Melbourne’s world-famous craft beer movement has been built with some of Australia’s best pubs and breweries.

Asking ten locals what the best pubs in Melbourne are and you’ll get ten different answers.

These bastions of community and culture help keep the city’s social scene alive seven days a week, serving as places to debrief, eat great pub food and celebrate Melbourne’s dynamic craft beer movement. The consistency is what makes Melbourne’s pub scene one of the world’s most diverse.

While locals are spoilt with some of Australia’s best restaurants, cafes, and bars, no one has truly experienced the capital of cool unless they’ve crawled through Melbourne’s best pubs. From Fitzroy and Footscray, these historic watering holes tell the story of a beer-loving culture that has been built from the ground up.

Below, you’ll find a guide to some of our favourite Melbourne pubs alongside some of the stalwart breweries that work so hard to keep this city competing on the global stage for hop supremacy. Personality is key to standing out in this packed scene, so we’ve curated the list based on character, creativity and popularity to help give you a decisive to-do list the next time you and your friends want to dive head-first into one of Melbourne’s defining traits.

The Shortlist

Best food: The Lincoln, Carlton
Best wine list: Builders Arms Hotel, Fitzroy
Best tap beer: The Rochey, Fitzroy
Best live music: Hotel Esplanade, St Kilda
Best atmosphere: The Royston, Richmond

Best pubs in Melbourne

1. Marquis of Lorne, Fitzroy

The old-fashioned Fitzroy bar is popular for post-work drinks. (Image: Marquis of Lorne)

Best for: A classic Melbourne pub packed with friendly locals every day of the week.

Marquis of Lorne is a constant hive of activity and one of the best pubs in Melbourne. Many locals would even rate it above all others. Such is the strength of this Fitzroy pub’s spotless reputation, which has only gotten stronger since a massive refurbishment in 2014.

At just over 150 years old, the historic pub tells the story of Fitzroy and its community, maintaining a distinct charm in an area that mixes grit with grace on every corner. Regulars seem just as taken with the hearty gastropub menu as they are with the endless taps across each level.

The best way to play at Marquis of Lorne is to grab some local pale ales and sink them under the sun. The small rooftop bar is one of Melbourne’s finest, peering out over the action of Fitzroy each night. Note that the pub is only open until 11pm every night, except on Fridays and Saturdays when you’ve got until 1am to soak up the vibes.

Address: 411 George St, Fitzroy

2. Garden State Hotel, CBD

The sprawling beer garden is surrounded by giant ficus trees. (Image: Garden State Hotel)

Best for: A buzzing beer garden and all the pub classics Melbourne locals can’t get enough of.

Best pub in Melbourne CBD? If it’s not, then Garden State Hotel is at least one of the front-runners. The classic pub is best known for its sprawling beer garden, framed by giant ficus trees and a seamless indoor-outdoor design.

The multi-level pub has plenty of distinctive spaces, from the vibrant Public Bar to the downstairs cocktail bar, the Rose Garden.

Wherever you end up, you can expect an eclectic mix of ideas all mashed into one. Grab a pint of your favourite pub beer at Public Bar if you’re in for something casual, but anyone planning to make a day of it should plan to crawl across all four spaces. Think of it as a pub crawl without stepping outside.

Address: 101 Flinders Ln, Melbourne

3. The John Curtin Hotel, Carlton

The John Curtin Hotel serves much-loved pub grub.

Best for: Catching a local band mid-week with a greasy cheeseburger in hand.

The John Curtin Hotel is an important fixture of the long and winding Lygon Street. Perched on the strip’s city end, the historic pub and live music venue is an essential link in any great Melbourne pub crawl.

We almost always find a mixed bag of a crowd packing The Curtin, whether they’re just there for Sonny’s Fried Chicken or catching some great local bands on a weeknight. It’s all underpinned by an infectiously electric atmosphere, making this one of the few pubs in Carlton that has that uncanny ability to make everything seem okay in the end.

An all-day session is the way to go for The John Curtin Hotel. Doors fling open at 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays, watching the space fill up with groups of mates who plan on spending all day immersed in the rustic atmosphere, which resists modernity with a classic rock & roll mentality that has endeared it since the venue first opened in 1859.

Address: 29 Lygon St, Carlton

4. Union Hotel, Brunswick

Best for: Those rowdy trivia nights and weekly live music.

There isn’t much about Union Hotel that distinguishes it from your prototypical Melbourne pub. A leafy beer garden, rowdy trivia nights, live music, classic pub grub and numerous taps with all the usual suspects. Yeah, pretty standard.

But it’s the simplicity that makes Union Hotel such a good time. The bells and whistles are stamped into the sticky pub floors, and it’s all part of that undeniable charm that keeps Brunswick locals coming back for more – often a few times a week. Sometimes, no frills is exactly what we all need right now.

Address: 109 Union St, Brunswick

5. Middle Park Hotel, Middle Park

Order British classic with a glass or two. (Image: Middle Park Hotel)

Best for: British pub classics elevated by local Victorian produce.

Middle Park Hotel opens at 12pm each day and is usually packed before the sun goes down. Working across the 45 taps is a mission, but that’s the pub has so many regulars. Pairing some classic British pub grub with a couple of cold ones at Middle Park Hotel is basically a rite of passage for Melburnians.

The historic venue opened in 1889 and has always nailed the fine line between Australiana and that classic British vibe. Wash your Scotch eggs and black pudding down with local Victorian beers for the quintessential experience. It’s our favourite thing to do here.

Address: 102 Canterbury Rd, Middle Park

6. Hotel Esplanade, St Kilda

Settle in for a sundowner with live music at The Espy. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Best for: The quintessential Melbourne pub experience, firing on all cylinders seven days a week

It’s not enough to say that Hotel Esplanade is an iconic Melbourne pub located in St Kilda. It is, of course. But it’s also so much more, with 12 bars, two restaurants and three stages spread across six levels, all contained in a mansion-esque white building that’s over 140 years old. I still remember the first time I walked up to the pub to see a gig at The Gershwin Room; I had never seen any hospitality operation this large and thriving.

Since it first opened in 1878, this seaside mansion has been as much an emblem for Melbourne as the city’s iconic laneways. Just about every Australian band has cut their teeth in one of those bandrooms while punters dive into the choose-your-own-adventure variety on offer.

Everything from brunch at The Espy Kitchen to dinner at Mya Tiger keeps regulars coming back.

Try some barrel-aged beer from local legends at The Espy Kitchen before catching a gig at The Gershwin Room if you’re short on time. The Espy is always a good idea. It always will be.

Address: 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda

7. The Royston, Richmond

Nab a seat at one of the most contemporary pubs in Melbourne. (Image: The Royston)

Best for: Supporting independent breweries in a modern pub.

Signposted by glaring neon, The Royston is Richmond’s favourite local and a beacon of good times for the community. A handsome interior, cobbled together with wooden walls and stone floors, keeps things minimal and modern, while a fierce commitment to supporting independent breweries gives the pub purpose.

The Royston was Melbourne’s first pub to exclusively tap the region’s independent breweries, shying away from the big names and giving locals something to be incredibly proud of. The food is just as good, with polished pub classics and a scope that includes more than just a few vegetarian afterthoughts. It’s one of the most contemporary pubs in Melbourne and represents the city’s changing tastes.

Address: 12 River St, Richmond

8. The Tote, Collingwood

The Tote has hosted iconic bands like The White Stripes. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Best for: Some of the best live music in Australia.

While regulars at The Tote may miss the bare-bones and sticky floors, this heritage Collingwood pub is thriving in its new skin. Relatively new, anyway. A major refurbishment in 2010 positioned The Tote as a modern masterpiece while still retaining some of that gritty history. Over a decade later, it still seems like it just opened yesterday.

Popular for mid-week gigs, the pub is an important fixture of the Australian music industry and has played host to some of the greatest homegrown bands throughout the years. That’s why the band room is still considered the venue’s beating heart, constantly packed out and sloshed with beer stains.

Our best tip: head out to the expensive courtyard for a more laid-back atmosphere and enjoy some classic pub food before or after a gig. It’s what all the locals do and helps keep the vibes high.

Address: 67-71 Johnston St, Collingwood

9. Harlow, Richmond

Sip on late-night cocktails in the hidden basement bar. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Best for: Late-night cocktails in the hidden basement bar.

There are many reasons we adore the Harlow. The massive beer garden is the front and centre, but those in the know would climb down to the basement bar and hide away with a few late-night cocktails any day of the week.

After being updated from its seedy past as The Great Britain Hotel, this modern alehouse is plastered with street art and handsome decor. It might not fit the bill for a classic pub, but this forward-thinking venue gets by with strong connections to local breweries and an equal focus on excellent cocktails and well-sourced wine.

Address: 447 Church St, Richmond

10. Captain Melville, CBD

Captain Melville serves Modern Australian plates. (Image: Captain Melville)

Best for: A large communal dining hall with upscale pub food.

Captain Melville may be one of the oldest pubs in Melbourne, dating back to 1853. You wouldn’t have guessed it from the decor. While it still holds onto its storied history, the pub enters the modern age with progressive, modern Australian pub food and a broad drinks list that takes in local beers, wines and cocktails.

The Colonial-style dining hall is the heart of this CBD pub and the best example of its push for modernity. Numerous native plants sit pretty on the tables, while olive trees and eucalyptus gum nuts bring the outdoors inside.

Bring your appetite. There’s no trace of salt and pepper calamari or loaded fries. Here you’ve got restaurant-quality fare using local produce. Expect dishes like steak tartare, wild mushroom tagliatelle, and confit duck leg – an upscale dining experience.

Address: 34 Franklin St, Melbourne

11. Builders Arms Hotel, Fitzroy

Builders Arms Hotel dishes up hearty pub snacks to pair with beer. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Best for: Food that isn’t your typical pub grub and a few beers out in the courtyard.

From fine dining to elevated Chinese flavours, The Builders Arms Hotel in Fitzroy has a long history of flipping pub dining on its head. Andrew McConnell’s high standards for food have blessed this Fitzroy pub many times over, drawing regulars away from standalone restaurants.

But don’t mistake this for anything but a great Melbourne pub. The well-dressed bistro may be the workhorse and the venue’s biggest point of distinction, but great local beers and a decent wine list are just as important.

Grab a frothie and head to the vibey courtyard for the best experience. If you’re more of a wine drinker, you’ll appreciate McConnell’s focus on new-wave producers and young winemakers across Australia.

Address: 211 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

12. Botanical Hotel, South Yarra

The Botanical Hotel is a Melbourne institution on Domain Road.

Best for: Afternoon drinks before a game at Melbourne Cricket Ground

Sandwiched by some of Melbourne’s best parks, Botanical Hotel benefits from its location on Domain Road. The National Gallery of Victoria is just a short walk away, as is the Shrine of Remembrance and South Yarra Station. Convenience is key for this humble pub, so you’d find just as many tourists as you would locals.

Location may be paramount, but the drinks list is another solid reason to work through Botanical Hotel’s offerings. The rotating taps list the usual suspects alongside a great rotating selection of local brewers, sticking with what works in Melbourne: the perfect balance between mass-market and supporting independent.

Address: 169 Domain Rd, South Yarra

13. The Lion & Wombat, St Kilda

Sink a few cold ones in the sunny beer garden. (Image: Pete Dillon)

Best for: A cosy British atmosphere that feels like a warm hug straight from London

The Lion & Wombat is as good as hopping on a flight to London. While Melbourne has several authentic British pubs, few can match the transportive atmosphere of this St Kilda favourite. It’s hard to compete with something as monolithic as The Espy, but this venue embodies the seaside suburb with confidence that’s hard to replicate.

From the Union Jack flag to the coat of arms, there’s no mistaking this neighbourhood classic for anything else. You’ll find many ex-pats here any day of the week, carefully breaking Scotch eggs and washing premium fish fingers sandwiches down with some of Stomping Ground’s finest. Or, even better, British-influenced cocktails like the Cuppa Tea with ginger, lemon, peach and jasmine-infused gin.

Address: 107 Grey St, St Kilda

14. The Drunken Poet, West Melbourne

The Drunken Poet is everything you’d expect from an Irish pub. (Image: Supplied)

Best for: A post-shopping drink after visiting Queen Victoria Markets.

The Drunken Poet is the best option if you’re searching for an Irish pub in Melbourne. Don’t just save this for St Paddy’s Day either. Given its proximity to the Queen Victoria markets, this cosy little pub is the best place to unwind with a pint of fresh Guinness after running around one of Melbourne’s best markets.

The focus is on live music and beer, but we’ll never head in with a full stomach. Those small bites like toasties and pickled eggs pair up beautifully with some frothy local brews. Head along on a Friday night to watch The Drunken Poet spring to life; you might even catch some traditional Irish dances if you’re lucky.

Address: 65 Peel St, West Melbourne

15. The Cornish Arms, Brunswick

Head up to the rooftop bar for a sundowner. (Image: The Cornish Arms)

Best for: Plant-based food paired with local brews

The Cornish Arms likes to march to the beat of its own drum in the endlessly cool suburb of Brunswick. A big point of difference here is the food. There are more than just a few options for vegans as well as those with other dietary requirements. This not only makes the pub much more accessible for everyone, but it leads the charge in the changing trends of how we eat and enjoy Victoria’s storied produce.

The menu rotates all the time, driven by a creative spirit that could easily tempt a carnivore over to plant-based food. We like grabbing the vegan souvlaki and heading out to the colourful beer garden to eat in front of those colourful murals.

Cornish Arms is a friendly family pub, and RMIT is only a short walk away, so you’ll find a very mixed crowd here every day of the week. That just means it’s harder to get a spot up at the sparkling rooftop bar, which has a separate snack menu and also mixes up some great classic cocktails.

Address: 163A Sydney Rd, Brunswick

16. The Wesley Anne, Northcote

Dial up the good vibes with live music at this Northcote pub. (Image: a_shared_image)

Best for: Moody gothic details and an impressive restoration of an old church

The Wesley Anne has been shaped into a former 19th-century church and has retained much of the original details that make it such an awe-inspiring building in Northcote. Much like Reine & La Rue, one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, the Wesley Anne impresses with its high ceilings, gothic standards and a head-turning wrought-iron chandelier.

The Northcote pub is most popular for having live music most nights, best taken with some time in the beer garden, where an open fire keeps punters cosy in the colder months. Grab whatever the meat pie of the day is if you want the best experience, but other dishes worth pairing with your ale include a peppered kangaroo fillet and a generous vegetarian tasting plate.

Address: 250 High St, Northcote

17. The Terminus Hotel, Fitzroy North

Enjoy classic beers from the tap at The Terminus Hotel.

Best for: Beer and steak night, seven days a week

The Terminus Hotel flirts with modernity but is perfectly content with being a pub lover’s pub – simple, a decent amount of taps, and excellent steak. That said, ever since it changed hands in 2021, this historic pub has pushed itself when it comes to classic pub dining.

Cinder, the pub’s polished dining room, is tasteful and feels like a step away from the venue’s long history. Order everything from delicious poke bowls and cured salmon to veal cotoletta and that gorgeous 1kg Riverine Rib Eye.

But if you’re here strictly for the beers, stick to the front bar or spill out into the massive courtyard. 17 taps help keep up variety with a good mix of legends and new styles.

Address: 492 Queens Parade, Fitzroy North

18. The Standard, Fitzroy

Best for: A sense of community.

We simply couldn’t have a list of what we think are the best pubs in Melbourne without giving a nod to The Standard. This Fitzroy classic was first licensed in 1865 and remains one of the neighbourhood’s most reliable meeting spots.

The whole community is here each day of the week, magnetised by the modest design that keeps The Standard as very much your everyday pub: Just good beer, live music and good people with fewer frills, aside from the oversized food menu.

Address: 293 Fitzroy St, Fitzroy

19. Newmarket Hotel, St Kilda

Best for: A Sunday session after a swim at St Kilda

Competing with The Espy is no easy feat, but Newmarket Hotel has plenty going for it in the iconic suburb of St Kilda. The slight wear and tear is part of the charm, lifted by a great sense of indoor-outdoor spaces that make the spot perfect for afternoon beers whenever the sun pops out.

Everything about this historic pub echoes influences from California, from the food to all the sessionable beers that rotate through the bar’s dynamic 17 taps. Grab a light ale and use it to wash down some soft-shell crab tacos in one of the many outdoor spaces – it’s one of our favourite things to do after a Sunday swim at St Kilda Beach.

Address: 34 Inkerman St, St Kilda

20. The Lincoln, Carlton

The historic Hotel Lincoln dates back to the 1950s. (Image: Jake Roden)

Best for: Top-tier pub food and their communal Sunday roast.

It’s been just over 10 years since The Lincoln landed in Iain Ling’s lap. The former MoVida Aqui almost immediately introduced a slick and sensitive modern refresh, keeping much of the historic bones, which date back to the 1950s, the same, but completely changing the food and drink.

Nowadays, The Lincoln is just as viable for a dinner as a few post-work frothies. A hearty Sunday roast keeps the communal vibe high on the weekends, but any day is a great one for this stalwart. I’m talking tiger prawn toast, beer-battered fish and the signature beef and red wine pie. This is warm, refined pub food that mirrors the romantic interior.

Address: 91 Cardigan St, Carlton

21. The Gem Bar & Dining, Collingwood

Best for: Americana vibes mixed with some Aussie rock & roll.

Big local acts, a sizable snack menu built mostly by burgers, American BBQ and tacos, and some of the best tapped beers in Collingwood. The Gem is exactly that, stretched across Wellington Street with the kind of Americana sensibility you’d expect from backwater bars in the Southern States of the USA.

It’s no surprise, then, that owner Tonino Cordisco decided to turn the former Curry Family Hotel into something that feels straight out of New Orleans when he took over in 2006. This was my first visit after a big trip to the USA, simply because it reminded me of my time in Nola. It has that transportive effect that separates The Gem from most other Melbourne pubs, especially when there’s some live music clanging in the background.

That ragtime piano in the corner makes you feel like you’ve just stepped out from the chaos of Bourbon Street, while the Elvis-heavy soundtrack brings in a little Tennessee swagger. That hard-working American smoker seals the deal with some Texas-style BBQ, and the local beers are all the better for it.

Address: 289 Wellington St, Collingwood

22. The Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood

Enjoy Happy Hour from 4pm to 6pm. (Image: David Robertson)

Best for: Its dog-friendly beer garden

This is where you go to pet dogs and drink beer while hanging out with locals in the beer garden. The Bendigo Hotel, known to locals as The Bendi, hasn’t moved away from its harder days, when metal gigs were gospel and locals were rowdier. But it’s much more open and refined these days, thriving on its welcoming atmosphere and homely service.

I used to love grabbing some tacos and just sitting out in the beer garden amongst all the doggies. Dingo Ate My Taco is no more; the Bendi’s kitchen has moved towards more classic pub grub in recent years, not only broadening the dining options but serving up parmies, pies and schnitzels that are a cut above everything else in the area.

Fridays and Saturdays are still dedicated entirely to live music and good times, but there’s often much more than metal and hard rock on the programming these days. It’s one of the best places to see a concert in Collingwood.

Address: 125 Johnston St, Collingwood

23. The Courthouse, North Melbourne

The Art Deco pub features a stylish, retro vibe. (Image: The Courthouse)

Best for: Warm beef cheeks and English-style ales in an Art Deco masterpiece

Art Deco brilliance defines The Courthouse, which has been through so many iterations since opening in 1857 that some locals still refer to it as the Railway Hotel or North Melbourne Hotel. It’s had centuries to build up its strong sense of local community, now steered so confidently by the same team behind Naughtons Hotel.

Drinking well at The Courthouse is all about grabbing some of those English-style ales and waiting for the Sunday roast to start firing up. Food is great any day of the week; however, with crowd-pleasers like honey-glazed chicken skewers and slow-cooked beef cheek too warm for Melbourne’s famously temperamental weather.

Address: 86-90 Errol St, North Melbourne

24. Royal Saxon, Richmond

Dine al fresco in the relaxed courtyard. (Image: Simon Shiff)

Best for: Pasta in the dining room, followed by parties in the courtyard.

There’s an obvious Italian bias to dining at the Royal Saxon, and the kitchen knows its way around a generously portioned plate of handmade pasta. You wouldn’t bat an eyelid if you’re friend ordered up the mushroom risotto – it’s one of the best things on the menu – and the pizza is always the chef’s kiss of the night.

But Royal Saxon isn’t a red-sauce Italian restaurant, it’s a hardy Aussie pub with the boots to match. That gorgeous brick-walled courtyard is teeming with life and laughter each day of the week, particularly on Friday nights when DJs flirt through and take the party from day to night.

Address: 545 Church St, Richmond

25. The Orrong Hotel, Armadale

Head to The Orrong Hotel for a satisfyingly good feed.

Best for: Kitschy vibes far outside the city

Armadale is full of those architectural oddities you wouldn’t expect to find this far outside of the city. The Orrong Hotel is one of its finest visual pops of Art Deco, dating back over 150 years. The historic pub was taken over by Matt Vero and Scott Connolly in 2021, but it still looks the same as it did decades ago.

A sensitive restoration just pulled out more of the character and uncovered even more original details. Now it’s pretty much a time capsule to the Melbourne of yesteryear, and a place of great interest for visitors who want to knock back a few with some locals. The kitschy interior and large games room are key to the old boozer, which throws a lifeline to locals each week with great specials. And yes, the requisite Sunday roast is often the best time to go.

Address: 709 High St, Armadale

26. The Beehive, Hawthorn

The refined public bar exudes a rich heritage charm. (Image: The Beehive)

Best for: An elevated pub meal followed by drinks in the courtyard.

The ebbs and flows of daily life in Hawthorn have been caked into the walls of the Beehive Hotel since it was first built in 1854. It’s the neighbourhood’s signature pub, now pitched for modern tastes with a 2024 revamp by locals Julian Moussi and Tony Pantano.

Melbourne’s best pubs have all been busy, constantly elevating their dining options over the years, falling more in line with the fussy standards you’ll find all across the city. The pub classics are all there: oysters, cheeseburgers, schnitzels, pasta. Then you’ve got some perfectly textured proteins coming from the woodfired oven. It’s a feast any night of the week.

A bigger focus on wine has also been slowly creeping into Melbourne’s pubs over the years; The Beehive perfects the trend. You’ll find a nicely edited list alongside your standard selection of tapped beers, plus a few rotating taps to better showcase the local craft beer scene.

The main dining room is refined and quiet enough that you can hear the clink of knives and forks. Although the pink-flooded public bar is where the magic happens, it shoots into a cosy courtyard that mirrors the building’s heritage charm.

Address: 84 Barkers Rd, Hawthorn

27. Goldy’s Tavern, Collingwood

The alfresco taverna is a prime spot for people watching. (Image: Goldy’s Tavern)

Best for: Fun bar snacks and day drinking

Fun bar snacks and a light atmosphere make Goldy’s Tavern a breath of fresh air each time you walk into that gorgeous, low-rise red-brick building. It’s anything but fresh, however, dating back over 150 years.

There’s something about drinking here during the golden hour that makes life feel that much more special. It’s perfectly positioned to catch the sun and spread its light across the interior. Pull up a seat any day of the week and you’ll find a special that matches your tastes, but the menu is playful enough. Think twists on the classic Aussie chiko roll, featuring lemon myrtle ranch, salumi with chilli-crusted lonza, and taramasalata, served with Yarra Valley caviar.

The $20 steak sandwiches are hard to beat on a late Friday afternoon, but Sunday is typically when you’ll find most locals heading down. Not just for the Sunday roast, but there’s also free pool until 6pm.

Address: 66A Gold St, Collingwood

28. The Napier Hotel, Fitzroy

The legendary old-school pub is famous for its welcoming British atmosphere. (Image: John Torcasio)

Best for: A crackling pool lounge and rotating specials board

Playing a round of pool by a crackling fire while darting back and forth between your favourite local draught. Yeah, the Napier Hotel sure is a special scene, and there have been plenty of ways this Fitzroy favourite has endeared itself over the years.

It’s always warm and inviting, feeling like a bit of a sanctuary in a neighbourhood where life can get a bit loud at the best of times. Hang out in the brick courtyard during summer – it can get tremendously busy out here, but few places in Fitzroy feel so lively. And that’s saying a lot.

A strong selection of local beers pairs well with dishes picked from cuisines all over. Yes, that towering bogan burger with steak, chicken schnitzel and a whole lot of support characters is perfection, if you’re hungry enough. But there’s always a rotating selection of specials to work your way through.

Address: 210 Napier St, Fitzroy

29. The Rochey, Fitzroy

Best for: Live music and weekend parties

The old Rochester Hotel was reborn in 2024 when The Rochey reopened to one of the busiest opening-day crowds I’ve seen in Melbourne. This pub has been the beating heart of bohemian Fitzroy since the 70s, always welcoming artists, musicians and writers who would have spent way too much time stumbling around the beer garden.

Head upstairs to the stylish Green Room to check out some live music. The Rochey lives for local gigs, and you’ll find regular programming all week-long to keep the mood high. It’s always been known as a party pub, but since its new lease on life, things at least seemed much more modern.

The busiest night is on Thursday, when the kitchen does up a nice $22 steak with chips and salad. However, the menu takes a broad approach, most popular for its heartwarming Nepalese curry, served with rice and papadams.

Address: 202 Johnston St, Fitzroy

30. Labour in Vain, Fitzroy

Pick from an extensive drinks list at Labour in Vain.

Best for: An old-school Fitzroy experience.

Not only is this the best-named pub in Melbourne (maybe even Australia), but Labour in Vain is a lightning rod that melts old Fitzroy with the suburb’s new swagger. The great communal pub opened on Brunswick Street in 1853 and has been a bastion of the neighbourhood’s polished-grit style.

You know the deal: sticky carpets, dense tap beer and some nice music programming that typically pops up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Melbourne has many pubs that trim the fat and offer a straightforward experience. In that sense, Labour in Vain isn’t unique, but it has never tried to be anything but a rough-around-the-edges hero for the working class.

Many locals constantly bemoan the modern changes in Fitzroy. It’s changed, they cry. This pub never will.

Address: 97A Brunswick St, Fitzroy

Best Breweries & Brewpubs in Melbourne

31. Bodriggy Brewing Company, Abbotsford

Have your fill of craft beers, from kettle sours to summer ales. (Image: Bodriggy Brewing Company)

Best for: A restaurant-quality South American meal paired with lighter styles of beer

Bodriggy is consistently pumping out some of the best beers in Melbourne. Which is surprising, seeing as you’d think they spread themselves a bit thin at the team’s Abbotsford venue. Food, wine and cocktails are just as much a focus as the beer at this popular mid-week hang.

Make sure you’re hungry for some Central and South American cuisine like smoked swordfish and ceviche. The freshness pairs well with those typically lighter styles of beer, making Bodriggy Brewing Company a great place to mix and match.

Head upstairs if you want a more intimate cocktail lounge, but the real action lies in those rotating taps, which could showcase everything from kettle sours to summer ales.

Address: 245 Johnston St, Abbotsford

32. Moon Dog World, Preston

Treat yourself to hearty burgers and beers. (Image: Moon Dog World)

Best for: Anyone who wants to lose themselves in an entire world dedicated to craft beer

Over 70 taps are spread across Moon Dog World in Preston. While they started small in Abbotsford, one of Melbourne’s most popular brewers has created an immersive experience that even includes a waterfall and a lagoon.

Post yourself up at the tiki bar or hang in the beer garden with its expansive playground. There are plenty of ways to play at Moon Dog World, turning this expansive warehouse into what is essentially Willa Wonka’s Chocolate Factory for craft beer enthusiasts.

Get across all Moon Dog’s experiments and crowd-pleasers, ticking off styles like imperial stouts, pilsners, IPAs, sours, lagers, and pale ales. Ask to see the hidden barrel-ageing room if you want to take your experience to the next level.

Address: 32 Chifley Dr, Preston

33. Kaiju Beer & Pizza, Huntingdale

Pair handmade pizzas with locally brewed craft beers. (Image: Supplied)

Best for: Craft beer with a slice of pizza

Callum and Nat Reeves have complete faith in the staying power of hop-forward brews. Kaiju, which launched in 2013, is known for those big, bold flavours that appeal mostly to hardy beer drinkers who prefer the classics. And despite the push for modernity with Melbourne’s ever-changing craft beer movement, it’s worked well for the team.

Kaiju Beer & Pizza is still one of the most popular breweries in Melbourne, carving a warehouse space with around 16 taps – some of which could never change, lest regulars start a riot.

Grab some hand-stretched pizzas for your crew. Though be mindful of all the carb-loading. These big-bodied beers are unapologetically aggressive for many visitors, but Melbourne locals can’t get enough.

Address: 27 Hume St, Huntingdale

34. Stomping Ground Brewery & Beer Hall, Collingwood

Snag a spot in the verdant beer garden.

Stomping Ground’s beer hall is one of the rowdiest spots in Collingwood. You may even feel like you’re in Munich when you walk into the converted warehouse space, brimming with life and that life-affirming smell of fresh hops.

The label’s founders, Steve Jeffares and Guy Greenstone, are stalwarts when it comes to the craft beer movement across Australia. They started The Local Taphouse in St Kilda while also founding the Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular (GABS) to help solidify Australia as one of the most inventive markets for beer in the world.

The bar has a style for everyone. Name your favourite beer: it’s likely Stomping Ground has refined it with a new twist. Head along in winter when the team tap some delicious stouts.

Address: 100 Gipps St, Collingwood

35. Mountain Goat Brewery, Richmond

Mountain Goat Brewery offers a rotating selection of craft beers on tap.

Best for: A mid-week beer and pizza night

While a lot of Melbourne’s best breweries like to go large and immersive, Mountain Goat keeps it rather simple for their Richmond production.

The label has been around since 1997, helping establish the craft beer movement in Melbourne long before the world started paying attention. And while the label sold to Asahi in 2015, there’s still a fierce sense of authenticity when you walk into that beer hall and sit amongst the large fermentation tanks.

It’s all about beer and pizza here. Simple is key, so work your way through the core range like Hightail Ale and Two Step Cider while fighting your friends for the last slice. There’s always a brilliant one-off experiment or limited edition being tapped behind the bar, so settle down with an obscure style, preferably after the free brewery tour held every Wednesday evening at 6:30pm.

Address: 80 North St, Richmond

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