NOW EXPERIENCING:Morning Star Hotel
Drinks Directory|After work drinks|Happy hour|Melbourne – West

Morning Star Hotel

Thursday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM
3 Electra Street, Williamstown, VIC, 3016
Phone
(03) 9397 0039
Website
morningstarhotel.com.au
Instagram
@themorningstarhotel

Read time 2 Mins

Posted 01 Jul 2025

By
Tomas Telegramma

The beer garden at the Morning Star Hotel in Melbourne

This 1890-built Williamstown pub shines bright once again, thanks to a retro-inspired refit, a sunny beer garden and an elevated pub offering and crowd-pleasing brews.

The facade of the Morning Star Hotel
Why you goMatt Vero (Marquis of Lorne, Mount Erica Hotel, Orrong Hotel) and Stephen Mitchell (Werribee’s Bridge Hotel) have a knack for knowing what a pub needs to do for locals to fall in love with it (again). So it was a win for Williamstown when they joined forces with local Aaron Onofretchook to breathe new life into the Morning Star Hotel, a fixture on Electra Street for more than 130 years. In an area not as teeming with good watering holes as it once was, this fresh-faced joint lifts pub-grub standards and puts local-leaning drinks front and centre, becoming a new North Star for pub-seekers south-west of the city. The preserved facade nods to the past, while a retro-inspired refit has added warm hues and cosy vibes to the long-standing pub without completely stripping it of its character. Punters from all walks of life sip ice-cold pints, shoulder-to-shoulder, in the front bar, then spill into the dining room for a feed. And the fun continues outside in the sunny 80-person beer garden that’s decked out with all-green furniture and a kids’ play area to keep the littlies occupied while the adults have one last drink. 
What drink to order The best starting point for beer drinkers is the Morning Star-branded house pilsner, an affordable draught beer made in collaboration with Melbourne craft brewery Stomping Ground (its pale ale is also on tap). Admittedly, the tap list mostly caters to the masses, but more distinctive beers can be found in tinnies in the fridges, such as a lemon meringue-flavoured sour by Sailors Grave, a farmhouse brewery located in East Gippsland. There’s strong local representation in the wine list, too, which features a number of bottles by Yarra Valley winemaker Mac Forbes. And in the cocktail department, the team keeps it classic and consistent. 
At the bar inside the Morning Star Hotel
Looking over a table with several dishes on it
What to eat If you prefer your counter meals without cheffy touches, there are plenty that don’t rock the boat, from Corner Inlet flathead and chips to a good old-fashioned chicken parma. But in other areas – the small plates especially – ex-Stomping Ground chef Ben Isaacs has let his creativity run free. Guinness and treacle make the house bread a flavour bomb. Flatbread fans will find it spiced with Middle Eastern blend za’atar and served with tahini-and-white-bean dip. And ’nduja (Italy’s spicy spreadable sausage) takes mac ’n’ cheese to the next level. A substantial kids’ menu rounds out the offering.
Regular’s tipLong week? Fancy a Friday knock-off? Beeline to the Morning Star for a happy hour (actually two hours) that delivers great bang for your buck. From 4:00pm to 6:00pm, all eight tap beers are $4 a pot and $8 a pint, and select Spritzes are two for one. Plus, there’s a deal for those who like to end their week with oysters and bubbles: $30 gets you half a dozen oysters and a glass of prosecco, and $60 gets you a dozen with a whole bottle. 
Don’t leave withoutDon’t order without scoping out the blackboard where a handful of daily specials are chalked up. The main menu is brimming with pub fare that will appease both purists and the more adventurous, but the specials board is where you’ll find (often seasonal) alternatives that shake things up a little more. Maybe it’ll be ricotta dumplings tumbled through eggplant caponata. Perhaps barbecued king prawns slathered in garlic butter. Or the butcher’s cut for two – a weekend-only addition that’s perfect for steak lovers. 
The daily specials board at the Morning Star Hotel in Williamstown
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In partnership with Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
image credits: Michael Pham
Authour image
Tomas TelegrammaTomas is a food, drinks and culture writer, and former Broadsheet Melbourne editor.
Tags
Drinks DirectoryGood for groupsPubBrilliant beer listHappy hourMelbourne – WestMeal and a bevMelbourneOutdoor areaFamily affairCasual catch-upAfter work drinks
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