark brickwork, dated sports memorabilia, a chalkboard with the day’s specials, and smiley bar staff having a chat to some locals. Seriously, these guys are walking the walk when it comes to local produce. I bet there's no better way to spend a Friday right?Oh! Beers include neighbours Mountain Goat alongside weird and wonderful stuff like To Øl Passion of the Weisst from Denmark, which wins the award for beer name of the year and tastes like sour passionfruit on toast. Reserve a Table. The hand pump usually pours 3 Ravens Black Stout, because who wants fridge-cold carbonated beer in the Melbourne winter?Situated plum on the Bridge Road thoroughfare, the Mt View Hotel is Melbourne’s perfect sports hub. Nestled atop the Imperial Hotel lies one of Melbourne’s most impressive rooftop bars, and the best news is this show stopping space is available for you to hire.