What drink to order You’ve gotta love the variety of spaces and options these grand old pubs offer – do you want to prop up the front bar with a Carlton, or have a crack at splitting the G? Do you want to settle in with a pint of something from a smaller brewer on tap, like a Boatrocker Miss Pinky Raspberry Sour Ale, or a Red Duck Super Normal Lager? Do you want to nab a corner of the beer garden and hit a Margarita spiked with limoncello, or book a table at the bistro and explore the wine list in detail? The glass list is a mostly local list of heroes, running from Shadowfax Chardonnay to Bespoke Syrah, passing the superb rosé Emily Kinsman makes with Heathcote fruit at ECK Wines along the way. There’s strong representation from Victoria on the longer bottle list as well (we are in prime wine country, after all), with great choices from Sutton Grange, Musk Lane, Fighting Gully Road, By Farr and Saeke with a smattering of smart picks from the wider world, most of them from Italy. It’s basically all killer and no filler, with a healthy range under the $75 mark. The non-alc picks are just as thoughtful, too – a plus for the designated drivers. You’re gonna love it.
