Melbourne is no stranger to a good pub. Almost every suburb in this sunny south Australian city claims a beloved watering hole or two—though ultra-cool Richmond takes the crown, boasting the highest density of pubs. From stellar gastro pubs with cracking fireplaces to lively gems boasting sunny beer gardens and some much-loved local boozers, the best pubs in Melbourne await.
Head to an all-weather beer garden in Collingwood after work for a happy hour. Dig into midweek steak specials at a buzzing Windsor pub. Get competitive with your mates at trivia night in Northcote.
There’s a pub for every occasion in Victoria’s capital. Visit one of the best pubs in Melbourne’s to raise the bar on any evening and book your spot on OpenTable today.
The best pubs in Melbourne for great beers and food – read on for a guide
For top-notch pub food with local ingredients – visit Naughtons Parkville Hotel in Parkville
Naughtons Parkville Hotel is a stunning 150-year-old building nestled amongst the giant elm trees of Royal Parade. Warm woods and deep greens fuel the sort of inviting ambience that urges you to spend many hours here. The kitchen champions sustainability ethos with a nose-to-tail concept and uses ingredients from local farmers and producers. Feast on inventive pub fare such as toasted semolina spaghetti, beef and rosemary pie, zucchini and eggplant tart with confit potato and a signature dry-aged duck breast and confit leg with duck sausages and kipfler potatoes to share. If you don’t want your evening to end, consider stretching the night by booking one of the rooms upstairs.
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For one of the best pubs in Melbourne for live music – try Northcote Social Club in Northcote
Drop by the iconic Northcote Social Club to catch a mid-week gig at this pub and live music venue. Australia-focused tap beers star on the drinks menu, while local performers take the stage most nights of the week. Add weekly specials such as parma night Mondays, trivia on Tuesdays, pie night on Wednesdays, steak on Thursdays, bingo nights, and Sunday roasts, and there are many reasons to grab a pint here. Must-try include Southern fried cauliflower with aioli, the Indian-inspired eggplant and coconut kasundi with pappadums, char-grilled steak sandwich, and a smoked chicken with black bean in dark ale BBQ sauce. Finish off with a sticky date pudding with spiced rum butterscotch sauce, and vanilla ice cream.
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For one of the best pubs meals in Melbourne – book at Royal Oak Hotel in Fitzroy North
If you’re looking to quench your thirst on a sunny afternoon, the Royal Oak Hotel (run by the team behind other top spots such as Union House and Mount Erica Hotel) is the place. The pub’s many locally brewed beers on tap and minimal intervention wines cater to a range of palates. Post up at the bar to soak in the afternoon rays that stream through the windows and you’ll see why this newcomer is already a hit with locals. Expect the same laid-back vibes that make up its sibling joints, plus quality drinks and solid seasonal fare such as BBQ marlin skewers with chilli, marinated mussels and French onion dip on toast, beer battered rockling with chips, and barbecued lamb leg with babaganoush and chickpeas.
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For one of the best pubs in Melbourne for a Greek feast – try Golden Fleece Hotel in South Melbourne
An afternoon at the Golden Fleece Hotel channels a Mediterranean getaway. White concrete walls and terracotta accents set a coastal tone on the bright, open-air rooftop. The menu is also Aegean-accented, featuring dishes such as pan-fried saganaki, housemade Cypriot lamb and pork sausages, eggplant chips with tzatziki, souvlaki and moussaka. Wash it all down with a Floral Rose Rhodes with gin, rose and vanilla syrup, a Santorini sour (made with ouzo, an anise-flavoured aperitif), or another one of the pub’s many Greece-inspired cocktails.
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For one of the best hidden pubs in Melbourne – don’t miss The Standard Hotel in Fitzroy
The Standard Hotel is a beloved local gem tucked in the quiet back streets of Fitzroy. The pub is well worth the hunt, especially for its leafy beer garden. Inside, leadlight feature windows and wooden panelling fuel an old-world charm. MVPs on the reliable pub menu include a double-wagyu cheeseburger, beer-battered fish and chips, chilli beans enchiladas, housemade spinach and ricotta gnocchi with red pesto sauce, lamb skewers, and a selection of grilled steaks served with port jus, green peppercorn, or mushroom sauce. Expect live music every Sunday and a pop culture trivia night every Tuesday.
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For one of the best gastro pubs in Melbourne – book at Mount Erica Hotel in Prahran
The vibe is unapologetically vintage at Mount Erica Hotel thanks to wood-panelled walls, dim lights, and a crackling fireplace. The smart, family-friendly gastropub is a revered neighbourhood favourite, and it’s a distinction unlikely to change anytime soon. The food mirrors the nostalgic ambiance with throwback dishes such as roasted duck leg, market fish with seasonal garnish, crab linguine, rotisserie chicken, and all-day, weekly rotating Sunday roasts. Steak day on Tuesdays and oysters and fizz make Mount Erica Hotel a must-try in the Prahran neighbourhood.
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For one of the best pubs in Melbourne for steak – try The Clare Castle in Port Melbourne
Expect a swanker-than-usual pub experience at The Clare Castle. As one of Port Melbourne’s oldest spots, this stately stalwart lets revellers choose from an elegant indoor dining room, a wine lounge with a stunning fireplace, terrace, bar, or footpath tables. The various settings are well-suited for sharing plates of seafood pasta or digging into one of the Moreton Bay bug dishes the restaurant is renowned for. Steak is one of the highlights here, with beef supplied by local fine meats producer Peter Dinley – Butcher. Don’t miss the black Angus medallion of rump and the stellar surf’n’turf steak topped with king prawns served with creamy garlic sauce. It all adds up to a great pub experience for marking special occasions with family or friends.
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For one of the best pubs to watch footy in Melbourne – visit Hotel Collingwood in Collingwood
This storied Smith Street spot was the historic Robert Burns Hotel in a past life. Thanks to a 2022 refresh by the Only Hospitality Group (the force behind popular cafes such as Bentwood and Clubhouse), it’s now a stylish new retreat complete with a suave olive green and white colour palette, a couple of fireplaces, and an all-weather beer garden. Pub grub is treated to Asian accents on the menu, resulting in bar snacks such as fried chicken bao and prawn and pork dumplings. Hotel Collingwood hasn’t forgotten about its predecessor—a stylish upstairs space aptly named Robbie pays homage to its former avatar and is bookable for private dinners and events. Expect sports screenings and events, happy hours, and trivia and steak nights.
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For one of the best pubs to watch footy in Melbourne – book at The Orrong Hotel in Armadale
Expect refined remixes to classic pub grub at this Armadale mainstay. The 150-year-old Art Deco pub is known for an especially inventive menu full of staples such as chicken parma topped with braised tomato sugo (slow-simmered Italian sauce), smoked leg ham, and cheese. Like many Melbourne pubs, the Orrong Hotel is all about weeknight specials. Stop by after work for tacos and margaritas on Mondays, a pot and parma on Wednesdays, try your luck with the infamous meat raffle on Thursdays, or come in for the Sunday roast, decked with all the trimmings. Expect NBA, baseball, AFL, rugby and footy screenings and Grand Prix viewing parties. As an added bonus, kids eat free between 4 pm and 6 pm on Monday to Thursday, confirming that the Orrong is the ultimate crowd-pleaser.
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Corner Hotel in Richmond
This sporty Swan Street pub is one of Melbourne’s prime venues for a pre- or post-AFL match pint. Footy fans flock at the Corner Hotel to watch games on one of two LCD screens. They’re also drawn to a killer local brew menu and shareable snacks such as lemon and paprika calamari and five-spice fried chicken ribs. But the pub is far from a one-trick pony: the rooftop terrace has DJs on weekends and the downstairs music venue hosts bands throughout the year.
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For a lively neighbourhood pub – book at The Wolf Windsor in Windsor
Spot the wolf head above the front door of this Art Deco facade on bustling Chapel Street and you will know you are in the right place. The Wolf Windsor is a quintessential neighbourhood pub that’s known for some of the best specials. Mondays are all about half-priced mains, there’s trivia on Tuesdays, $25 chicken parma on Wednesdays, and steaks on Thursdays. On weekends, expect a higher vibration with late-night party vibes and a pumping dance floor on Friday and Saturdays. Go on a Sunday and tuck into the roast of the week and live music to boot.
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Visit one of the best pubs in Melbourne and book your spot on OpenTable today.
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