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Mail Exchange Hotel

3.1 (23 reviews)
ModeratePubs, Pub Food
Open 7:00 am - 3:00 AM (Next day)

Mail Exchange Hotel Photos

MAIL EXCHANGE HOTEL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - Mail Exchange Hotel

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Reviews With Photos

Cliff B.

Automatically loses a star for the proliferation of pokies for me, but otherwise this isn't a bad pre/post footy spot. Coming down the (pointless?) escalators you're greeted by a beautiful looking bar, lit perfectly, that really wouldn't be out of place in a movie. try to ignore the beeps and expressionless faces of those churning cash into the machines that make up the right-hand-side of the venue, and head left to the lounges or restaurant where they are almost out of view and out of mind. We were there using a 2-4-1 coupon, otherwise I can't say eating there would have crossed my mind, but we were both very happily surprised at the quality of the food. It's standard pub options, but very nicely done. My steak was excellent, as was my partner's seafood basket (stole some of her calamari so can vouch for that!). And this might be an odd comment - but for a city pub the bathrooms are excellent. Large, and clean. Seen so many grotty ones in my days that it left an impression!

Justine C.

How convenient is this establishment placed right across the road from Southern Cross Station? Absolutely. At first glance the bar is well presented, and at a blink of an eye you are inside. This is another great Melbourne City establishment to hang out with a group of work colleagues for after work drinks, however you have to be in the mood. The spacing is abundant, and is also a great locale with a group of close mates hanging out together. And the food is superb for pub food once again. You would be forgiven for thinking that you are eating their food in a restaurant. This is not the type of establishment where you would go with just one other person. The Mail Exchange Hotel is designed for groups to hang out: eat, drink, chat and be merry any day of the week. This is an establishment where you do not leave hungry. In saying this it is actually polite to leave some of your lunch (in my case lunch, where I was welcomed to my last corporate job; while someone was bid farewell simultaneously) or dinner behind. It is good manners as the serving portions are so abundant and appetising - even if your just wanting a beef burger and chips. Simple.

300gram Porterhouse cooked to absolute perfection!!
Jason P.

Great venue, great location, excellent staff and amazing meals!!! Did I mention cheap beer and $10 cocktails on Wednesdays!! Soo good!! Will be back

Jack D.

I'm not overly proud of the fact that I have been in this venue. From exterior, it is a dirty pokies venue, races venue and a place to get leered at by old men. But desperate times call for desperate measures, people! However upon entry I was pleasantly surprised. The Mail Exchange is huge! There are various sections throughout the venue to keep everyone happy no matter what they came for. A dining/restaurant area, a pokies/races area, a drinking area and a courtyard out the back which is partially undercover. Plus, I didn't get leered at by creepy old men as there weren't any. This seemed to be a strictly 'after work drinks' kind of crowd for the tradies and local corporates. I wouldn't travel a great distance to get here, but if you're in the area why not pop in!

Great bathroom hygiene could not show rest!

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9 years ago

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12 years ago

Has the vibe of a suburban RSL but it's in the CBD.

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10 years ago

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13 years ago

It's an eye opener when there's a game on! Generally friendly crowd, drinks very cheap!

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Review Highlights - Mail Exchange Hotel

If you're near Southern Cross in the morning make sure you swing by Taz's coffee cart!

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State of Grace

State of Grace

5.0(7 reviews)
0.5 kmMelbourne

State of Grace was one of the highlights of our Melbourne trip -- an incredible dining experience…read morefrom start to finish. The atmosphere is vibrant, stylish, and full of character. From the moment you walk in, there's a buzz that makes the place feel alive without being overwhelming. It strikes a great balance between upscale and relaxed, making it perfect for a date night or a fun evening out. The warm lighting and eclectic design add to the charm and make you want to linger. Service was friendly, attentive, and well-paced throughout the night. The staff were knowledgeable about the menu, checked in on us at the right moments, and made the whole experience feel effortless and welcoming. Every dish we ordered was excellent -- not a single miss. We started with the Cauliflower & Mozzarella Croquettes, which were crispy on the outside and perfectly creamy inside. The Grilled King Prawns were flavorful and cooked just right, while the Kingfish Ceviche was fresh, bright, and beautifully balanced. The Stracciatella & Heirloom Tomatoes was simple yet outstanding, letting the quality of the ingredients shine. For mains, the Duck Breast was cooked perfectly and full of rich flavor, and the Lamb Backstrap was tender and well-seasoned. The Pecorino & Ricotta Ravioli was comforting and delicate, while the Seafood Linguine stood out with generous portions of seafood and a beautifully balanced sauce. The Honey Glaze Carrots were the perfect side -- sweet, savory, and executed flawlessly. Overall, State of Grace delivers on every level -- ambience, service, and food. An exceptional spot that lives up to the hype, and one we'd absolutely return to on our next visit to Melbourne.

State of Grace has a positive vibe. Even before your first drink you will think oh what a cool…read moreplace. It's the decor from extravagant chandeliers to deer heads with pearl necklaces; it's beautifully eclectic. I had an old fashion and it had the right mix of orange and bitters. I also ordered the burger which was decent and the fries were hot and crispy. The night I visited there was a live singer playing tunes. Service was quick and friendly. Even the ordering is eclectic as you order electronically (QR) pasted to a library book. This place is worth a visit.

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State of Grace
State of Grace
State of Grace

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PJ O'Brien's Irish Pub

PJ O'Brien's Irish Pub

3.8(29 reviews)
1.2 kmSouthbank
$$

Top Irish pub. Great food, very friendly staff, lovely pint of guinness and great live…read moreentertainment. Highly recommend.

PJ O'Brien's Irish Pub was a short walk from our Southbank Hotel in Melbourne and after a long tour…read moreday, we were ready for a nice meal in a convenient location. Another couple had been there a few days before and raved about it, so off we went. Although we were seated relatively quickly, ordering was slow, and delivery from the kitchen even more so. OK, the drinks came quickly, although I was served a Heineken (Lager), when I clearly ordered a Kilkenny (Irish Red Ale). That's kind of embarrassing for an Irish Pub to mix up those 2 very different beers. The wait for our dinner so long that a couple just finishing up at the next table offered to try to find our waitress who had disappeared. We found her later at the bar with a friend, probably just off work, and with a poor handoff. Someone else eventually delivered our meals, which was pretty good, particularly Gayle's Chicken Parma. My issue was that half of my Mussels were "welded shut", despite my messy attempts. After several minutes of trying to find someone, I basically told that flustered person to take the plate away because I was done with this place. To the restaurant's credit, they took the Mussels off the tab with a half- hearted apology at the cash register, not our table. A much need snack at the local 7-11 finished off my evening meal. Let's just call it a bad night from a franchise Irish Pub that failed these customers.

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PJ O'Brien's Irish Pub - The best is circled. Sláinte!!

The best is circled. Sláinte!!

PJ O'Brien's Irish Pub - Garlic wine Mussel Pot with chips.

Garlic wine Mussel Pot with chips.

PJ O'Brien's Irish Pub

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The Brunswick Hotel

The Brunswick Hotel

4.0(7 reviews)
4.7 km
$

Gotta love the brunny! Wednesday night's been a usual spot for me and my mates since we found out…read moreabout open mic night. Last semester a bunch of my international friends would muster up the courage after a few drinks to play but now I just go for the 10 dollar jugs & random acts. I don't come here enough seeing as it's literally only a block away but this will change once exams finish up. I'm super bummed I can't go tonight which is why I've decided to get the word out for any one who may be available. With the ram stop right outside theres no reason for anyone to pass up the opportunity to chill at the brunny. Go grab some cheap beer and head here for a comfy night lounging with live music ASAP! There are always random bands playing from around the area and it's always fun to hear new music. The best part though, yeah you didn't think it could get any better did you? Well, the best part is the beer garden. You know a place has got to be good when they've mastered the layout of each room to suit pretty much anyone and everyone.

My two crazy russian friends had arrived home in Melbourne safely from the adventure around Europe…read moreand were having a 'welcome back' party here. I'd never been before but everyone seemed to think this was a good venue for cheap drinks and relaxed atmosphere. That is exactly the perception i got out of it. You cannot miss that crazy purple sign above the door and once you enter the dimly lit venue has not a lot going for it, but everyone inside is totally chilled giving the place a real laid-back feel. We arrived and they were sitting out back so i ordered a drink and headed out to the large beer garden. There's a large wooden communal table with small slum-couches scattered around. The venue is usually busy but never really feels 'packed out', such a great little place.

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The Brunswick Hotel - The Brunswick Hotel

The Brunswick Hotel

The Brunswick Hotel
The Brunswick Hotel

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Flying Duck Hotel

Flying Duck Hotel

3.9(13 reviews)
5.3 kmPrahran
$$

For my 1000th review I thought I'd choose somewhere special, and the Flying Duck certainly is…read morespecial. A couple of years ago I celebrated my 30th birthday here and it was a totally fabulous night. I re-visited about a month ago for a casual dinner with friends. I have no idea how I first discovered this pub. I'm guessing one of my friends told me about it - and booking it for my 30th was simple and straightforward. Inside it's a very traditional looking pub which has had a bit of a renovation so it's quite classy, and outside there's a beer garden as well as a covered area which is what we used for my birthday. It was just perfect and made for a really fun night. When we visited recently, we enjoyed some drinks in the beer garden before moving inside for dinner. The menu is gastropub style and there's some really interesting sounded dishes on the menu but I went for the token chicken parma as it had been so long since I'd had one. While I wouldn't say it was the best parma I've ever had it was pretty damn good. Overall, this is a lovely little pub off the chaotic Chapel St which is well worth a visit if you're looking for a quiet catch up with friends.

You would never just stumble upon this pub on a night out in Prahran. It is a little hidden gem in…read morea suburban area. All of a sudden walking past houses, you hear the chatter of the crowd in the beer garden before you lay eyes on the Flying Duck. I arrived at 7pm on a Saturday night and the place was packed, and pumping. There is a front bar, and a large outdoor beer garden. We were in a small function room for my friends birthday, which was quite intimate but a good size. I ate a quick bite for dinner, which was the fish and chips- a nice meal and I didn't have to wait too long on a busy night. Definitely will be heading back for another night at the Duck.

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Flying Duck Hotel - The Glasshouse

The Glasshouse

Flying Duck Hotel
Flying Duck Hotel

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The Railway Club Hotel - Upstairs Dining

The Railway Club Hotel

3.9(17 reviews)
2.1 kmPort Melbourne
$$$

I really wanted to have an Aussie steak while staying in Australia. The Railway Club Hotel had…read moregreat reviews on trip advisor and luckily was close to where we were staying. The best way to get to the restaurant is by car and there are tons of street parking. You could take a tram if you don't have a car. Dinner reservation is a must. It is recommended to book a couple days before, and they do not take any walk-in once they are booked fully. I was debating between Eye Fillet (their Fillet Mignon without bacon-wrap) and Scotch Fillet (Rib Eye without T-bone), but decided to go with 220g (8oz) Eye Fillet. My steak was perfectly cooked medium rare as I ordered and the meat was very tnder. I ordered a side of garlic and truffle oil sauce and it went well with my steak. They do bring out horse radish and 3 different mustards free of charge. It was bit surprising Aussies use mustard for steak but it was very good. Every steak comes with thick cut chips (they mean fries) and was sooooo good! I loved them as much as I loved the steak. My husband's salmon was bid too bland but surely generous portioned with two huge jumbo shrimps. Their price is very reasonable for the quality and quantity. I would definitely come back here if I was in Melbourne again.

Raw shrimp from surf and turf. Waited 90 minutes for mains. Even the bread rolls have been…read moredispensed of. Maybe inflation is really biting, apparent with the undercoverage from the wait staff. Maccas might be more in line with expectations

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The Railway Club Hotel
The Railway Club Hotel
The Railway Club Hotel

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Mail Exchange Hotel - pubs - Updated May 2026

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