The Woodlands is now owned by the King Brothers, who also run Fitzroy's famed Rainbow Hotel. Since…read moretaking it over they've brought the same great quality of service, food, and drink to the Woodlands. The Woodlands was always a great pub, but now it's even better with the addition of a proper beer garden out the back. The Woodlands has always been missing a great outdoor space and now it has a place where you can sit outside, have a drink and a meal, and remain socially distanced (while we need to keep doing that). If you're a local, try it out again. If you're not -- it's worth the journey.

I've eat here many many times but this was the first time in the upstairs bistro. Omg amazing. The…read moreMonday cheap steaks is what we normally have and they are great but this was just beyond great - fantastic. He had the eye fillet and I had the bavette. Totally amazing, no more than than that happy with the steak. Best Northside pub steak imo. Beats The Terminus hands down and on par wit La Luna.

There are a few draw backs to this place: a bit of a surly TAB crowd, an all-too inclusive 'local'…read morevibe, and you're guaranteed a few lingerers around the periphery. Equally, there are pluses: hearty pub food, warm lounge bar in winter, friendly staff, and (most importantly) they show live music. I will never begrudge any place that supports the live local music scene, so the Clifton Hill Hotel gets my (albeit small) tick of approval. They don't show the kind of stuff I'm really into, but they do cater to a slightly older (forty-something) audience and in doing so, they do the youngsters the service of keeping these folk out of the trendier bars in the area. So, whippersnappers, before you roll your eyes and go 'what a shit hole, I wouldn't be caught dead in that joint', spare a thought for your future drunk-arsed self and imagine the kind of haunts you'll be patronising. If it is to be the Clifton Hill, you're future's not as bad as it could be.

The first time I came here years ago there wasn't all that much about this place that impressed me,…read morethough it was a pub, it served beer, and that pretty much satisfied me. However that was when I first came to Melbourne so I hadn't caught onto the bar scene yet. Over the few years my tastes have changed, and so has this pub. What used to be a standard pub has been transformed into a craft beer bar and micro-brewery. I have to say that it is a pretty cool place to grab a beer, especially with their various options available. They also have a pool table, a small beer garden, and seating out the front (and well as a fancy looking restaurant). What is also cool are the huge vats sitting in the middle of the pub. I have to admit that this is a pretty cool place.

Great to have this place as a local - bright, open dining room, great selection of wines and beers,…read morehearty food. A good handful of specials accompanying a decent menu. Some share plates and mains, as well as a few pub favourites. Plenty of vegetarian and gluten free options. Quite a few pizzas on the menu too (optional GF base). Many Victorian beers and wines on showcase here. Service usually is pretty good - today was slightly off with a couple of order mix ups, but staff were very apologetic. All in all, pretty good value in a great setting.

Well this was a surprise - this pub was actually quite a fancy place, though in many ways it felt…read moreas if it was a restaurant, with the 'please wait to be seated' signs and all that (that usually gives a good indication that the place you have wandered into is a restaurant, though it could be a fancy bar that insists on sitting you where they want you to be seated). Well, once again I decided that I would just have a beer, and once again, true to form, they were more than happy to take my money in return for said beer, despite me not actually having anything further to eat. Well, they do happen to have an area with does pretty much look like the 'sit here if you are having a drink' sort of area, so I guess that works out well.

If you are a fan of ales and other quite hoppy beers, then you are likely to be a fan of the Great…read moreNorthern. They have an extensive list of beers at good prices and they also feature my favourite beer of all time (right now anyway) - the Hargreaves Hill ESB. With a massive beer garden and a steak night on offer as well, it is pretty good for food lovers too. The steaks are consistently good and hefty in quantity. They also have a bottle shop and show plenty of sports to boot. Overall a pretty damn good pub then.

A downgraded review. Whilst the beer is as good as ever, the food isn't up to scratch…read more Against my better judgement I tried the $14 steak. It was only after I ordered I noticed that unlike all other steak nights I go to this had rump steak and not porterhouse (sirloin) for the same price. The steak was tasteless and chewy (even when rare), the salad had a hideous dressing, the sauce tasted like it came out of a pack from Aldi. The chips was nice though. ----- Another craft pub venue that's been a local for many years. The quality of the beer is always top notch and the bar staff warns you it's strong, warmer than standard or expensive - that is always appreciated. This however is a summer time pub for me, because I really don't like the inside, especially the back room. The front bar is ok but usually packed or the TV is on loudly. What makes it a summer time pub is the marvellous garden. It's huge with all sizes tables both under cover and in the sun. It's easily the best beer garden in Carlton. Downside for me (upside for many) is the enormous screen that shows various sports games and it's very busy. The food is standard pub grub and not up to my standard though - I wouldn't eat anything but a bowl of chips here.

This is a rather nice pub that happens to be located at the not too clubby side of Chapel Street…read more Actually, I found it quite cosy and relaxing, and it does have a pretty nice interior as well. They certainly have done a good job in making this place a decent place to spend some time and have a drink. Oh, and they also have some nice beers on tap as well. Sure, it is not a favourite, but it is still quite nice.

Temperance is a no brainer for me, living locally it is a great spot for after work drinks, dinner…read moreand a good catch up, or for a bit of a pre night out boogie if your there over the weekend. I really love the decor at Temperance, lot's of silhouetted black patterns dotted across white walls. Marble bench tops and warm yellowy lighting make dining inside the Temperance Hotel and absolute pleasure. During the week, Temperance has some really good diner specials; Monday and Tuesday you can get yourself a lovely Porterhouse Steak served with Chips and Veggies as well as a glass of wine or a pot of Fat Yak for only $15. Another favourite of mine are the tapas style dishes, Sweet Potato and Onion Dumplings, Fried Calamari or Peri Peri Prawn Skewers are just some of the tasty starters on offer; all of which will cost you less than $15 a serve.

This was one of the hot bars in Melbourne. They make some fantastic mixed drinks and have the…read morebottle beers for my less adventurous friends. I had a wonderful fortune to stay with a friend of mine that was living here for two or three years for work. It has a cool, hip modern feel. Our drinks were tasty too.

I'm not really sure if I can call this place a pub since in my mind it is more like a bar, and a…read morerather small one at that. Sure it does have some outdoor seating, but its location sort of means that the outdoor seating really isn't all that great, not along this part of Chapel Street. The other thing is that the beer selection isn't all that great, but mostly it has a lot to do with this pub really just lacking any charm. Yeah, I've been here a couple of times, but I guess it'll be one of those pubs that I will pass by in the future.

"And I need you more than ever And I want you 'til the end…read moreChloe" (Elton John) Melbourne is a modern and major city that sure reminds me of New York and Boston. It is a lot more "urban" than Sydney was with all of the things that go hand-in-hand with an urban location, if you catch my drift. Our tour group of 44 walked to dinner at Young & Jackson, an iconic Melbourne restaurant and hotel. Their building dates to 1861. One of Young & Jackson's most famous features is a big painting of a nude female named Chloe. Chloe has hung on the wall since 1909. She is an ingénue, a nymph, a celebrity and a real Melbourne icon. In fact, she was the mascot for the HMAS Melbourne aircraft carrier. Our dining room was about as old school as old school gets, with dark wood tables and chairs. Our group had a fixed menu with several choices for each course. My selections were an entrée of Prawn bisque, a main of Porterhouse, and Espresso Crème patisserie for dessert. The prawns weren't served as a bisque or soup, but on a plate with mashed potatoes and gravy. The shrimp were very large and the dish was delicious. My steak was excellent, tender and juicy, and served with roast parsnips and pan-fried Brussels sprouts. My Espresso Crème patisserie was a mess. The biscuit it was served on was impossible to cut because we were only given a fork with the course. I watched in amusement as everyone in our party who ordered it showed the same level of frustration trying to eat it. Also, the advertised berry compote supposed to be in the dish was missing. Chloe would not approve of that. PROP TIP The men's washroom was also a mess, with papers strewn all around the floor around the trash can.

Our tour group recent enjoyed a team dinner upstairs at Young & Jackson. To get to our table, we…read moreall passed "Chloe", with a couple of men not noticing. "Chloé" is a famous 1875 oil painting by French artist Jules Joseph Lefebvre that has been a Melbourne cultural icon for over a century. During World War I and II, the painting became a mascot for Australian soldiers. Many soldiers would visit "Chloé" for a drink before departing or upon their return, and some even sent letters to her from the front lines. Pat (our tour guide) was full of Australian historical information, and this was definitely a highlight. The meal was good as well, and even more so within this cultural context.

One word comes to mind thinking of The Rainbow Hotel. Authentic…read more This pub has some history going on with it. It's been around since the late 1800's and has only ever had one other name. It gives you a sense that it can be a warm place for regulars and has just enough character going on to stand out. It's cozy, with plenty of craft beer options for the beer drinking snob in all of us. They have a 101 Club, with a board that has everyone's names who've reached 101 beers. It's kinda the perfect place to try out a new brew, (raise eyebrows) I feel like it's even encouraged. Depending on the night, they have different specials and live bands performing. The owner is very welcoming, and I can't wait to go back.

The Rainbow's bar fridge holds a tasty variety of craft beers - both Australian & imported. (Think…read moreMoo Brew and big bottles of Belgium goodness). You'll also find a range of beers on tap that go beyond the standard Carlton range. My most recent on-tap beverages included an easy drinking summer ale as well as a highly hopped beer packing a bigger flavour punch. I've been pretty happy with their food too. The tradition burgers can be replaced with a vegetarian patty. My veggie option was filling, topped with jalapeños and came with a big side of chips - win! You can also ask the staff for beer pairing suggestions to go with your food. Yum! The Rainbow seems to focus on their regulars, with things like the 101 and 201 clubs (join the club, drink a lot of beer, get a chalice, beer discounts, and a lotto drawing for cash & a bar tab on Thursday nights.) So grab a seat in their beer garden and try drinking something new.