Four new and snazzy Melbourne pubs to meet your mates at this summer

An open fire, a Guinness and a hearty pub meal are welcome propositions during Melbourne’s bitter winter. But the pull of crisp, cold bevs and a shaded beer garden make our pubs irresistible in the warmer months. Here are four new spots (and one coming soon) to kick back and cool down this summer – plus the best days to visit for a bargain.

The Rochey, Fitzroy

The Rochester has been rebooted several times, but its latest makeover looks set to finally change its sticky party-pub rep. “I think it suffered huge Friday and Saturday nights and then was sort of hungover the rest of the week,” jokes new owner and Fitzroy local Grant Turvey, who’s also behind Arcadia and Añada nearby, as well as Carlton pub The Green Man’s Arms.

His crew has freshened up the place – now officially known as The Rochey – to make it an inviting spot all week long. Pick up a cue at one of the two pool tables; order a marg at the Bowie Bar, a semi-secluded cocktail den; or head to the beer garden during happy hour for an $8 pint. On the menu are vegan mac-and-cheese croquettes, crumbed pork cutlet with apple creme fraiche, and lamb shank with Guinness jus. Upstairs hosts a late-night program of DJs.

Done deal: On Wednesdays, get $15 burgers (spicy fried chicken, cheeseburger or plant-based) with the added bonus of it being trivia night.

202 Johnston Street, Fitzroy, rochey.com.au

The Gardiner Hotel, Malvern

This new corner pub’s rooftop terrace – sun-drenched and overlooking the Victorian architecture of Glenferrie Road – could fast become the summer hangout for Malvern and Caulfield North locals. A smart refit of the former bank merges bistro-inspired tiling with plush banquettes and rattan chairs.

Head chef Michael Flemming (from Adelaide’s Arkhe and Press Food & Wine) is serving smoked beetroot tartare with sour cream, chives and beetroot crisps; stracciatella with green tomatoes; a classic chicken schnitty; and 14-day dry-aged duck breast with pepper sauce, bearnaise and fries. A separate menu for kids includes ice-cream sundaes with chocolate sauce and sprinkles.

Done deal: A Sunday roast with all the trimmings for $35 has end-of-year catch-ups written all over it.

84 Glenferrie Road, Malvern, gardinerhotel.com.au

The Morning Star, Williamstown

After several pub closures in the area, The Morning Star’s new crew of operators wanted “to bring pub culture back to Williamstown”. They’ve got form in reviving historic hotels, from the Bridge Hotel in Werribee to the Healesville Hotel. A revamp of the grand 19th-century neighbourhood beacon by Studio A.mi (Wally’s) references the ’70s with amber bottle-glass doors, swirled California Burl timber, and corduroy upholstery. The menu skirts old and new –there’s Guinness and treacle bread; Scotch eggs with brown sauce; potato gratin with matbucha, the Moroccan condiment of slow-roasted peppers and tomato; and orecchiette with spring greens.

Done deal: A rotating butcher’s cut on weekends, priced between $100 and $120, makes group dining easy. Designed to share, it might be a 1.2-kilogram dry-aged rib-eye or a 1-kilogram chateaubriand. Weekly steak nights and Sunday roasts are coming in 2025.

3 Electra Street, Williamstown, morningstarhotel.com.au

The Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood

This live-music haunt, a longtime home of metal, punk and hardcore, closed in March after a 300 per cent increase to its public liability insurance. Meanwhile, nearby brewery The Mill’s taproom was marked for redevelopment. The rest was history. “The opportunity to take over the Bendigo Hotel was a natural progression … We had multiple live shows at the brewery, coinciding with beer releases and special events,” says Mill co-owner Mirek Aldridge.

After a full renovation of the front bar and an upgrade to the sound system, the Bendi taps are now pouring The Mill’s core and seasonal beers, plus Doom Juice wine. Dingo Ate My Taco, which was operating out of The Mill, has also come across with an expanded menu of soft tacos, quesabirria tacos and Thursday night chimichangas (deep-fried burritos).

Done deal: Recovery Sundays are all about breakfast tacos (from $7) and $15 Bloody Marys.

125 Johnston Street, Collingwood, bendigohotel.com.au

And one to watch:

The George, South Melbourne

After a two-year pause, 150-year-old corner hotel The George is set to reopen its doors in January under a new ownership team led by seasoned publican Scott Connolly (The Orrong Hotel, Healesville Hotel). The two-storey watering hole near South Melbourne Market joins other new additions to the area, like Kirbie, Moon Mart and neighbouring Cheri. “It feels like a real revitalisation at the moment,” says Connolly.

He’s hinted at a warm, colourful and retro fit-out inspired by old-school milk bars (complete with PVC strip curtains). The playful design will be backed by a menu from chef Steve Svensen (previously at cafes Lenny and Moby) that’s likely to feature on-the-bone chicken parma and crumbed cod schnitzel.

139 Cecil Street, South Melbourne, instagram.com/george_sthmelb