O’Connell’s

The Verdict

When it comes to iconic Melbourne pubs, you can’t look past South Melbourne’s iconic O’Connell’s Centenary Hotel. Featuring striking white walls, topiary, fireplaces, and a sun-dappled beer garden this spot is the perfect love child of a London pub and a Melbourne foodie.  Weird mental image, we know, but trust us: this place is the shit.

With a list of alumni chefs spanning from Greg Malouf and Cath Kalka to Adrian Richardson, you can pretty much ask the chef to “surprise you” and be very, very happy with whatever lands in front of you.

Current head chef, Tom Brockbank has made sure their seasonal menus are always winners. Expect (gastro) pub staples like fish and chips, beef and Guinness Pie sitting alongside classically Melbourne dishes like Sloe gin salmon gravlax with cucumber foam and calamari finished with a squid ink tuile.

The best part? They also do specials nearly every night of the week. You can’t beat Mondays, though, with their Steak & Grape deal, which offers a 250g Scotch Fillet and glass of house red, for just $20.

Call off whatever it is you’re doing right now, because a drink (and a steak) at O’Connell’s is waiting. 

Image credit: Jessica Prince