I have certainly been to this place before, however before I went off to my bookgroup I decided…read morethat I would pay this place another visit, and it certainly was well worth it. There is quite a large beer garden out the back (though if it didn't have one then calling it the 'Fitzroy Beer Garden' would somehow defeat the purpose). Okay, the beer is a little pricey, however the food certainly isn't, especially the Porthouse Steak for $16.00. That is probably the cheapest steak that I have seen outside of steak night. The inside of the bar is also really impressive, with little objects covering almost all of the wall space.

The former 'Funf', and 'Yelza' before that, the re-branded Fitzroy Beer Garden hasn't changed much…read morefrom it's previous incarnations aesthetically or lay-out wise, the new name just emphasising its best feature front & centre. Was there on Saturday night and it was pretty busy but also fairly laid back, a good mix of types, and no real dickheads. Only issue was that every single person but me seemed to be smoking in the beer garden. Can't wait for the day us non-smokers can claim back some of these great outdoor bar places. Had some tasty pints for around $8, which for a Saturday night is pretty staggering ($8 pint anywhere these days around Melbourne is pretty good). With Forester's Hall now open right across the road having 'beer' in their name also gives some cohesion to this corner of Smith St, and I'm sure we wont be the only ones to start at FBG in the afternoon sun then drift across the road to sample the impressive beer range at FH this summer.

This is another awesome bar, and it literally snuck up on me. I say this because as I was wandering…read morealong the road towards another destination I looked up and suddenly I saw this bar. Well, I went inside and it was literally love at first site - great beers, awesome outdoor area, and great staff. Not only that but this place was also incredibly chilled. This is the type of bar, if I lived in the area, would end ups spending an awful lot of time at.

So blown away by this hip little bar in Footscray. Incredibly friendly staff and patrons. Can't go…read morepast the cheap BBQ and bloody Mary's on a Sunday. Was particularly delighted to see the owner offer table with a small girl, some bubble making toys and a bag of chips to keep her amused. Even the patrons were friendly and great to chat to. The DJ played an eclectic mix of music too. Will certainly my return.

I could really make this place a regular hangout, if only I actually had the time to do so. Sure, I…read morecould come here after work everyday with my book and laptop and simply absorb the atmosphere, but sooner or later I'm going to have to go home. Anyway, this is one of those bars that I had regularly passed while travelling down Sydney Road but had never actually been inside, so one Sunday, when I knew I was going to be early for church, I decided to jump of the tram and pop in here for a quick beer. I must say that I am really glad that I did because I finally got to experience this really laid back bar is one awesome beer garden. It is this type of bar than really gives Sydney Road it's character, and I'm really going to have to make the effort to come down here more often.

The relatively hidden pub is a real great find on the strip. Some friends and I came here after a…read moregig at Penny Black and i was surprised by how large the venue actually is. There's a small front entrance but it leads into an awkward cosy inside but very large outdoor area. We came and the place was pretty quiet, we knocked back a few pints and enjoyed the quirky 1920's B&W videos that showed crazy acrobatics, contortion and acting, it was mesmerising! We were a large group but the outdoor area accommodated us well and once the group began to dissipate we moved indoors and then finally (they kept hinting to us that they were closing) we left. Definitely a keeper!

Tried this place for a few sneaky beers prior to a concert at Festival Hall…read more Love the set up of this place. Sufficient room to bring a pram(next time) and let the little ones roam and also have a dog sit comfortably. Plenty of beer on offer. We tied the burgers and dim Sims - I loved it all. My new local favourite.

This bar is nothing short of awesome. Not only does it have one of those awesome vibes, and some…read moregreat craft beers on tap, but they also go out of their way to support some really good causes, something that you really don't see all that much. The other thing was that the service was absolutely magnificent, I simply could not fault the guy that served me. Honestly, if I was living in the area you literally could not keep me away from this place.

I would say that this is an atypical Brunswick bar, but it is probably better to describe it as an…read moreatypical inner Melbourne bar. It is located in an old warehouse, and it has the charm that you would expect from such a bar. The service was pretty good and the atmosphere was pretty awesome as well. In fact, this place had pretty much everything that I would expect from a bar, including a great selection of beers. Oh, and being located near the railway station really helped as well.

Don't exactly trust the address... it's in a weird location, at the back of a dark car park. Look…read morefor the painted Zebra lit up with a street light. Next to it is the doorway, flanked by friendly bouncers ready to welcome you to this interesting new space! Is it a warehouse party? An art installation? A beer garden? A cocktail bar? A "asian-ish" tapas house? A music venue? Is it a mash up of all of these things? Yes. Is it good? Hells yes! I ventured in on a rainy cold night, so the first outdoor/indoor space was a bit wasted on my group. Instead we were in the true indoor space and spent time either mingling at the bar, sitting around the booth-like tables or (later in the night) showing off our moves as we enjoyed the DJ. The food was terrific - hot, flavoursome and beautifully presented in square steamer boxes that worked really well in conjunction with the cutlery holders, plates and sauce jars. It was obvious that a lot of thought has gone in to how the food is to be presented and consumed and it's this kind of attention to detail that always wins brownie points with me. Notable snacks: - The jars of pickled "things". I have no idea what it was (capsicum?) but it was delicious. - Crocodile spring rolls. No, I couldn't really taste crocodile but I felt badass eating them. - The bao, particularly the Kingfish. Fun to eat, though I think most of them came with mayo inside and I would have liked to have seen some variations on sauce. Wish a massive selection of beer, wine, impressive gin selection (though no Australian representation which I would have liked) and some inventive cocktails on the list there's pretty much something for everyone. I stuck to simple spirits and beer (Hitachino Nest White Ale on tap!) but I'd like to venture back to put the bartenders through their paces on the cocktails and see if they can cut it. The services was exceptional - super friendly and very attentive.

All hail the ale! All cheer the beer!…read more Another local haunt of mine. The clue's in the name as to why this is an absolute must destination if you love craft beer (and if you don't, you're wrong); one of the best in Melbourne in my opinion. There's always some interesting beers to try and the selection of 12 constantly rotating taps keeps things interesting. The place is laid back, service friendly and knowledgeable, only downside is that it's not the cheapest place to drink but the quality and variety of beers makes it worth the price. There's also A/C ( very welcome on days like today; 38C). There's a small garden out back which is usually pretty quiet. Haven't tried the food but they have some daily specials which seem popular.

You don't know how hard it is not to jump off the tram every night after work and pop in here for a…read moredrink or seven. The lure of twelve rotating beer taps, delicious food (including some of, if not THE best onion rings I've ever eaten) and a great atmosphere is a little too much to resist for much longer. The Alehouse staff are very knowledgeable, as you would expect in a beer nirvana such as this. It gets busy in here, but it's usually quiet enough to have a quick chat with them as you try and decide which one of the delicious beverages on offer you will have. They're more than happy to let you taste test one before you commit to a full glass too. A great choice of beers are on offer and you're bound to find something you like on the rotating taps (the upcoming beers are listed on a wall next to the bar), but if you don't like anything on tap check out the beer fridges or even try one of their beer cocktails! In the front of the bar there are comfy couches along one side, with larger tables on the other side. In the adjoining room is the same setup, though this can be booked for private functions and it's also where the Wednesday night Trivia Night is held. Trivia is free, fun, and prizes include a bar tab, so you really can't go wrong with that. Out the back is a beer garden with a mix of tables and chairs in a variety of shapes and sizes, with a shady tree or two thrown in for good measure. As I mentioned, the food is great here. The first time I popped in the kitchen was being renovated and my order of fries was forgotten, but since then service has been prompt and the food delicious when it has arrived. I've been to Alehouse a few times now and will keep going back. I have managed to resist jumping off the tram to pop in so far, somehow but that won't last long...especially with an all too convenient tram stop right outside!

Head over to Kensington to hang with the locals on Friday nights at Henry St Brewhouse. Like all…read moregood things in Melbourne, this brewery bar is not an obvious stop on the High Street. In fact, I had to inform my friend that lived in the neighbourhood that it existed. He went there immediately and declared he was never leaving. The brewhouse's décor is DIY- with planks of wood fastened together to create benches and a small outdoor 'patio' that pulls into the brewery at the end of the night. (For beer drinkers in the know - if you like Hop Nation, then you'll also love Henry Street.) For the undecided, or the unfamiliar, the bar offers tasting paddles with five samples of your choice of beer for $20. Sadly on the night we visited they had run out of at least three of the beers I was hoping try. But we managed to try everything else on the list, which provided a good intro to the range. (We declared the Monsieur Gray IPA the winner that night.) Local beer is the focus at this bar. So if you're feeling peckish, pull out the phone and order delivery. The drawbacks are that it's only open on a Friday. Plus, like every brewery, it's open and draughty, so dress for the weather. The beer bar (also serving a selection of spirits) is a laid back, unpretentious place to hang with friends. It's not my 'hood, but it was worth the trip to visit friends that do live there. It's a great addition to the Melbourne brewery bar scene.

From the owner: Microbrewery and bar serving up to 10 craft beers all brewed on site. A place for the community to…read morecome together over a refreshing and lovingly brewed Ale.

I do quite like my breweries, especially these charming craft beer breweries (otherwise known as…read moremicro breweries elsewhere). It's located in one of those old warehouses that you see scattered across Brunswick, usually between the shopfronts on Sydney Road and the railway line. One of the things I noticed was that they had some rather interesting brews, such as Pumpkin beer (because of Halloween). Yeah, their beers were actually quite nice, and the staff were rather friendly as well. I'd definitely give this place another go.

You could call Inner North a 'hidden brewery'. Even though it is not far from Sydney Road it is…read moretucked back down an alley off a small side road. Persistence will reward you with a light bright space filled with a variety of seating options adjacent to the array of brewing tanks that seem to be multiplying each time I visit. Up to 12 taps are available, although this depends on the brewing schedule and demand I guess. I get the feeling that they are still working up to capacity on this front. Tasting paddles are available - $15 for the 4 'classics' or MYO combo of 4 for $18. Nothing life changing but pretty decent beer. Close to tram and train. Bike and dog friendly. Ask for free doggy biscuits at the bar. Food options are limited to chips and nuts as far as I can see, but maybe you can order in. Worth a look if you are in the area.