Bars & Pubs

The Best Pubs In Melbourne For 2025

By

A good pub does exactly what it promises on the tin: a spot to catch up with mates, knock back a few pints, and naturally, tuck into a parma.

These days, Melbourne's pub scene runs the full gamut, from nostalgic, Australiana-soaked public bars to swish dining rooms helmed by top-tier chefs. With a plethora of options, finding your go-to can be a bit of a mission.

Whether you're chasing a frosty schooner or a parma that hangs off the plate, we’ve rounded up the best 20 pubs in Melbourne for 2025.

We want you to be the first in the know. Join Urban List Insiders, we’ll shoot you all Melbourne’s best things to eat, drink and do every week.

Melbourne's Best Pubs At A Glance​

If you're chasing the city's best Irish pub, Guinness, a good spot to get a steak or even just tuck into a tasty craft beer we've got you covered with our top recs for Melbourne's best pubs.

Without further ado, here are our picks for the city's best watering holes. These are Melbourne's best pubs for 2025:

The Best Gastro Pubs In Melbourne

Alright, the name gastro pub is probably a little dated, we'll admit but what else do you call these pubs with excellent food offerings, a decent wine list and a stunning refurbed interior? If you've got a better way of describing them, drop us a DM. But for now, these are Melbourne's best gastropubs for a bite.

Royal Oak Hotel 

442 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy North

A building on the corner with red and white bricks, one of the best pubs in Melbourne.Image credit: Royal Oak Hotel | Supplied

From the crew behind the ever-loved Marquis of Lorne, the Royal Oak Hotel has had a slick glow-up and wasted no time cementing itself as one of Melbourne’s best gastro pubs. It’s got all the nostalgic Australiana feels—vintage beer mirrors, footy on the screen and beers chilled to perfection.

But the food is dialled up, from a schnitzel lounging in a pool of rich mustard sauce to the strip steak sidled up to whole-roasted shallots and a peppercorn jus.

READ MORE

The Gertrude Hotel

148 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

One of the best pubs in Melbourne, this is a table in a modern European pub.Image credit: The Gertrude Hotel | Niki Schuch

When Andy Lockyear (ex Rockpool Bar & Grill) and Iza Dawkins took over The Gertrude Hotel, they took this pub from diver to gastro, trading the hectic pink and green lightning bolt frontage to a modern Euro makeover with curbside dining underneath cedar trees.

Inside, it’s all the Aussie pub suspects, reimagined with Italian flair, think share-style food, hand-stretched pizzas, homemade pasta and an indulgent tiramisu—all inspired by Dawkins’ trip to Italy.

READ MORE

The Lincoln 

91 Cardigan Street, Carlton

The exterior of a white building with green umbrellas outside, one of the best pubs in Melbourne.
Image credit: The Lincoln | Supplied

This 170-year-old Carlton icon is still serving up the pub classics like bangers and mash but it’s not afraid to flex its culinary chops with elevated plates like pumpkin gnocchi with summer squash, sage, cime di rapa and goat’s curd.

The Lincoln is also match-day ready, with plenty of tables for the whole crew, beer flowing from the taps, and a wine list that could hold its own against some of Melbourne’s best pubs.

READ MORE

The Vic Hotel

43 Victoria Street, Footscray

The Vic Hotel in Footscray is easy one of Melbourne's best pubs.Image: The Vic Hotel | Supplied

Dating back to 1870 (making it possibly the oldest pub to grace this list) The Vic Hotel is a little bit of everything you want in a good pub: steeped in history with a tasteful refresh, but also all the brews and menu classics you're after.

Take a peek at the unique, oval bar top in the main bar before you find yourself a seat and dive into a wagyu cheeseburger, chorizo scotch egg (our personal fave drinking snack), a hand-crumbed parma or a monster Otway Pork cutlet. There's also a ripping selection of vegetarian options as well like their beer battered halloumi burger, or ricotta gnocci.

Whether you’re in search of a hearty meal or just a place to chill with mates, The Vic Hotel continues to be a beloved staple in Footscray for both old-timers and newcomers alike. 

READ MORE

The Builders Arms Hotel

211 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

The outside of one of the best pubs Melbourne has with people dining inside.Image credit: The Builders Arms Hotel | Supplied

Announcing its charm on the corner of Gertrude and Gore Street, The Builders Arms Hotel is classic Melbourne pub territory. Inside, it’s split into three: a bar, a refined bistro and a secluded beer garden out back. With Andrew McConnell at the helm, expect inventive pub fare, a sharp drinks list and a crowd that knows good food when they see it.

READ MORE

Marquis Of Lorne 

411 George Street, Fitzroy

Two people standing out front of a hotel, one of the best pubs in Melbourne.Image credit: Marquis Of Lorne | Supplied

Perched proudly on the corner of Kerr and George, the Marquis of Lorne is no ordinary pub. It nails the classics, including the humble chicken schnitzel, but the real game-changer is the rockling burger, stacked with dill aioli, shallots, cos and a pile of chips. Cap it off on the intimately spaced rooftop, and you’ve got a local that delivers on all fronts.

READ MORE

The Orrong Hotel 

709 High Street, Armadale

A 70s-style dining room with prints on the wall at one of the best pubs in Melbourne.Image credit: The Orrong Hotel | Supplied

Perched on the corner of Orrong Road and High Street, this landmark got a glow-up a few years back, but all the original charm is still intact. With 150 years under its belt, The Orrong Hotel earned its rep as the local’s local, serving up the classics (parma, Angus burger) alongside slicker options like panko-crusted pork cutlets.

READ MORE

The Best Dive Pubs In Melbourne

Sometimes you need a spot that's a bit dirty, divey and all around relaxed to sink a few pints. A lot of the city's great old pubs haven't had a glow up yet, making those sticky carpets, arcade games and cheap pints feel authentic and we're here for it. These are our fave dive pubs in Melbourne.

The Royston Hotel

12 River Street, Richmond

A curved bar with people drinking beer at the one of best pubs Melbourne is serving up in 2024.Image credit: The Royston Hotel | Supplied

The Royston snagged a spot on our best parmas guide, so it’s no surprise it’s also in Melbourne’s top pubs. Tucked away on River Street in Richmond’s quiet backstreets, it’s a no-brainer to visit on Mondays or Wednesdays for their famous $19 parmas, and make sure to schedule a round of pool first thing when you do.

READ MORE

The Prince Alfred 

619 Church Street, Richmond

A Church Street favourite, affectionately known as P.A’s, The Prince Alfred is a top spot for putting back a couple of schooeys. With over 15 beers on tap, you can go an entire visit without ever sampling the same beer twice. Dogs are welcome and encouraged, and the menu is stacked with stellar options.

READ MORE

The Retreat Hotel

280 Sydney Road, Brunswick

You won’t find a reliable 'best pub in Melbourne' list that doesn’t include Brunswick’s Retreat Hotel. This spacious beer garden is primed for whiling away the weekend with a sizable beer selection, live music in the band room and pub trivia every Monday and Tuesday to kick off the week. 

On the food front, the pub classics are in abundance but it's the cheeseburger with a bourbon barbecue sauce that's the go-to.

READ MORE

Windsor Castle

89 Albert Street, Windsor

Big, green, and topped with pink elephants, The Windsor Castle Hotel isn’t exactly royal, but it’s a palace for locals. Drool over top-notch pub grub and prize lazy Sunday arvos spent cradling a cold one while catching up with mates in the lush beer garden.

READ MORE

The Corner Hotel

57 Swan Street, Richmond

Considered one of the best pubs in Melbourne, the corner hotel sits on a busy street illuminated at night.Image credit: The Corner Hotel | Supplied

The Corner Hotel, just a short stagger from Richmond Station, is the home of live music in Melbourne. The beer-soaked floors of the band room and sunlit rooftop terrace all pile into the legacy that the Swan Street venue has cultivated since originally being built back in the early nineteenth century.

Grab a few frosty pints and tuck into the extensive menu from pasta, parmas steak sangas and more, all while taking in the sunset vistas over the CBD.

READ MORE

The Standard Hotel

293 Fitzroy Street, Fitzroy

An eclectic bar filled with posters and bottles at a best pub in MelbourneImage credit: The Standard Hotel | Supplied

Dripping in esoterica and retro quirkiness, this backstreet pub is a gem worth searching for. The Standard Hotel is part traditional pub, part sprawling beer garden, known for its quality rotation of live music and no-fuss menu. 

They’re vegan and vegetarian-friendly, and there’s plenty to choose from when it comes to drinks, an easy contender for the best pub in Melbourne.

READ MORE

The Tote 

67-71 Johnston Street, Collingwood

Built in the 19th century and carrying its name for nearly 150 years, The Tote is a Collingwood institution. Forget polished interiors—this place oozes rock ’n’ roll, soaked in spilled beer and punk energy. Grab a pint, settle in and soak up the real deal: live local music that keeps the spirit loud, proud, and unapologetically raw. The Tote isn’t a pub; it’s a rock shrine.

READ MORE

The Best Pubs For Craft Beer In Melbourne

So you're feeling a little fancy and want to indulge in a bangin' $20 pint? Hey, that's what payday is for right, it's your shout? Craft beer's definitely high on drinkers' lists of needs and wants at a good pub, so we've picked out a few of the best in Melbourne.

The Esplanade Hotel 

11 The Esplanade, St Kilda

A large white building on a main street which is one of the best pubs melbourneImage credit: Hotel Esplanade | Supplied

Simply put, there is no other pub like the Espy. St Kilda’s Hotel Esplanade has been an iconic establishment of the area since its inception 146 years ago. The revamped Espy now boasts 12 bars over its five levels with an insane range of handpicked wines, signature cocktails and craft beers.

READ MORE

Holmes Hall 

15 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds

An old-style street grocer building with a green roof sign, one of the most unique pubs and one of the best pubs in Melbourne.Image credit: Holmes Hall | Supplied

The team behind The Ascot Lot gave the old Russo’s supermarket a new lease, transforming it into Holmes Hall—a sprawling 300-seat mess hall, tap house, bottle shop, and laneway bar. 

Expect quality pub fare from golden parmas to share-style plates of burrata, plus a fridge full of 20 crafty tins and local brews like Mountain Goat and Range on tap.

READ MORE

Railway Club Hotel

107 Raglan Street, Port Melbourne

The Railway Club Hotel is Port Melbourne pub royalty, nestled in a charming Victorian-era building on Raglan Street. Known for ice-cold pints and seriously premium steaks — think rib eye and T-bone, touted as one of the top spots for a rib eye or t-bone in town. 

 Beer lovers, rejoice: seven taps pour everything from craft gems like White Rabbit Dark Ale to good ol’ VB in the fridge.

READ MORE

The Best Pubs In Melbourne CBD 

Surprisingly, the CBD is a bit of a dry-zone for good pubs. But that's okay, because we've done the hard yards after work and sussed out a few of the best to whet your whistle. Whether that be after work, or pre-game, or for a cheeky brew before dinner, these are the best pubs in Melbourne CBD.

Garden State Hotel 

101 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD

Garden State Hotel stretches across four stylish levels, serving lush greenery and good times in equal measure. With space for up to 800 revellers, it’s one of Melbourne’s biggest beer gardens and come summer, it’s packed to the rafters but equally in winter with a double-sided fireplace. 

There is no shortage of options on the menu, choose from a hearty pub fare or freshly shucked oysters.

READ MORE

Morris House

120 Exhibition Street, Melbourne CBD

Morris House's mega four-level precinct has it all—an elevated pub-style dining room, a bar and live music space, a rooftop with sweeping CBD views, and its very own New York City-inspired comedy space. 

You've got elevated pub classics, zesty summery cocktails and the usual suspects on the beer and wine front. On sheer size alone, this is definitely one of the best pubs Melbourne CBD has in the mix.

READ MORE

The Mitre Tavern 

5 Bank Place, Melbourne CBD

 

Melbourne’s oldest pub? The Mitre Tavern reckons so, circa 1850, give or take a pint. The ceilings are low but the steaks are sky-high. They pour a mean Guinness, but the real showstopper is the Butcher’s Board for Two: eye fillet, wagyu rump, ribs, Kransky, and more. It’s a carnivore’s dream, just bring a mate and maybe a bib. For more on Melbourne's best pubs for steak, head over here.

Leading image credit: Builders Arms Hotel | Roberto Pettinau

Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.

Get our top stories direct to your inbox.

Subscribe

Get our top stories direct to your inbox.

Subscribe