Have you been framed? Click Here to see my whole site
???? People
have stopped by for a beer since 1-Feb-1998. - Damn it.. The counter has been
reset.. it was about 4500+ since Feb 1998.... argh.
Please have a look at my new pub guide site at
www.icyte.com as this site will
not be updated any more. All updates will go to iCyte.
Melbourne is the best place on the whole planet
(just ask Jeff!)
for Music, Pubs and beer.
Pubs in Melbourne range from the 'pokies pubs' to pure band havens.
Types of Pubs:
Pokie Pubs: These are Jeff's magnet to keep all the elderly cit'z
from crossing the border to New South Wales to gamble. And now there are
the 24 hour Pokie Pubs where you can sit on your exotically stitched (probably
in a back street sweat shop) stool pumping 20c coins into a pokie machine
only stopping for the essentials in life: Alcohol, toilet and food. If
that's your fun for a Friday evening, stay on the net and save your money.
TAB Pubs: Very smoky atmosphere, mainly middle aged to elderly
men inhabit these pubs. TV's showing horse and dog (greyhound) racing are
smeared across every wall or corner they can squash them into. If you want
to go into one... you can have a chat, a beer and maybe a bet on the horses.
Back Street (The Local) Pubs: More like a country pub than anything.
These appear around the inner city suburbs: Footscray, Essendon, Richmond,
Brunswick etc. A place to go for a quite drink and chat with the local
residents.
Irish Pubs: Quite a few popping up around Melbourne these days.
Usually very loud music of either modern music played by Irish musicians
or celtic/folk music. The older, more established Irish pubs have a very
warm old feeling, where the new breed of Irish pubs have a very... well,
new feeling. Everything inside is brand new, looking smart and polished.
These newer pubs have a higher standard dress code (dress shoes, shirt
with a collar) than the normal pub (T-shirt, shoes of some description
and something to cover those pesky dangly bits.)
Music Pubs: Anything from Hard rock, Punk or Heavy Metal to Jazz,
Reggae and Blues plus whatever's left inbetween. Depending on the type
of music the dress code and atmosphere changes. You can get in with just
about anything on in the Heavy Metal pubs, but must have dress shoes and
a shirt with a collar for most Jazz pubs and some of the others (see below
for each pub).
Hours: Most pubs open from 10 am 7 days a week and close anywhere
between 10 pm till 3 am depending on what type of pub it is, day of the
week and how close they are to houses. The majority of pubs close at 2
am Friday and Saturday nights.
What to wear: It's probably a good idea, unless you know for
sure before hand, to dress in reasonable dress shoes (i.e.: no sneakers)
and something with a collar on it if you are going to one of the last two
pubs mentioned above. The others will basically take anybody they can get
their hands on.
Costs: -Alcohol: Local Beer: Between $2.00 and $3.50 for a Pot, $8.00
to $10.00 for a Jug and $4.50 to $5.00 for a Pint
Basic Spirits: Jim Beam & Coke - $4.50 - $5.00
-Entry: Between Free and $7.00 for a big name local band.
Usually around 4 or 5 dollars if it's not free.
For a quick check on what is playing in Melbourne or Sydney this week,
Beat Magazine is now on the Web!
The Albion Hotel (Punters Palace Hotel):
Don't
go here unless you like hanging with old farts drinking cheap piss and
watching the horses. A typical TAB betting pub, nick named the Punters
Palace and you can see why.
- 314 Smith St Collingwood. (Thanks Travis for the fix)
Arthouse Hotel:
Great
pub for metal. Added bonus of having a Youth Hostel upstairs! Free
music and no sleep! I've been back here quite a few times since my last
review and the place has grown on me. Very casual pub. Recommend it if
you just want to disapear for a while.
- 616 Elizabeth St., City
Bridie O'Reilly's - Chapel Street It
was originally an old church, then a nightclub called The Church(?), and now
it's one of the many Bridie O'Reilly's Irish Pubs in Melbourne. They've
spent quite a lot of money getting this place back in shape. All the stained
glass windows are emaculate. Upstairs is the band area, with tables, chairs
and comfy bench seats. Downstairs is a traditional 'Cheers' type bar with
more tables and a very wide selection of beer for every taste.
Dress: Dress Shoes, Jeans & something with a collar
- Chapel Street
Bridie O'Reilly's
The
first of many and open 'till the cows come home! Band upstairs gets packed
to the hilt when they are playing and the line out the door gets long after
about 11pm (Fri/Sat). Keeping in line with all the other Bridie O'Reilly's
pubs, it's more swish than you're average pub. You'll need a shirt with
a collar and dress shoes to get in. Great beer and good bands.
Dress: Dress Shoes, Jeans & something with a collar
- Little Collins st(??), Just off Exhibition Street - City.
Bridie O'Reilly's - Sydney Road
The
second to open up in Melbourne, and this place is huge. Same atmosphere
etc. as the other two, and just as packed. If you like the yuppie irish
pub, this is the place for you.
Dress: Dress Shoes, Jeans & something with a collar
- South end of Sydney Road, Brunswick.
The Burvale Hotel:
Great
down to earth hotel. Bands are usually more of a heavy grunge type. Pool
tables, and little dress requirements for the public bar. Normal band venue
dress for the band room out back, i.e.. no sneakers or thongs from what
I saw. Terrific pub to just sit back, play pool and have a few with the
boys.
- Cnr. Burwood Hwy. & Springvale Rds.
Central Club Hotel:
One
of the big clubs for live bands. Great large stage and room for plenty
in the audience. Very big on Blues bands during the week and hold dedicated
blues nights every so often. Price depends on band playing, usually around
$5.oo
- 293 Swan St, Richmond
The Clyde:
Another
big Uni pub, being nearly opposite Melbourne Uni (top end of Swanston Street,
City). Pool tables, Guinness on tap and a beer garden out back. Has a very
warm feeling that was either genuine or the fact that it was at the end
of a pub crawl. I think It was a mixture. Top Uni pub, on par with the
Oxford.
- Average pub attire: Sneakers, pants and something on top will do
fine.
- Elgin Street Between Swanston and Cardigan, (Opp. Melbourne Uni)
City.
The Corner Hotel:
Great down to earth pub. As long as your have something on top and bottom
and some shoes, it doesn't matter what you wear here. If you are just visiting
Melbourne, you mustn't miss the Corner Hotel. Great open-air room upstairs
when the weather is fine. Check out Dan and Al on most Tuesdays if you're
in the mood for an excellent dose of acoustic guitar blues. Can't recommend
this pub enough.
- Cnr. Swan and Lennox Streets, Richmond
Dan O'Connel Hotel:
One of the great Irish pubs in Melbourne. Poetry readings on Saturday Arvo's
and bands playing various styles of Irish music throughout the week. Sunday
evenings are a treat! As well as having large bands Friday and Saturday
nights, smaller one to 3 piece bands play evenings during the week. Check
out the 100 Pints club. I'm well on my way to joining! Recommend the Guinness
in the back room, it tastes better there than the front bar for some reason.
A very mellow pub.
$5(conc sometimes) Entry Wed/Thurs Other nights, Free!
- 225 Canning St, Carlton
The Depot:
Good socializing pub. A few well lit pool tables in the middle of the pub
along with a nice beer garden in which to eat some of the super meals that
are available. Live bands Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Very good
cover band 21/20
played when I was there. Gets a bit rough with a mosh towards the end of
the evening depending on the crowd with closing time being around 3 am
Friday and Saturday nights. Recommend that you get there early as it fills
to capacity very quickly.
- Dress shoes. No faded jeans or jeans with holes. Shirt with collar.
- CNR Swan and Cremorne Streets, Richmond - Opposite Richmond Train
Station
GeeBung Polo Club:
Actually
not a club, but a pub. They brew their own beer downstairs so there is
a great selection to choose from. On the yuppie side of things, but very
good. Sunday's are excellent in the arvo, around 2pm till 5pm-ish. Last
time I was here was last Christmas eve and got totally blind on Tequila
shots with a few people from work, but I do remember the early part of
the night.. hahaha
One
of the top pubs in Melbourne for live bands. The Gershwin Room gives the
old timer's something to reminiss via the room's decorations. The stages
in the main room and the Gershwin Room provide for a great night out with
top live bands every night. Comedy comes to the Espy during the week in
the Gershwin Room. The when the Espy closes, you can go for a walk along
the beach across the road! Carlton Draft on tap. 4 or 5 pool tables and
lots of pinnies in the back room behind the main stage. Food 7 nights a
week. And according to the adds, "Voted the best pub in the whole world
by everyone!" - Wear just about anything you damn well please, as long as it covers
the naughty bits.
- 11 Upper Esplanade, St. Kilda
Joey's Prahran:
Band
room downstairs, nightclub upstairs. "$1 pots every day and night - 'till
the band start in the Lounge Bar/Band Room." Club Room (upstairs) has Indie
Alternative Thursdays, Alternative/Punk Fridays, and Indie/80's Retro Saturdays.
Haven't been in the band room, so someone will have to enlighten me on
that subject. From the Gig Guide, they have a lot of good bands Wed-Sunday.
Open late Wed-Sun.
- 138 Commercial Rd Prahran
Joey's St. Kilda:
Joey's
Underbelly - New bands from 9pm-12:30am Wed-Sun. (is this still going?) Lots of different bands
@ $1 each. Pool tables and $1 pots till 10 pm! Night club goes on upstairs
while the bands play downstairs 'till closing. Thurs/Fri/Sat 3 bands play
each night. No extra entry for nightclub upstairs.
- 61 Fitzroy St, St. Kilda
The Lemon Tree Hotel:
Neat
little cafe/bar. Jazz and Blues Friday and Saturday nights. Had a large
(8-10 piece) Jazz band on the Saturday night I went on. Small dance floor,
cocktail bar and pool table. Room upstairs for functions, which is usually
booked out. Recommend going if you want some good Jazz/Bluegrass.
- 10 Grattan St, Carlton
Maori Chief:
Great
Jazz on Sunday arvo's! The Guinness wasn't that great, but it was probably
the first pour in a few hours. On the food side of things, their Hamburger
w/Chips 'n Salad was first class.
- 166 Johnston, Fitzroy
Moose Head Tavern:
Two Dollar Crownies, Need I say more! Great happy hour and another good
Uni pub. Nice food served here too to go with a Crownie or five.
- Just up from the Canada Hotel, on Canada & Swanston St, City
The Mountview Hotel:
Hmmm,
well not actually in the city, but I had to get this off my chest. Not
my kind of pub. Seems like they wanted to cater for everybody, but pleased
nobody. Went on a Saturday night, and it was pretty empty. It's only just
re-opened up after a large renovation process. It had a drive-thru bottle
shop since before time and in my opinion was a sad thing to take away,
as that's about as long as I would like to stay. Inside the main bar, it
reminded me of first walking into the Hard Rock Cafe' here in Melbourne.
A large cocktail bar, smartly dressed staff, a band stage, then facing
the band are pokies and arcade machines... not a very good combo in my
view to get the 18-24 year olds in.
- Dress shoes, jeans, shirt etc.
- Corner Springvale Road and High Street, Glen Waverley (West Suburbs)
The Oxford Scholar:
Just
across the road from RMIT in the City, this is the haunt of any self-respecting
student at RMIT. The Oxford has been totally redone. Still a great hangout
for those escaping studying and classes or to cool down after a hot day
at Uni. Great meals served most days (no dinner on Friday.) Bands most nights
and jazz/blues on Sunday Arvos. They've opened up the front of the pub with
swinging doors so you can sit back during a hot summers day and have a good
perv at the passers by. Excellent.
- You can wear just about anything you damn well please!
- Cnr. A'Becket and Swanston Walk/Street, across from RMIT, City
Prince Alfred Hotel:
Can't remember much about this pub, as the last time I visited, I was at
the end of a pub crawl and very inebriated. From what I remember, they
only had a DJ, and a very small dance floor. Good happy hour tho! I think
they have Dollar Pots on Tuesday nights and Thursday nights are huge, so
get there early. - Update: They've got bands Friday and Saturday nights
with a DJ afterwards. Just opposite Melbourne Uni.
- 191 Grattan, Carlton
The Public Bar:
Excellent
pub for bands. Gets very crowded after about 10 pm. A grungy sort of atmosphere
that suits it well. Nice hot days, and they open up the front sliding windows
and you can sit there with a beer and watch the sunset. Usually have 2-4
bands per night. Bands are usually pretty heavy to start with, mellowing
out as the night cruses along. On the down side they only have bitter beer,
not even crownies if memory serves me right.
- 238 Victoria, North Melbourne
Pug Mahones:
Another
Irish style pub in an old warehouse. Two stories with excellent food and
beer. Come along early for dinner and stay for the bands. Very loud and
lots of fun. One of my fav's. Downstairs is like a normal bar with little
rooms that you can sit down on comfy chairs and bench seats. A mate went
on a Monday night and said it was great! So I'll have to report back.
(Yep it is!)
Dress: No ripped jeans, neat dress.
- Hardware Street (Cnr. Lonsdale) - City.
The Punters Club:
Bit
on the seedy side, but if you are into that then it's a great pub. Carlton
Draft on tap, so no arguments on the Beer side of things. A few pool tables
and a great area for small bands. Bands include Powder Monkeys, Suiciety,
The Lucksmiths & One Inch Punch. Sunday's Dan and Al, a great acoustic
blues duo play in the arvo for free!
- 376 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Queensberry Hotel:
Halfway between RMIT and Melbourne Uni, so there's a good cross-section of people.
Very popular on the pubcrawl circuit. New management and it's not rough like it
used to be. Looks very nice inside and good food too.
- 593 Swanston St (cnr Queensberry st), City
The Richmond Tavern:
Nice
atmos with a beer garden out back, if the weather is nice. I believe they
have/had a Bob Marley party there, so that gives a few bonus points! Plus
the awesome bartenderette that was there that night! Fairly heavy Grunge/Metal
bands.
- 14 Elizabeth, Richmond
The Royal Derby:
Very dark and musty atmosphere. Good bands, but the pub's not much to look
at... but that's its charm. Check it out, you might like it and keep coming
back. -Brunswick St & Princes St.
The Tote:
Lots
of Heavy Metal bands play here. Great sunken mosh pit in front of a VERY
loud stage. Beer garden out the side. One of Melbourne's top Heavy Metal
pubs. Can't say much more than if you are into the Metal side of things,
check this place out.
- Wear just about anything
- $5-6 cover charge for the bands
- Cnr. Wellington and Johnston Streets, Fitzroy (Thanks Roger!)
The Waterside Hotel:
Well...
I went there Cup Eve at around 2:30am and about 8 guys stood by the bar
with absolutely no cloths on for about 10 minutes. The bartender acted
like it was a normal event, maybe it was???? I'll go back on a Saturday
evening and see if it has changed! Hope so... or maybe not.. Guess its
a place for something weird. Friends say it's a pretty rough spot to go
to.
- Cnr. King and Flinders Streets, City.
Young and Jacksons:
Good bands.. Saturday nights pump with bands upstairs. Very casual pub
that's been around for ages.
- Cnr. Flinders Street and Swanston Street/Walk, City.
Copyright 1997 - Steven Tanti. All rights reserved. Express permission
granted for distribution of this text as long as no alterations are present.
All opinions expressed in this article are that of the author and if
you disagree, stiff shit.
One of the great Irish pubs in Melbourne. Poetry readings on Saturday Arvo's
and bands playing various styles of Irish music throughout the week. Sunday
evenings are a treat! As well as having large bands Friday and Saturday
nights, smaller one to 3 piece bands play evenings during the week. Check
out the 100 Pints club. I'm well on my way to joining! Recommend the Guinness
in the back room, it tastes better there than the front bar for some reason.
A very mellow pub.
Two Dollar Crownies, Need I say more! Great happy hour and another good
Uni pub. Nice food served here too to go with a Crownie or five.
Can't remember much about this pub, as the last time I visited, I was at
the end of a pub crawl and very inebriated. From what I remember, they
only had a DJ, and a very small dance floor. Good happy hour tho! I think
they have Dollar Pots on Tuesday nights and Thursday nights are huge, so
get there early. - Update: They've got bands Friday and Saturday nights
with a DJ afterwards. Just opposite Melbourne Uni.
Halfway between RMIT and Melbourne Uni, so there's a good cross-section of people.
Very popular on the pubcrawl circuit. New management and it's not rough like it
used to be. Looks very nice inside and good food too.
Very dark and musty atmosphere. Good bands, but the pub's not much to look
at... but that's its charm. Check it out, you might like it and keep coming
back. -Brunswick St & Princes St.
Good bands.. Saturday nights pump with bands upstairs. Very casual pub
that's been around for ages.