Why you stayIt may be called the Sporting Club Hotel, but sport is definitely not the focus here. There are no screens, betting facilities or framed memorabilia in sight. Instead, this hotel consciously leans into the neighbourhood-local vibe, the one where the pub is a place of relaxation rather than overstimulation. Sound levels are geared to conversation, the look is traditional and comforting, the service chatty and friendly. It’s the sort of venue you pine for after a hard day or when you don’t want to think too deeply about what to order for dinner. Craving a chicken schnitzel and a Carlton Draught? You can get those here alongside sausages and mash, three different cuts of steak and a bread-and-butter pudding. Being a pub in Melbourne’s inner north, it has diverse eating options – snapper fillets with pearl couscous and harissa, for instance, and good choices for both vegetarians and vegans – and those who like a little craft in their beer, natural in their wine and fun in their cocktails will find nothing to complain about either.
