If there is one thing that I should note about this pub and that is that it can get pretty crowded…read more In fact it can get really, really crowded. Okay, that is usually the case on a Friday night or a Saturday afternoon, but then again I have been here on Mondays and it has still had its fair share of people. The thing with this pub is that it has one of those great beer gardens, a huge screen of the footy (and is one of the best pubs to watch the football at), and some great beers on tap. Yep, I like this pub.

The Peacock Inn is our local at work, usually entertaining my Friday for lunch and after work…read moredrinks, and at least one other meal a week. The $10 lunch menu is great value, changes each week and comes with a softie included. For those after something a little more filling or meaty, there is a permanent $15 steak fries and salad for lunch, and a la carte options. If you haven't been, you're missing out. For the post-work barfly there is a spirit's special in Thursday, and $3 pots on Fridays. Evening dining also fantastic. The large beer garden comes with super-sized Jenga, and some throw-the-beanbag-through-the-hole frustrating exercise. Good for those like to look a little silly while getting messy with the varied crowd watching on. Two pool table and an open fore make the bar the perfect retreat after meals if you want to continue your session. Staff usually lovely, but the gentleman who I assume is the manager can be less than inspiring as a host - don't expect too many smiles, but don't let him put you off.

Enjoyed a simple but great pub meal today. Had the steak sandwich and cheeseburger…read more A always reliable pub providing great drinks and service as well as lovely formal restaurant dining room at the front of the pub, wonder out the back to the entertainment area where it is much more relaxed with an electic mix of patrons from gen y's enjoyong the outdoor seating area, to the locals enjoying the cricket on the big screen. There is always something for everyone here.

The Peacock is like that old friend you can always depend on. It will always open its loving doors…read morefor whatever reason you're chasing a drink. This is one of my fave pubs on the north-side. The beer garden is great for large groups in the summer months. The menu in the restaurant is also quite nice if you're chasing something a little more fancy than a pub Parma. Now that it's winter it is the perfect time to cosy up in front of the open fire- so lovely for after work drinks on a Friday! Last time I was here on a Friday they were also passing around free nibbles. Free chicken skewers and spring rolls whilst I have a glass of wine in front of the fire? Hells yes. Game of thrones fans- they also have a GOT themed pinball machine. Get on it and score some points for your fave house. Go Starks!

Picture this, Newport 2012... the best beer hall within city limits?!? Yeah, I was sceptical at…read morefirst, being invited by a friend to sample this untested find. However I was wrong in my miscast aspersions. Sorry friend. This place is a secret that needs to be let out! The Junction Hotel Newport has been reimaged in a major way. The venue now sports a micro beer hall and a separate wine room, both featuring gourmet grazing plates that will leave your taste buds satisfied and wallet full :-). As for the beer hall, there is a lot to distinguish this place from other venues that wear the "indie" beer badge of honour. I like the beer tasting paddle for example. Choose any four beers to sample and have them placed on a wooden paddle for your drinking convenience. $12 is all this will set you back. There is much boutique beer choice here too, from Beechworth to the Mornington Peninsula and far abroad. After food? Well, it is delish Trish! While the mains look great, I tried ordering my way through the smaller dishes, tapas style. Every morsel made for great conversation and admiration. Try the hand cut chips served out of a paper bag, or the grilled Kransky with pickled red cabagge, Polish style. Ribs, deep fried chickpeas etc, etc. Serving sizes are ample. The crowd (until word gets out ;-) ) is the local friendly crew. But be warned, every table was full. Worth a visit and, if your not local, a premeditated excursion! I will be back, the adjacent wine room is next on the list.

The west has a new home of great beer, wine & service. Great beers ( tap = 2 Birds, Bridge Rd,…read moreBoatrocker. Bottle= Trumer Pils, Mt Goat rare breed) The wine bar has a fantastic selection of interesting glasses/bottles. With outstanding service throughout.

The Open Studio. As the name suggests it's a bar that's a bit like an artist's living room or a…read moreband's basement sans mattresses covering the walls. As such, it has a wide variety of live bands playing most nights of the week with the occasional beat poet doing a reading, or interpretive art played out to a sound scape of improvisational jazz. They even serve crepes! So this immediately begs the question: is this one of Melbourne's many hidden gems or is it just another hipster hang out where you can't pay for a smile and you're sneered at for walking in off the street? Well the answer to this is a simple one despite what first impressions may indicate. The Open Studio is most definitely a hidden gem. It is the kind of place that invites you in as you walk by. It is not uncommon to hear happy music spilling out onto the streets, which invites you to look through the window. At which point you are either likely to see the place rammed full of people dancing hedonistically, or, on a quiet night, some thoughtful looking folks sitting at small round table eating crepes and listening to a singer/song writer mourning their past loves. Either way The Open Studio deserves a look-in more often than not, and it's quite often worth staying around for a few drinks off their limited but cheap menu. The bar has a cosy backyard for summer. Just don't expect any frills here -only the welcome vibe of a party in your best friend's living room!

Visiting the Open Studio is like walking onto the set of that saccharine cinematic version of…read moreChocolat. But with booze instead of chocolate and Australian Johnny Depp doppelgangers instead of the much deified man himself. A tiny Northcote watering hole serving beer, wine, cider and the occasional spirit, Open Studio hosts a plethora of gigs numbering reggae, jazz, gypsy music and the like attracts a largely bohemian crowd. In possession of just about the most magical - fairy light lit - little backyard I've ever seen attached to a bar, the Open Studio is quaint, idiosyncratic and a great place for a drink - or crepes! - if you don't fancy too hedonistic or hipster a night out.

Ok I wasn't sure how many stars to give Willow Bar. In terms of potential I think it's worth four…read morestars at least, but in terms of reality it's probably two. So I have settled for three. But now I am going to start a campaign to help Willow reach a five star review like it's namesake classic movie achieves with aplomb. Willow really does have it all. Some of the best cocktails I have ever tried at very reasonable prices, a very very friendly and knowledgeable owner and barman, great music and a dark broody interior. It also has live music and poetry readings upon occasion. In fact the only thing it is really missing is clientele. Willow Bar stands empty more often than not. Sure it may not look as flash as some other bars nearby. But really I see no other reason why this place doesn't attract regular custom other than the simple fact that people walking by see that it is empty and decide to go elsewhere. But herein lies the catch. I can't think of how many times I have wanted to host a birthday party somewhere other than my home and somewhere where my hundreds of friends will fit without getting in the way of other customers and without having to pay a pricey hire fee. Well Willow is the perfect venue. Good music, good drinks and plenty of room to house your numerous friends. So the next time you walk by Willow Bar and see it packed go inside ask for the birthday boy, buy me a drink and join in the fun that is Willow Bar.

Well this was an interesting night. The Willow bar opens itself up to local artists for exibitions…read moreand the like. This was the opening night of an exhibition and it was jam packed. There were areas that you could not move and you got to know people quite well as you were often face to face. But for a small little bar, the service was great. I think to really get a feel for the Willow Bar, maybe a night without an exibition is in order. However, in saying that. The exhibition was brilliant with artwork, live art, poets and muso's all doing their thing on the stage.

Very quick visit here for pre-theatre-pre-dinner-drinks…read more Early on a Wednesday evening it was very quiet but I am led to believe that it can get very busy. Didn't eat here but they seem to have a selection of mid-price share and small serve dishes . Menu is on the website. Very friendly staff who clearly knew there trade and were happy to talk and recommend cocktails etc. The Paloma (tequila with sparling pink grapefruit) was amazing. If you are a whiskey drinker there is in excess of 100 to try!!! There is a balcony so on a warm night great to sit outside with views of the river and city. Definitely worth a visit.

Actually, this place must be relatively new, but honestly, I hadn't actually noticed it until quite…read morerecently. That is probably because it is tucked out of the way, halfway down a spiral staircase that takes you from Princess Bridge down to the Southbank Promenade. Actually, come to think of it, I have been down that stairwell numerous times and this was the first time I noticed this bar. Well, as a bar it was okay, a little too flash for my tastes, but okay. It wasn't too expensive, as is the case with most of the bars around here, though it was a little crowded. However, there is a balcony that does offer a pretty cool view of the city at night.

An oozy cheesy hot mess of a jaffle is the kind of thing you want to eat at the end of a big boozy…read morenight. I love that Bad Frankie offers a wide variety of them, including a lamington jaffle (!), so you can pre-load on them while drinking. No more regrettable late night eats - just do it early in the night and you won't feel the need to double down on a second dinner! The booze selection at Bad Frankie is glorious. There's loads of locally crafted spirits along with a tidy selection of wine and beer. The real appeal though is coming and trying a line up of liquor from Australia in their tasting flights. 5 x 10ml pours is a fun way to start the night, right? Pro tip: sign up for a masterclass if you want to enhance your booze knowledge.

Ok, let me start by saying that the name did predispose me to like this place. Full disclosure, I…read morewalked in full of swagger and excitement and immediately stole one of their business cards to use as my own. That out of the way, the drinks were amazing. Bad Frankie's serves all Australian spirits and their bartenders have made some wonderful things. My friend and I worked our way through 8 different drinks and were thrilled with everything that came out. My favourite was the notorious F.I.G. but I honestly don't think you can go wrong here! Also they have a lamington jaffle, let's take a second to appreciate that that exists, and then sneakily snuffle it into our bellies at all possible opportunities.

Yarra Lounge has the primo location. Go there in the afternoon and sit on the footpath and have a…read morebeer and some freshly prepared snacks, or as they are more commonly known 'Tapas'. This place it's just all kinds of awesome. Don't expect white table cloth service, it's really quite laid back, but that's also part of the charm.

Good if you want to grab a quick drink and a couple of tapas before or after something, like…read moreheading over to watch a movie. Staff are friendly.