We all have a favourite pub or bar. So exactly where do you reckon is the best bar or pub for a beverage in Melbourne?
There is loads of separate things which can make a great pub in Melbourne: a beer garden, a pub restaurant… even a brewery on the premises. Whether you’re looking for a tavern-style pub or something a little more classy… there’s plenty around to suit everyone’s tastes.
But what matters is what you reckon is the best pub in Melbourne. Who wins the prize for Melbourne’s best pub in your view?
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
The Royal Mail on Spencer Street! Great food, different (“Roadkill Wednesdays”), great beers on tap, friendly, down to earth staff. Comfortable atmosphere.
The Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. Best beer garden.
Agree on The Standard Hotel. Great food and huge beer garden. Only bad thing are the possums that occasionally dump in your beer.
The Retreat in Brunswick
Great new pub in Montague St south Melbourne – cnr Buckhurst.
THE FLEECE
Has a rooftop deck you wouldnt know was there + great food too.
The Fleece is weird. It’s like it doesn’t know if it is a tradie pub or an upper class pub. It seems to put out this “newly renovated” image of being wanky and up market but you go in there, and its just the same old brickies and plumbers that’ve been going there all these years.
I have been to Melbourne once. In the week I was there, I visited the Ivy (nice comfy couches and kooky crowd that I fit in with… is that a good or bad thing??), the Espy (great conversation with random travellers), the bar where I was staying at the Novotel (the whole time was spent trying to get on with my book and not to get picked up by lonely older men), the tiny stage and beer garden out the back of Pure Pop Records (that was very cute and musical and snug, but a little TOO snug…. but still gotta love an indie record store with a bar!!)…. and the one on St Kilda Beach with the big cane chairs and the fireplace inside. Gotta say… I usually prefer old, historic pubs, but this new place on the beach had it all; yummy food, great service, hot bartender, lots of different spots to sit and have a long catch-up with a mate, nice beer, and….. BOARD GAMES!! Squeeeee!
I don’t know if it’s still the same a year on, but 12 months ago I had a great arvo there.
I like the Marquis of Lorne in Fitzroy. Cute beer deck up the top. Or the Union Club. Keen on that kitchen of theirs.
Everywhere in Melbourne except
THE ROYAL MAIL ON SPENCER – THE WORST BAR IN MELBOURNE!!!
1. There are sleazy and ugly old people smoking outside all the time
Not for date or business people. The bar full with local drunken people like to hang out outside. You dont really want to go in if you are bringing your date.
2. The room is empty
Why is nobody here on a Thursday night? Just opened? Don’t kid me, I can see the look of desperation on the staff’s faces.
3. Spruikers try and drag you in sometimes
Obvious really. If they have to use the pressurised tactics of Benidorm timeshare spruikers…
4. Birds on tables
If the birds (or rats for that matter) are inside it’s even worse. And believe me, recently I’ve been attacked by sparrows both inside and outdoors and had my food stolen. Any self respecting restaurant doesn’t want birds near their tables. I’m resisting the obvious jokes.
5. Smells
If you can smell anything bad, especially the staff, you are in trouble. Either chef doesn’t change his clothes or the cooking oil or the restaurant is on fire.
6. Floor and toilet
I’m particularly thinking about floor finishes, anything with shocks of colour. If it looks like the toilet tiles, you’d be better visiting somewhere else.
6. Erections, part one
If menus stand bolt upright they are very probably repeating. Rarely, will they be updated, which means the food is unlikely to be seasonal and very probably frozen. Quality is inversely proportional to the height of the menu. Have you ever noticed that really posh restaurants have flat menus that won’t wipe clean?
7. Food on the menu
I mean physically. If your hands are sticky after touching a menu then the restaurant very probably doesn’t care. And very probably the menu is always the same
8. Erections, part two
Unless we are talking wine bottles, anything that large should be kept well away from the table. I’m thinking of laughably large food receptacles, ketchup bottles and, of course, the ubiquitous joke pepper grinder.
9. Room with a view
If the room has a view, food certainly will not be cheap. And rarely will the food be good.
10. Roadkill night and other themes
Really? If their business is good, why do they bother to have all the different name for the night? Food is still the same. Selling expiry food on the special menu??
11. Long menus
Over 20 items split across entrée, main and dessert is pushing it. If a restaurant is trying to be all things to all people, it isn’t very discerning. It’s probably sticking everything in the freezer and then microwaving it.
12. Erections, part three
If you spot any dessert or cake that is higher than say six inches – I’m being generous here – leave immediately. It’ll be bought in from some cheesecake chain, rot your teeth and very probably give you diabetes.
13. Anything peculiar
Just follow your instincts. If there are weird themes, uniforms – grown men dressed as chickens –or if anything makes you uneasy, just leave. This applies to quiz nights and belly dancing. It smacks of desperation.
14. Pokies/Footy Tipping
If gambling is the central theme, the whole restaurant are likely to be lurid and the food bad. Dont trust their footy tipping score. They may fool you the score and let their best friend to win the tipping!!!
15. Napkins
Controversial this one, but have you ever noticed how the slightest breeze can send your smelly napkin across the room. It is so smelly that you want to use your own cloth to wipe your mouth.
16. Vanilla ice cream
I’ve already aired my views on this. What vanilla ice cream is shorthand for is the mundane and unimaginative menu.
Madang Korean Bar on the corner of Lonsdale and Swanston.
A very sophisticated and comfortable Korean bar, with lots of korean drinks and cocktails. And the Korean food there is delicious as well.
The restaurant and karaoke they have upstairs is very good as well.
The Espy has so much going for it: live music, atmosphere, history and a great beachside location (try to be there around sunset!) Note: it’s probably not for the upmarket crowd.