Stopped by since it was close to where my coworkers and I were staying. We wanted to grab a drink…read morebefore going off to explore the city and they had all enjoyed it here before. I was hesitant because a German beer hall in Australia didn't sound like it would be very good - but I was wrong. This is a cute beer hall that mimics most München Haus'. It was still early in the day when we came by so it was mostly empty. We sat at a table outside, but with the plastic windows drawn since it was drizzling a little. The server was friendly and gave us good recommendations on food to share. The platter we got was supposed to be for 3-4 people, but with 8 of us not being too hungry, it was perfect for us to all try a little and have something while we drank. The espresso martini was surprisingly good, as well as the Oktoberfest beer that I had. It definitely gave me German beer garden vibes and as someone who is pretty critical because I'm always in Germany, I liked it and would definitely come back.

No no no no no. Two stars because my husband liked the beer and because they had an authentic…read morelooking band playing. The food and service- zero! Food was quick... But very little flavor. Service was slow and lacking a general concept of what service is supposed to be. I ordered a wrap which comes with a side of bread (clearly stated on the ordering form). When I asked about my sourdough bread- he said let me ask the kitchen. Took the order form back and then came back with Rye bread and the order form. Wrong type of bread and nothing to put on it... It wasn't a pleasant food experience especially considering that less than 30 minutes after I ate my entire body felt like it was going to explode and I barely made it back to the hotel room. I just recommend you choose another place!

Great venue with a good selection on the menu and wine list to please all. The gnocchi was…read moredelicious and staff friendly. Will definitely be back.

From the owner: Looking for a great pub in South Melbourne?…read more Look no further than The Market Hotel an iconic pub in South Melbourne, with an award winning garden inspired fit out. With a focus on local craft beer, friendly service and relaxed vibes, The Market is a classic corner pub with a lot of heart. Beer is our backbone with multiple rotating craft taps from all over Australia, with guest appearances from the occasional overseas friend. Our staff are proud beer nerds and we've always got our eyes pealed for new brews to share with our patrons.

I have certainly been to this place before, however before I went off to my bookgroup I decided…read morethat I would pay this place another visit, and it certainly was well worth it. There is quite a large beer garden out the back (though if it didn't have one then calling it the 'Fitzroy Beer Garden' would somehow defeat the purpose). Okay, the beer is a little pricey, however the food certainly isn't, especially the Porthouse Steak for $16.00. That is probably the cheapest steak that I have seen outside of steak night. The inside of the bar is also really impressive, with little objects covering almost all of the wall space.

The former 'Funf', and 'Yelza' before that, the re-branded Fitzroy Beer Garden hasn't changed much…read morefrom it's previous incarnations aesthetically or lay-out wise, the new name just emphasising its best feature front & centre. Was there on Saturday night and it was pretty busy but also fairly laid back, a good mix of types, and no real dickheads. Only issue was that every single person but me seemed to be smoking in the beer garden. Can't wait for the day us non-smokers can claim back some of these great outdoor bar places. Had some tasty pints for around $8, which for a Saturday night is pretty staggering ($8 pint anywhere these days around Melbourne is pretty good). With Forester's Hall now open right across the road having 'beer' in their name also gives some cohesion to this corner of Smith St, and I'm sure we wont be the only ones to start at FBG in the afternoon sun then drift across the road to sample the impressive beer range at FH this summer.

Tried this place for a few sneaky beers prior to a concert at Festival Hall…read more Love the set up of this place. Sufficient room to bring a pram(next time) and let the little ones roam and also have a dog sit comfortably. Plenty of beer on offer. We tied the burgers and dim Sims - I loved it all. My new local favourite.

This place is pretty cool. In fact, I didn't realise it exists until I was doing a little internet…read moresearching on my computer. Well, upon discovering it I immediately went out to check it out, and sure enough this was one of those pubs I literally fell in love with as soon as I walked in through the door. It is in the heart of the city, but not on one of the major thoroughfares. It has a great beer garden, and a huge selection of beers. In fact it is large enough that you certainly don't have to worry about the crowds. Definitely worth checking out.

The venue is filthy, how long has it been since toilets were cleaned properly, not to mention the…read morestate of the tables people are expected to eat from This is also a great place if you enjoy luke warm food. Not one of the 9 meals ordered was hot! That's when they were actually brought to the table over an approximate 20 minute period. We had to follow up twice Avoid this venue at all costs. Save your cash and go elsewhere!

The problem that I have this place is that it is just so popular. Okay, it isn't as bad when you…read morecome earlier in the week, but if you land up here on a Friday night you'll discovered that it is literally impossible to get a seat. However, being a rooftop bar does give it some character, though it isn't one of the best (and not just because of the crowds). Actually, Loop is made up to two bars, on street level, and one up a flight of stairs on the roof. You can probably guess which one I happen to prefer.

A word of warning: there's loads of stairs to get up to the roof at loop. This isn't such a bad…read morething on the way up, indeed you'll convince yourself that you deserve a serve of their gooey croquettes after the trek, but on the way down you'll be cursing that last boozy iced tea you just had. With only space for 99 punters, get here early and score your favourite table or be prepared to put your name on the waitlist and venture down the road to Lily Blacks for a pre-drink drink. Heck, go down to Lily Blacks for a post-drink drink too!

An interesting start…read more Testing Grounds is a outdoor arts studio and beer garden on an abandoned demolition site left by the YMCA 30 odd years ago. Growing from the rubble is a pallet type pop-up garden similar to Pop-up Patch in Fed Square and a several shipping containers; two for art spaces and one as a bar. I understand that the profits from the bar will go towards up and coming artists. Given the immense size of the place (2000sqm) and that it is only a week old, it can feel rather overwhelming. Although, one advantage I have seen with all this space is locals bringing their dogs down for a play while having a beer or coffee. Something not possible at other intercity bars. The current bar selection is very limited with only two type of beer (Kooinda golden ale or pale ale) and coffee are "homestyle" french press. Its early days for Testing Grounds but it reminds me of Riverland and Section 8 when they first opened. Very basic fitout with a great location. With a good group of regulars that keep the place alive I could easily see a vibrant future. With the initial plan to be open for a year .... time will tell.

Micah, the bartender, is a really awesome guy who you can chat up with and he will listen and…read morerespond. The tap beer here is also outstanding. I tried Lager, Pale Ale and Dark Ale and I like them all. Especially the dark ale which gives an exotic smoked wood aroma and not so deep flavour which is just my preference!

(Dined 12/16/24 MO @ 2:00pm): Cheers to beers at this quasi deluxe sports bar and bottle shop!…read more A friend and I were on Day 3 of our 12-Day Southern Australia Explorer cruise with Princess Cruises, we took the local train into town, and after some time spent at the Melbourne Skydeck, we made our way to Beer DeLuxe. As we slowly headed back towards the cruise ship, I saw this place when we visited Federation Square but it was closed. So, this was perfect timing to grab a drink and snack as we checked it out. A full sports bar and beer garden smack-dab in the middle of a tourist area, I suspected this place did very well. Would we be impressed by their beers, etc.!? PURCHASE Garage Project Fresh IPA December 24 Beer 7.00% ABV 20floz Draft ($20.60AUD): Hazy amber color, light hoppy tropical aroma, light body, light hoppy tropical flavor, smooth finish, and light hoppy tropical aftertaste. This was tasty but pricier than expected! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=z8HWfmv8IpTTxrgiCisJPw Sweet Potato Chips ($17.00AUD): Served with sides of sour cream and sweet chili sauce dippers, these okra-looking spud treats were plump, steaming, seasoned with a Lawry's-type dusting, and a treat to eat! The two dippers were odd choices, but we tried them nonetheless (they didn't add much to the taste). The portion was smaller than I hoped for the price, but dammit they were so good! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=V16MBjDiyPsQ3IB9kZKapg SERVICE We were immediately greeted by a friendly woman behind the bar who said we could sit anywhere. They instituted a QR Code ordering system specific to your table, so it was pretty easy to order and eventually pay for the bill. Our drinks arrived almost instantaneously while the food took less than five minutes. There were stations where you placed emptied glasses and plates, so mostly everything was hands-off except for the delivery of drinks and food. I was totally fine with this - thank you! PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance) There was an ample onsite parking lot on Federation Square at various rates ($8.00AUD - $64.00AUD) based on day, event, reason, and time. However, there appeared to be a decent amount of parking on all surrounding streets (please note any posted signs), and of course the wonderful public transportation such as the tram system which we conveniently took and then walked the rest of the way - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A large layout with multiple levels and rooms https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=VT7ts9dI-4Cr4Nd1b4ePlw that included a beer garden and front patio https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=B3r9TtPxliJlNWDtL1XBKQ nearly along the sidewalk, there were plenty of places to sit (or stand if you liked!) and enjoy a beverage or two and some food while you high-fived strangers as you watched a sporting event. For each enclosed dining area https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=ak1gSHI_sQbGLaLCHcYrHA the expansive bar https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=quUwv5Mo7E9B2XSFFxOjlg was the focal point, while the decor was kept clear and tasteful. There was plenty of natural lighting both inside and outside while various types of electric ceiling lights and outdoor lights filled in the rest. There were several TVs throughout while rock music played in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=7YIaNyQiVgr79hyQqrrvyQ ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL Beer DeLuxe could certainly be a great place to catch a game with friends or strangers while you guzzled down a pint and stuffed your face with food, and there was more than enough space to accommodate. I enjoyed what I tried, but the prices were a bit more than I expected. Furthermore, I was disappointed by their minimal tap options/selections https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=QRRxLt8IbWW-VtYVgASr3w as I expected a wider variety and a larger support for the many local breweries. However, they appeared to have an extensive bottle selection, but I preferred from the tap. Lastly, I appreciated the near hands-off service approach. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $38.00AUD / $24.00USD BEFORE any discounts/tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

I've been visiting Beer Deluxe for several years, maybe 2-3 times a year for a semi-regular catchup…read morewith some old mates. It's been steadily deteriorating over the last few visits. Beer selection is OK but pricey, but the food the last few visits has been just awful. Today's beer-battered rockling was a new low, more like rock-hard than rockling. Horribly overcooked and dry, and served with chips and selection of pickles (which is just weird). Add to that the hygiene and amenities weren't great. Sticky tables in the outside area and inside a couple of toilet seats were busted. We're really not fussy people but among our crew we've agreed we'll be finding somewhere else for future get-togethers.

Great pub, here for the UFC and they have a great setup to watch. Big screen out in the beer garden…read moreand plenty of seating. Had a pint of Steam Ale and it was ice cold and tasty

The Empress (more like Impress, amirite?!) has relaunched this year with new beers, a new menu and…read morea rather ravishing facelift and should be at the top of your list (or at least in your top five) when it comes to a Sunday session. For those that like craft beer you'll be a happy chappy here. They have old favourites Mountain Goat and Vale Ale as well as a few newbies chucked in every now and then, most recently they had Moon Dog's pine-lime IPA tapped. As I said, this is a great destination for a Sunday session, and therefore my menu knowledge is limited to a parma (deelish) and a bowl of chips (also deelish), AKA Sunday Session meals. However they do have a $10 Pizza night on Monday and a $15 Burger and a pot night on Wednesday, which I intend to check out shortly. Their courtyard is decked out with astroturf and some admirable foliage but be warned, it can feel a bit like a peak-hour tram in summer. Packed. If sun is what you're after, try nabbing one of the outdoor seats on Scotchmer Street, you might have more luck plus more fresh air. All in all, a great spot to watch the footy and share a couple of jugs with good mates.