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 simply love this pub, even if it is only for the beers. Well, not quite because I have given a…read morelot of pubs much lower ratings that have had much better selection of beers on tap. No, I'll say this place is awesome because of the atmosphere, or more specifically, the interior decoration. Any pub that goes the Sistine chapel on the roof is a pub that I'm going to love. Yeah, paintings on the cealing of the main bar - awesome. That certainly takes some effort, though probably not Micheangelo levels of effort, considering when we live. Okay, no beer garden, but I guess I can't have everything, though they do have seating out the front.

The Doutta Galla was sold to me as Flemington's 'good' pub. While it is certainly popular,…read moreattracting a young crowd up for a good time, there is nothing particularly great about this venue. It's on Racecourse Road right near Newmarket station, so it's easily accessed by locals and visitors alike. Sitting outside is not the most relaxing experience, with constant traffic, trams and the occasional beggar asking for spare change, although it beats the dark interior. But the real reason I'm not a fan of the Doutta was the service - I had the chicken burger, and while they were quick to charge me an extra dollar to swap the side of chips for a salad, they forgot to deliver on this and I had to send it back. Also on the wine list, they just had the grape and the brand, which is not very useful if you're not familiar with the brand, so I had to ask which region the bottles were from. The staff were clueless and had to pull each bottle from the fridge to check. The food was fine, but I get the feeling the Doutta is more about striving to be a nightclub than a local pub.

Okay, this place wasn't the easiest of places to get to, but once I managed to negotiate the maze…read morethat was the industrial estate I found myself at a place that was truly magnificent - a craft beer brewery. Actually, this was probably better than the bars because it is in here that you will discover beers that you simply will not find elsewhere, and that was certainly what happened to me. Yes, the beers were pretty awesome, though this place isn't all that big, and does get a little crowded. Still, I come here for the beers.

I'm so beyond happy that I finally made it to Hop Nation…read more This place is in a pickle to find, even with the help of Google Maps. The turn to get here is very sudden, leaving no room for error. It's a good thing that U-turns are an easy fix. Hop Nation is located in a very industrial plot. It's a quaint, little, chill, no fuss set-up. Set amongst the warehouses, there's an open roller door which leads way to a craft brewery. Hop Nation defines all of the indie expectations that come with craft beer and it's nestled into Footscray. There's a few standing cocktail tables with high seats, then your eyes meet a quaint little bar. They have a few beers on tap, and popcorn for the munchies. Load up with your choices and find a seat, I'm sure you won't be in a hurry to get out of this brew bar. The best thing is that Hop Nation welcome outside food. That's a huge plus for a venue. And you will want food, cause you will be snuggling yourself in, trying out their beers. You have the option of bringing your own, or getting UberEats delivered. It's a cool spot perfect for a midday session. And the beers are spot on too.

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!

I really love everything about this place, the atmosphere the service and wine. It's a great place…read moreto go of an evening and chill out with friends

Fine wine, sneakily good beer selection and a casual atmosphere makes Strange Loves Bar a good…read morefriend of mine. With 3 areas to seat yourself, I've never had any issues finding room to relax here. If with friends I like to sneak upstairs for a comfy seat. In a more intimate situation or when I'm by myself I tend to enjoy front row seats and people watch. Typical of the area there is no real food served here. If you need some fine dining to go with a fine wine you'll be handed a book with local restaurants who will deliver to your table. And even bring an eftpos machine if needed. The staff here had reasonably honest and broad knowledge of wines and beers. The beer selection varies more often than the wine. For a wine bar there isn't a huge variety by the glass and some of the bottles are rather overpriced. Considering that there is fair competition within walking distance with other venues offering similar service. Still a great spot for post dinner drinks or two.

This is a cool place to hang out and drink, go with a bunch of people, enjoy the vibe. The food can…read morebe a bit hit and miss, but the atmosphere makes up for any of this. Not recommended for first dates or intimate evenings.

Back Alley Sally's has that whole industrial-warehouse-turned-trendy-bar-and-pizza-joint vibe down…read morepat. It IS trendy, in a hipster/Westside way -- it sort of seems like it's trying to be a seedy dive bar, but it's too popular for that (and the decor is too cool for a dive bar). They have good beer on tap, plenty of pizza options from Slice Girls downstairs, and good tunes. It's dark in here, and it's LOUD, so don't go here if you want to have a meaningful debate about the merits of Fauvist painting with your friend the art student. DO go here if you want a few bevvies with laid-back friends in a cool environment. I've been here a few times, mostly for drinking, but have also had the food. They have a couple of vegan options including a vegan pizza and a vegan share platter with breads and dips, all clearly marked on the menu. I had the vegan pizza ("Livin It Vegan It") with olives and mushrooms and basil. It was alright, but not super memorable. Mostly you're coming here for the vibe -- typical Melbourne warehouse-hidden-off-a-main-street setting, where the ground floor is a pizza place and you take the stairs to the actual bar area, which is a giant dimly-lit room, with lots of different seating areas available. Definitely come check it out for drinks if you're in the area, but don't come here necessarily for the food or ability to converse ;)

I wouldn't necessarily say that this was a random pub that I visited, namely because I knew that it…read morewas here, and I intentionally got off the train to go and check it out. Well, I guess it was a good thing that I did so since I found this place to be quite nice. Actually, they had a pretty large outdoor area as well, though their selection of beers wasn't all that great. Still, it was quite a nice pub.

An inner city pub that hasn't been touched with the wand of gentrification is as rare as hens…read moreteeth. I usually enjoy these dive pubs and can happily sink cheap beer for a few hours. Not so much at Hardimans. I almost immediately screwed up my nose and began to mentally refurbish the decor, which didnt include the ingrained regulars. This place is just a touch too bogan, I get they have their clientele but im just not a fan of footy on the big screen above my mains. Anyway a friend and I were resolute to get the Thursday $12 parma/pot special. The service was fine, cant complain for $12. The parma was massive with a wee side salad and chips, look it was pretty dry but satisfied a baser carnivorous instinct. Theres the front bar/pub/dining space which also has live music occasionally. Out the back is a "fancier" dining space open for lunch and dinner. I cant comment on the other food besides the parma but I would stick to the pub basics. Not rushing back in a hurry.

New popup bar right on Parliament station in the CBD offering local craft beer and wine on tap with…read morea few modern takes on pub foods to delight the CBD working folks. Starring chilled on tap, canned and bottled is two of Melb's finest: straight outta Footscay is Hop Nation Brewing with their hopped up amazing craft beer selection and Mornington Peninsula winemakers Quealy, serving you right in the heart of downtown in front of Parliament station and right above the great apes zoo (nice one-sided windows btw). A highly anticipated presence downtown for anyone in the know as the these guys usually available only south of the river... Food is bang on and includes a team of small-servings of modern renditions on pub grub with 'lil international touch (think tacos to tapas) all executed in finesse above your average beer dispenser down the same street corners (). Price wise this is in the sweet spot of being a posh upscaled bar in downtown (overall expensive) Melbourne but it does provide for an interesting experience. Check it out before it pops up into the ether around end of February (someone said 28th). Highly recommended for it's brews and Melbourne's native wildlife views

I'd decided that I was going to travel down to Heidleberg for breakfast. Well, not just for…read morebreakfast, for other reasons, but I wan't to use this as an opportunity to grab something to eat, and this place seemed to suit that purpose. Well, it certainly did because I found that the service was not just good, it was pretty good, and the menu options were quite nice as well. Actually, so was the pot of tea. Yeah, this place was actually rather charming, and I certainly am quite glad that we decided to come here.

From the owner: Located in the heart of Essendon. A family owned and operated business that delivers great coffee,…read morebeer wine and food for whatever mood you're in.with an Italian and Mediterranean background there's something for everyone.

An awesome little spot that has funky tunes, some great drinks and a cute little beer garden out…read morethe back. If you're nice, they might even let you bring in PieThief from next door (but promise me you'll be good). Rotating beer selection is fantastic at a reasonable price.

It certainly looks like Footscray is now being invaded by these small, hole in the wall, bars. This…read moreis a bit further away from some of the others that I discovered, and I didn't find it to be one of the best. It was a nice enough bar nonetheless, and the staff were pretty friendly. Like a lot of these bars, it was quite small, but also cosy. There was a good selection of beers on tap as well, but in the end, it wasn't really one of my favourites.