This used to be one of my locals when I lived in the neighbourhood. But it was during day/afternoon/early evening when I used to visit. It turned totally knobish later in the evening and used to be insufferable on a Friday or Saturday night with a DJ playing shit dance music on the broken speakers at ear bleeding volume (sounds terrible). During the time of the day I visited it's wonderful. I love the building and the layout inside. The beer selection is excellent and bar staff friendly. It's a beautiful building and the interior is cosy and welcoming. read more

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The Grace Darling is one of my favourite pubs in Melbourne. It's well known as a hipster hangout and once you walk in you will see why. Calling it a pub is a little misleading as the food and drinks on offer are top notch and the staff, while usually looking grumpy and bored, are pretty cool and do a decent job. It's great as a after work drink or catch up spot because of the range of group seating (massive couches or tall tables) and the great $5 pints of Coopers! They do pretty good pub food and always have good music. The pub looks quite nice and fancy, not a dingy old pub. There is wifi that says guest but none of the staff ever know the password so useless. Check the bar out though! read more

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This place got taken over a couple of years ago, and was transformed from old man drinking pub to young man drinking pub - with music. The downstairs area is a beautiful looking space with polished floors and plenty of tables to sit the hordes that wander in around dinnertime. This place gets packed on the weekends. And rightfully so, the food it quality. After you munch on the nosh downstairs, you can either drink up a storm at the bar - which seems the done thing. Or you can head upstairs and see some music. The bandroom has got a smick sound system installed and the tunes sound crisp. read more

The Grace Darling Hotel - Pubs Near Me - Collingwood, VIC

When I first visited this pub back when I first came to Melboure I took a shine to it because the name reminded me of some really cools pubs (or at least one really cool pub) back in Adelaide. However after having visited it a few more times the shine really stared to wear off. I'm not sure what it is that caused this to happen, but I suspect that it has a lot to do with there being so many more pubs in the area that I have found that are much better than this place. Okay, it is pretty popular, and the couple of times I've been here it's been packed, however it isn't one that I'll be returning to anytime soon. read more

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This Smith St bar is an institution in Collingwood having been the birthplace of the Collingwood Football club. I imagine that sentence sums up the crowd fairly well..? This is man's pub - cold beer, big parmas and dark dingy lighting. The hipsters behind the bar bring in the younger crowd on Friday and Saturday nights, and during footy season this place is packed. Tradition brings everyone here after a Collingwood game. This is a great winter venue with its cosy, candlelit tables and fireplace in the side room. Their outside area is limited and guaranteed you will be the envy of everyone in Collingwood if you manage to snag an outdoor table in summer (seriously, you will get stink-eye from passers-by.) The restaurant area of the Grace brings a touch of 'fanciness' to the joint and the kitchen does not disappoint. Be warned: the Grace gets PACKED most nights due to their sensational happy hour of half-price pots and pints of Coopers and cider, 4pm to 7pm. read more

The Grace Darling Hotel - Pubs Near Me - Collingwood, VIC

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Nick Cave fans take note: if you squint a little almost every bartender at Smith Street's Grace Darling Hotel looks like the much celebrated Aussie himself. All long hair, beards and slightly scarecrowish air, The Grace Darling Hotel's staff are as artfully unkempt as you could ask. The Grace Darling Hotel itself? Nothing of the sort. Somewhat insalubrious in appearance from the outside, The Grace Darling Hotel is actually a damn good pub. Boasting a never-ending roster of gigs, a frankly amazing looking restaurant which borders on gourmet for a pub - I've been reliably informed that The Grace Darling's steaks are incredible - and a great drinks list taking in some premium wines and ciders. Seating is a mixture of chairs and very comfy couches and although this place gets packed at the weekends, if you can get in early and nab one of The Grace Darling's said sofas you'll be more than set for a great night. read more

The Grace Darling Hotel - Pubs Near Me - Collingwood, VIC

I want to review the GD in two seperate sections because I really think the bar aspect deserves four stars. It's such a relaxed and warm place to drink with friends, ESPECIALLY in winter, the open fire is superb! It's honestly one of my favourite places for a mid week drink during the cold months! However I've had about four average meals here, the dining experience is so average I am annoyed I've eaten here so many times. It's over priced as hell and there is never enough vegan and vegetarian options which is stupid given the area. Three and a half stars. Give us a half Yelp! read more

We had our wedding reception upstairs at The Grace early April. I can't begin to say how happy we where. The night was amazing, the staff so easy to deal with. We had to have minimal input into how we wanted everything setup as what they do themselves was perfect anyway. It was relaxed, the food was delicious and the chefs even cooked one of our own recipes for us. Honestly, thank you guys for helping make it such a memorable and amazing night. read more

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One of Melbourne's more attractive pubs with beautiful rooms featuring fireplaces, wooden floorboards, lovely garden, outdoor seating at the front for optimum people-watching, and a great little gig room upstairs. The drinks here are so good that you won't be able to just have a quick one. You'll inevitably want to stay for another especially once you've settled yourself into a nice corner table. There's also a dining area to enjoy your better-than-average pub fare if a slightly more formal setting is what you desire. The Grace used to host the weekend Hello Sailor Vintage Market, which was fantastic. A pub where you can shop for a vintage dress and down a pint as well. Genius. read more

The Grace Darling Hotel - Pubs Near Me - Collingwood, VIC

Sadly, the one and only visit I've had to this pub wasn't a good one. It started off by not getting served for a few minutes while I stood patiently at the bar without any other customers in sight. Then the bar guy decided to wander over and say, "Sorry guys I'm just really #@**$@) hung over". Ok, that's fine it is a Sunday after all... Then we ordered White Rabbit white ale's, he poured White Rabbit dark ale, we corrected him and he ignored us and walked off... Sadly, I wasn't impressed, even though the dark ale was pretty nice, it wasn't what we ordered and I was in a bad mood from then on... read more

The Grace Darling Hotel - Pubs Near Me - Collingwood, VIC

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So I haven't been to the Grace Darling (or the Grey Scarlet as we used to call it) in nearly 20 years I reckon when it was our work watering hole. Obviously lots can change in 20 years, but in this case not for the better. We got there just after they opened on a Sunday for lunch...the meals ranged from average to gross, and after waiting 5-10 minutes at the bar trying to get some salt&pepper while it took the 3 staff members to serve the only other couple inside I pretty much gave up in disgust. After poking my cold food around the plate a bit I went down the road and got pho instead - much better choice read more

I've only been here recently, but I assume it has been given a make over as much of the former grungy and derelict smith street has. Some good tap beers are on offer, which is in the immediate front area; a Coopers, and and a Orion from Japan. No Carlton draught! Ace! That stuff taste fowl! Hipster beer for everyone. You do get hipster service which is patchy and indulgent in taking it's time. The bar opens up into a dining area, with ample seating and tables. The food menu looks good, but is pricey. The interior has been given a reworking, and it looks quite good. A Little arty, a little warm, and not so white walls & polished concrete. There are open fireplaces but they're of the fake gas kind. Live bands and music is on here too. All in all, it's a pretty good place to hang. Not too bogan, but not too classy either. On the higher end of the middle ground. read more

When it is busy it is just too loud for dining. I had the wagyu carpaccio which is great, but the steak was not up to scratch. Music being pumped in was too loud. With a large booking next to us there is just way too much noise generated in the downstairs area which echoey as it is. Perhaps size restrictions are needed. I must be getting old. I'm mostly criticising the noise, but it matters a lot when dining with friends. read more

I had high hopes for the Grace, mainly due to the great reviews I had read here. In aesthetic terms, the Grace Darling certainly didn't disappoint- it really is a beautiful looking pub and the restaurant atrium part is seriously nice. The service however really disappointed me. We had a party of about 10 and the wait staff were inconsistent, flaky, and just plain unimpressive. The food let me down too- I ordered steak with rocket salad. There was nothing BAD about it per se but it just wasn't anything to write home about. The wine I had was definitely the highlight for me- I had the Grace Sauv Blanc and it was delicious + reasonably priced. BUT, the Grace has no Carlton Draught. Definitely a minus in my boyfriend's book. read more

This is a cool little bar and pub but for the price point there are a few things they could work on. Food is great for the most part - lots of veggie options and I've had some good burgers and an amazing veg risotto here. Service is a bit hit and miss - have had periods where you're waiting for ages for meals or for dirty plates to be cleared or for drinks. Sometimes its fine. The most annoying thing I've experienced here was when I ordered a few bowls of chips for our table and when they arrived asked for some mayo or aoili. This was bought out - and $2 was added to the bill! Couldn't quite believe it - hardly anywhere would make you pay, but beside the point really. Might have been nice if the waitress had TOLD us that, or perhaps even asked?? Such a small thing but the kind of thing that is so unnecessary and leaves a bad taste in your mouth. For the area and the price, I would instead head to the standard, naiper or rainbow. So many good options in the area. read more

Oh, people need to be more articulate when calling up this place - the first time I came here, I circled the block like five times (searching for a park space as well) looking for a "Grey Starling". Finally after standing right out the front and ready to bite my mates head off, it clicked in my head that it was actually the Grace Darling. After a ship. Right. Very nice interior, especially around five pm when still light outside, but when it gets dark, the interior lighting is rather dim. The formal dining area is tucked away beside the bar and has a garden setting which is really nice. Menu wise, some decent sounding restaurant quality food is offered and you won't find average pub fare here. Same goes for the beverages. They definitely have a more upscale focus here. Even though it got considerably packed after six, service at the bar was good, at least I got served whenever I approached. People tend to spill out onto the footpath, drink in hand with a smoke. I remember seeing someone so drunk she went and sat in the middle of the road! read more

Ten dollar jugs during happy hour? Sold. But if you need more... So the food is seriously awesome. The menu changes all the time and there is always great specials too. If you ever see lamb shanks on the menu order it. There are really great vego options that are way more exciting than just a veggie burger. Their pastas are always cooked to al dente perfection and I had an actual carbonara from here made in the proper way withOUT cream. The burgers and parmas look pretty good but for me I always find something more enticing from the broader menu/specials list. The wine list and beer selection is fantastic. My red pick is the alpha box and dice Sangiovese (but you'll have to buy a bottle oh well). The tap beers always offer really good craft beers to enjoy as well as some familiar ones (coopers, trumer pils) In terms of set up, there is an upstairs bit that they have gigs in, lots of dark corners for second dates and heaps of high tables to have a good old session at. There is also a quieter dining area and a long table good for a bigger groups that you can book out. And for the people watchers and smokers the outdoor area offers a great view of smith street. read more

Was here on a sunny busy Friday for after work drinks - where a ton of people had similar ideas, the throng spilling out all around outside pretty much onto the road and well down the street, pints in hand (no way that's technically legal considering how tight liquor laws are here, but loved that it reminded me of a London pub in summer.) Happy hour prices were good, and obviously a big draw as half the place vanished as soon as the clock struck a minute past. Up to then it was shoulder-to-shoulder stuff, with music pumping way too loud for civil conversation. We all had sore throats from yelling by the time we headed off to Huxta to grab some burgers (too loud to eat there for us, and cant imagine we're the only potential dinner patrons that has turned off.). read more

We had a lovely night here at a Scarf dinner. The food was lovely. My trout for entree and beef cheek for main were very tasty indeed. The latter was just the remedy on a cold wet Melbourne evening. A very hearty dish and a nice generous serve. The service was lovely here, from both the trainee and the professional. They were happy, efficient and attentive. Loved their work. This was a lovely night. We wandered off to catch the number 86 thinking the world was pretty OK. read more

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We went to the Grace for dinner, as a large group including 7 kids. The staff were continuously helpful throughout. The manager was great with kids, really great rapport. The food was good portion size, of good quality and presentation and they have a range of standard and craft beers on tap. The kids burgers were more than enough for an adult, great quality and value. Overall a very positive, comfortable and vibrant place to dine and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend and will definitely dine there again. read more

Most people - me included - hate anything to do with Collingwood, not because of the suburb, but because of their football club. Just the thought of going to a pub there brought up nightmares of toothless ferals but the Grace Darling (not to be confused as the Grey Starling as I did and couldn't find it anywhere!) is an awesome pub. Going here on a wintery night the fire in the corner was roaring, the couches were comfy and the interior is beautiful. The Darling has everything you need including an upmarket eating area out back, trendy front bar with a good selection of wine plus beers on tap, including but not limited to your regular Carlton Draught etc. etc. There are regular gigs upstairs and they're pretty cheap considering the quality ($10 for the band we saw). Get to the Darling early and set yourself up for a classier than normal sesh with your mates. read more

I enjoyed a walk from Southbank to Smith Street in Collingwood on Sunday afternoon. My intention was to meet my Sydney mate for a relaxing afternoon of drinking and food, and that is what I got. We met at the Grace Darling Hotel on Smith Street/Peel Street. There was a good mixture of people. Some hipsters in the corner, footy players eating at a table not far away and an emo or two milled about. I was immediately excited when I ventured in to this place because I noticed that they have both Orion Beer (a beer brand representing Okinawa) and also Coopers Red on tap. Normally I would just get excited about Coopers Red, so I was not in the mood to move for a while once I was given a 400ml glass of Orion. It was a relaxed venue with attentive and amusing staff. If it was a bit warmer, I would have enjoyed sitting outside and watching the various attractions but I suppose that hobby can be delayed until later this season. They have an interesting pub menu that I will want to return to try out also. Given we spent about three hours drinking in the Grace Darling most of the time in front of the roaring fire, we decided to go to Huxtaburger which was only a few metres away for a very late lunch. The original plan was to visit Huxtable but because of the awkward timing after sitting around and telling lewd stories for three hours at the pub, we decided it was appropriate to get some comfort food. read more

For a place to drink, The Grace Darling never disappoints. It's at a good corner with lots of places to continue the evening (or early morning). It's interior isn't over the top. Nor does it smell like grandma. It's right between. There's lots of tables around the bar, a kick-ass garden area, a great upstairs and space for bands, and even around the side there's a little garage that opens to sneak the smokers in the rain or winter and a grill sometimes cooking up some fabulous sausages. For drankin', not just drinking, it satisfies and has multiple personalities to satisfy a wide variety of party needs. Hoorah! read more

Decked out like an Irish Pub (in the same fashion as several new Melbourne pubs of late), the Grace has a cosy charisma that carries throughout its three levels of bars. The basement is a small bar (lacking ventilation) that feels even more intimate due to the low lighting and low roof of exposed beams - it's a little dingy, but charming, and makes for a great late night private party venue. The ground floor is the main pub space with an open fire, a pool table, and a bistro (that has a small menu specialising in some damn good pies). The top floor is the band room (with two more pool tables), which more and more these days is booking quality bands from Melbourne and abroad. The Grace has a really good vibe about it, particularly in Winter, when the open fire is a real drawing card and the old-school Irish layout feels most inviting. In Summer on the other hand, the space feels a little stunted by the fact that it lacks a beer garden or any real space where you can drink outside. Even so... the Grace offers good drinks, good food, good music, good vibes. Definitely worth checking out. read more

The Grace Darling Hotel - Pubs Near Me - Collingwood, VIC

I tend to think of the Grace Darling Hotel as three separate businesses. Downstairs is the bar, through into the next room is a dining area and upstairs in another bar with a stage and a pool table. The Grace Darling does a pretty good job of being a bar, restaurant and upon occasion live music venue or private function room. As such it is quite a good place to arrange a group night out, to meet someone for a meal and/or a few drinks or to head upstairs for a dance to whatever band or DJ happens to be playing. If you choose the later don't be scared by the moving floor that feels like its about to collapse down onto the people downstairs. I am pretty sure it is safe. Their food is pretty good too! read more

One of the most beautiful pubs in Melbourne, the Grace Darling's bluestone and brick bones are some of the most longstanding in Melbourne. In fact, this is apparently Melbourne's second oldest pub. Relaunched in 2009 under a couple of the cats from Hell's Kitchen, the Grace has had a new breath of life given in the form of a great pub with a kitchen that could easily run independently and thrive. The public bar downstairs is a welcoming rounded bar with beautiful wood floors, and plenty of room to sit and eat, drink and be merry. The kitchen is at the back, and has an open plan dining room and atrium attached for those after food in a dining setting. The food is described as a "rustic-no nonsense" selection, and you can expect the words 'slow roasted', and 'organic' to feature heavily to set apart the fare from traditional pub menus. Staff at the restaurant are accommodating and proud of their wares, unlike to regular front bar staff, who act as though they'd rather you went somewhere else. I held my solo album launch here, and the staff and bookers were fantastic to deal with, apart form the odd waiter/ess who was too cool for skool. On the night we had a great time, with everyone helping to make sure it ran smoothly. Make a booking if planning to head here on the weekend for dinner and avoid missing out or having to wait. Head upstairs and you'll find a band room with a great little stage and enough room to hold around 200 punters. The room features a bar of its own, a pool table, fireplace and an extra room that opens up to host functions with a touch of class. read more

Was walking past this place and stepped inside to check it out briefly. They were playing amazing obscure music like early Cure records and Cleaners from Venus so decided to stay for a drink. Lovely little spot to have a drink/chat with outdoor benches. Stayed for a couple of rounds and had a good time. A bit hit or miss with the staff though, some friendly, some not. I'd return though if in the area. read more

I like that Melbourne now has several whiskey bars...I tried out the underground whiskey bar on a Saturday night...had a blast. The music selection is exceptional (a lot of Elvis) and the whiskeys are a treat...admittedly it is not quite as good/cheap as Chez Regine though... read more

Amazing and healthy chicken parm, super cozy atmosphere, great decor, ice cold beers of many shapes and sizes, good tunes, funky staff, big outdoor benches when the weather is nice, and an awesome dining room with a greenhouse roof. One of my favorite places to while away a Sunday afternoon. read more

Are an awesome jerk chicken burger with homemade fries which I live, and decent selection of wines. Recommend the WA white wine if having the chicken read more

For a $45 set menu dinner I would have expected a lot more! Well over an hour after we had finished the appetizers the mains finally arrived and it was not worth the wait. You will get service if you get up and seek it out and if you apply a bit more pressure you may even get an apology for their tardiness. I heard this place used to be good, but I will not be coming back here again - life is too short. read more

As a long time local of the area I have to express my total and absolute disgust at the way we were treated at the Grace Darling. When there are so many places struggling to stay alive you would think businesses would be grateful for full paying customers. Well not at the Grace Darling, they seemed to be offended by customers over 22 years of age. Spend your money elsewhere where they truly need and appreciate the patronage. read more

Had the most amazing vegan tofu burger here, and friends had the regular beef burger and found it equally delicious. Burger night is fun and they have $5 pickleback shots! The lower Dubin area can be a bit noisy though read more

Obnoxious bar service staff and unhelpful meal staff. Just because you consider yourself 'funky' doesn't mean you can charge a premium and not deliver on service. What a waste of $$$. Will never go back nor recommend anyone else for that matter. read more