Warning: I am not a Melbournian, so my suggestions are hardly local knowledge, more sort of Lonely Traveller.
The Royston is fine, but expensive, the Goat very nearby (see others for opening times) is spectacular beer wise. Closer to Zentrum is the Transit, very trendy, huge turnover, good beer and a few guest beers all the time. Young and Jacksons (across the intersection) is for me, a must go. They have usually Mountain Goat, some WA stuff and a history, oh yes a history. Upstairs is the famous Chloe.
Edit oh head to (south melbourne I think) to Bell's Hotel, one of the older brewpubs. Billy Bell I think has retired, but I am sure the beers are just as good (try Hells Bells)
K
Dr K is on the money - I personally don't
like Y&Js - but they have a very good beer selection, which has been improving over the last couple of years. I would previously have suggested Transport .... but Y&Js these days has a distinctly better selection of tap beers. I counted last time I was there - 21 beers and a cider on tap and of those - only 6 or 7 were stock mega brews. At transport you are lucky to get half that variety, although their guest beers are likely to be more interesting. Bells still has good beer - but its only a good pub if you like your sports bar type atmosphere. Footy on big screens, adequate bistro food etc etc. If you do, great pub if not - well at least the beer is good.
For beer.
Goat - Royston - Lambsgo: Friday night in Richmond/Collingwood
Y&Js - Transport. Afternoons only. Both turn into vomitous crapholes on Friday and Saturday nights, especially if there is footy happening.
For less Beery but nicely "Melbourne" experiences ...
Transit lounge - same building as transport, all the way up the elevator to the top. Downstairs in Transport it can can be overflowing with drunk idiots - up in Transit, you will get a seat, there is a great river view and there is a good chance of a live jazz band
Curtin House - at 250 (ish) Swanston st contains three great venues.
Cookie. lowest level -
Great beer venue and fabulous Thai food. Go in the afternoons because it gets choc full and horrible at night on friday. sat etc. Secret squirrel says. If you go there about 9:30 at night (even on Fri & Sat), maybe a bit later but not too much. You will find that the restaurant part starts to empty and the general punters remain for a while unaware, that when they have no more eating customers, the restaurant staff let you sit in there for drinks. You get a table and its not nearly as noisy. But you have to time it right. A fraction earlier if you want a table for dinner but didn't book. You get to stay for drinks.
The Toff in Town. one floor up from Cookie - Ultra swanky bar, French food with a focus on a "grazing" menu. Good beer and excellent wine list. If you are eating and you are lucky, you can get one of the train carriage style booths. If I were trying to impress a girl.. fair chance this place would be on my list of options. Other half of the venue is a live performance space, but its very separate from the eating bit and the place isn't loud.
The Rooftop Bar. All the way up to the 6th floor, then up to the roof. - Its the Rooftop bar... what can I say. Its mostly outdoors (bring a jacket) and in summer they run an outdoor cinema. Rooftops are the new laneways...
Out of Curtin house and into Burke st - #59-63 (same building as the spaghetti tree) into the door on the left and all the way to the top. Its
Madame Brussels. Go on a sunny afternoon. Its as much outside as in - There is a Garden Party theme. Fake lawn, trellises, waiters in tennis costumes. Sit in the sun and drink jugs of cocktails or flutes of the excellent Cava. This place is campy, fun and nearly my favourite non beer venue. Say hello to Miss Pearls for me.
Want to do one that is so
Melbourne it hurts?? OK - walk north up Swanston st to Lonsdale - turn left up Lonsdale and walk up the North side (not far) turn right up the first laneway - once in the laneway turn left into the first even smaller alley/lane on the left (sniders lane) make your way past the dumpmasters, step over any drunks or drug addicts, shoulder past the restaurant workers sitting on milk crates having a smoke. At the very end of the alley, on the right there is the faint hope of a coopers sign ... under it is a doorway, through the doorway is
Sista Bella. Head upstairs. You have now arrived at the penultimate peak of Melbourne laneway cool. It would be the ultimate... but there is another place somewhere that no one can find and that nobody has heard of -
thats the coolest place in town - Sista Bella was that place a few month ago. Grungy, retro, laid back and full of a mix of boho, yuppie, everyday people. Good music usually. Just settling down to the point where it isn't so new and funky that the air of self satisfied smugness from the punters at having found such a cool place, is less than overwhelming. It's a good bar no matter where it is.
Sorry - none of these places are cheap, some of them are expensive - and beer isn't cheap in the city at the best of times. Royston, Goat, Y&J and Sista Bella at the less gougey end.
I'd love to come for a drink - If I am on the right shift rotation at the time I will. Have fun anyway
TB
