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Melbourne, VIC

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The Elephant & Wheelbarrow

2.7 (37 reviews)
ModerateBars, Restaurants
Closed • 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

The Elephant & Wheelbarrow Photos

THE ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW ATMOSPHERE

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

Recommended Reviews - The Elephant & Wheelbarrow

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Outside
David S.

This is another one of those pubs that has pretty much been around forever. I even remember coming here with some friends almost twenty years ago and the only thing that has changed are the beers on tap. However, I really didn't think all that much of this place, namely because it happens to be one of the faux British pubs. Okay, they do have shows on here during the comedy festival, but it still isn't one of those places I particularly like.

Chicken parmigiana
Danielle W.

This place was right by our hotel in the city so we stopped here for dinner. I love a traditional Irish pub! Both our meals were very tasty and we got plenty of food for the price. The fish was nice and perfectly battered. I should note there is an option to sit inside or outside and we chose to sit outside

Matt P.

I often wonder what Australians assume makes up a 'traditional British pub'. Most likely are probably 'wooden tables', 'dodgy carpet', 'music that's been on rotation too long' and token beers. You'll find all that here. You won't find an ageing landlord with dodgy views on immigration or a drunk at the corner of the bar who won't stop sharing his latest conspiracy theory. So it's not entirely British, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's about as 'traditional' as a fake-traditional pub is going to get, and it manages to get it right whether blazing hot or freezing cold. Their drink selection has declined in recent months. You won't find any traditional British ciders on tap any more (they no longer sell Thatcher's Gold as per June 2016) and that's a huge shame. If they sold Scrumpy Jack, I'd be here more often. Drinks are on the more expensive side, and when you're not paying extra for something imported, that does sting a little, but the ambience is good. They have a good menu, moderately priced and reasonable quality for the city. You can find better, but you could do much worse. The full-English breakfast (which mysteriously escapes that label) is a winner for $21. This is a popular place and there aren't too many other places like it, making it somewhere I'll likely stop in at when in this part of town.

Fish $ Chips 22$
Michael H.

First of all i want to mention that it's a nice and cozy pub with a good atmosphere BUT some things are a no - go here.... Very pricy & Low food quality in my case I'll start with the Fish & chips for 22$ The fish was ok but the fries were cold nit salted and not ready fried. The only highlight was the homemade Tatar Sauce.i had plenty of better fish & chips for half the money in the UK or Wales and even Australia. As sad as it is I won't come back here I prefer every shady pub on Smith St. Instead of thus here. The pint of Ale costs 11,40$ which us a joke in my eyes. Is is good but too pricy.

Evan K.

When i think 'Traditional Pub', i think of The Elephant & Wheelbarrow. This place screams Traditional British Pub. Everything about it is "Pub", The Food; Everything from Bangers and Mash, Shepard's Pie, Steak and Chips, Burgers and Fries... You get where i'm going with this. Large portions for around under $20. The Veggie Burger i got was unbelievable, portion was massive and chips were big and crispy! Loved 'em. The interior is all about big booths and wooden everything (reminds me of my dad's house actually). The crowd are anyone from Backpackers, Tourists, Business suits, party people, it's all just a big range of boozy people.

Vanessa R.

It is indeed a traditional English pub, and yes there are countless pubs all over England that look just like this one, but they're not the ones I ever enjoyed being in, and so too for this English pub in a faraway land. Despite the all-things-British theme, there are only two English beers on tap - Tetleys and Old Speckled Hen - and three Irish drops - Guiness, Kilkenny and Bulmers cider. The Australian beer list is far more extensive with James Squire, Coopers, Boags and more on offer. There's also the usual suspects of international beers - Stella, Kronenburg, Heineken, Peroni, Becks and Carlsberg. The food menu features all the comfort British dishes you'd expect from a good English pub - bangers and mash, fish and chips, shepherd's pie and a good breakfast fry-up. On the top floor is a small gig room where I saw a not very well-known British comedian who was here for the comedy festival in March.

Mark J.

I like the Elephant and Wheelbarrow. I don't always know why. Maybe it's the dark wood panelling. Maybe it's because it's been here since I have (more or less), since I moved down from Canberra back in 2000. They had Hahn Premium on tap, one of only a few places in Melbourne that did. A little taste of home, when I was alone in a big city. They don't anymore, but that's okay - they've got around twenty other beers and ciders on tap, so you'll probably be able to find something you like. Only complaint I'd make is that they're pretty much all serious beers - none of your cherry ale here. But yeah, I like the Elephant and Wheelbarrow. It's simple, it's about beer, and it's got comfy seats.

Seared salmon fillet
Kevin S.

I've heard of The Elephant & Wheelbarrow numerous times from a mate of mine however have never set foot in it until Tuesday night. I have to say I quite like it actually. Great location at the corner of Exhibition and Bourke Streets, this traditional English pub offers a broad range of beers, wine and serves food as well. I don't know why but I love pub food. There are days when all I want is to head to a pub, grab a beer and a parma - nothing fancy and I'm not fussed, that'll do it for me and oh yeah add TVs on the wall dedicated to sports - pretty good deal. I was quite hungry so decided to have the seared salmon fillet which was a pretty big serve and not bad. The dish cost $18 which was not too bad considering that pub food are generally in the $20s range. With an upstairs area with a bar as well, the place was pretty busy and so it should especially on the eve of a public holiday. Will definitely go back for drinks some other time.

Cheese burger sliders

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4 years ago

An ok pub. I came in around 8pm. No where to sit, noisy but several decent beers on tap. With all the noise I didnt stay long.

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10 years ago

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12 years ago

Foods alright, friendly staffs were nice, just how small a 10 dollar cheese cake was shocking!

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12 years ago

This place was fantastic. Rolled in there on cup day. Ice cold draft and some of the best chicken parm I've ever eaten

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9 years ago

It's more like British pub, wooden tables wooden chairs, and the music is pretty cool and food is quite nice.

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10 years ago

Horrible food! Took so long to come out and then the Parma and chips were cold! Parma was like a heat up meal, it was horrible!

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Review Highlights - The Elephant & Wheelbarrow

“Everyone tries to fancy up bangers and mash with exotic gravy or crazy spices but this was right on for what I wanted.”

Mentioned in 4 reviews

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Caretaker's Cottage

Caretaker's Cottage

4.0(5 reviews)
0.3 km•Melbourne

Absolutely disappointing experience and appalling customer service. The vibe looked good and we…read moredecided to take a chance. We entered at 11pm and decided to get a bottle of sparkling. No one informed us about any policy. We paid for the bottle with 5% service charge which I do not think they deserved. We had a sudden work call at 11.30pm and grabbed the bottle to go, only for the staff to chase us to the front of the bar to inform us that they do not have a takeaway license. For christ sake, we already had bought the bottle!! Though it's alright, we respect policy. They highlighted that they needed to keep the bottle in the establishment. We asked if we could come back and finish it. They said they would keep our bottle. We rushed back to our hotel (Marriott- 200m away for the call). When we returned at 11.58pm, they had already thrown our bottle away. Unbelievable! They were quick to receive our money but equally quick to throw our experience out the window. No doubt, we returned almost at closing times but throwing our wine before closing time - if you wanna go by the book, that is still not your closing time. When we raised our grievances to the staff, she said she told us about closing time at 12 midnight. However, we emphasised that she should have let us know about the takeaway policy and license. Had we known, we would not have ordered a bottle. She looked at us blankly and simply replied "feedback received, but we do not allow anyone in after 12, so you have to leave". Quite honestly, ChatGPT / Claude / Grok could have conveyed more empathy. I am not a VIP customer nor am I a high spender. That being said, I value places with a human connection and empathy, and would regularly visit such places with joy and happiness multiple times. This place is not one of them. For this reason, I will never visit again. If you think likewise, and value authenticity and a true Aussie welcome, you would not visit this place. I hate to give negative reviews but please spend your money elsewhere.

The perfect blend of new and old, Caretaker's Cottage is undoubtably the best bar in Melbourne…read more Don't take my word for it, take the word of the 3 other bartenders around town that unanimously answered "Caretaker's Cottage!" when I asked what do they think the best bar in town was. CC is also on the Top 50 bars list! At Caretaker's Cottage you get high end, modern cocktails wrapped in an old-pub feel atmosphere with interesting decor. Aptly named, the place is a converted old cottage behind the Wesley Place church. Step inside, and it's a mix of old and modern, maintaining the heritage and namesake of the place while having fun and modernizing it a bit to make it more suitable for a casual and fun bar. The drinks menu changes constantly and the bartenders avoid to make any modifications as they work tirelessly to perfectly blend the right amount of ingredients with each concoction. Don't worry, the drinks are that good that you wouldn't want to change a thing anyway. The team gets really creative, too, including ingredients such as ube, yuzu, kiwi, green melon, and charcoal. Both the bartenders and the rest of the staff are friendly, efficient, and happy to help when needed. The place is small but they make it work and on nice days, you can stay outside and enjoy the small yard. Overall, if you like creative cocktails, visiting Caretaker's Cottage is an absolute must!

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Caretaker's Cottage
Caretaker's Cottage
Caretaker's Cottage - Found you!

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State of Grace

State of Grace

4.9(8 reviews)
1.5 km•Melbourne

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.

Food was delicious and perfect potions. The music was way…read moretoo loud which ruins the experience. Service is great

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State of Grace
State of Grace
State of Grace

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The Elephant & Wheelbarrow - bars - Updated October 2026

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