The Best Pubs In North Melbourne For Your Next Cheeky Pint

Despite directly adjoining the hustle and bustle of the CBD, North Melbourne has a distinctly different feel. Quieter and more neighbourly, it deftly balances its history as a working class industrial suburb with a stylish and youthful transformation.

Its healthy pub scene is a reflection of this. North Melbourne’s heart can be found in character-filled old school pubs where the pints are cheap and the portions large, but you’ll also find the area’s young and hip milling about in polished, contemporary venues that can shake up a good cocktail.

These are the best pubs in North Melbourne to enjoy a pint and a parma in this year. 

Central Club Hotel

This refurbished boozer has quickly joined ranks as one of the best pubs in North Melbourne. After a sustainable restoration, the space at Central Club Hotel is both warm and elegant. It boasts a sleek fit-out and food and drink of the highest calibre, yet still maintains the feel of that classic corner pub we all know and love.

The drinks list is 100% Aussie; the wine list particularly good. The food menu shifts from excellent share plates through to quintessential pub meals with added refinement, and features market produce brought fresh from Queen Victoria Market. Start with the burrata, roasted beetroot and persimmon and the kingfish sashimi and wind up a quality steak, beer battered fish and chips, or handmade pumpkin cavatelli with black garlic oil and sage. 

240 – 248 Victoria Street, North Melbourne

Courthouse Hotel

Step into the Courthouse Hotel and let its charm sweep you off your feet. From the retro 70s vibe spun with modern finesse to the mouthwatering eggplant parmigiana, steak specials, and golden croquettes, every detail delights. The sticky date pudding is pure indulgence, while the warm hospitality and convivial atmosphere keep you coming back. Add the gorgeous onsite accommodations, and this North Melbourne pub becomes irresistible—a must-visit for food, fun, and a touch of nostalgia.

86-90 Errol Street, North Melbourne

The Victoria Hotel

The Victoria Hotel has been a historic landmark on the corner of Peel and Victoria streets since its establishment in 1863. Thanks to a recent refurb, it’s got that fresh, modern edge. You’ll find nine beers on tap, from classics like Carlton Dry to craft favourites like Stone and Wood. The menu’s got you covered, from daytime jaffles to hearty burgers, fish and chips, and hot wings at night. Grab a pint, catch up with mates, and settle in for a good time.

Ground Floor/312-316 Victoria Street, North Melbourne 

The Town Hall Hotel

For a cold pint, cheerful feed and a spot of live music, you can’t go past The Town Hall Hotel. It’s a classic, and one of the best pubs in North Melbourne. The kind that’s harder and harder to find in the inner city these days, where the walls are plastered with rock memorabilia while the menu’s both delicious and pocket friendly. Jockey with local workers and regulars in the public bar, or catch up with mates in their sprawling beer garden, an all-seasons oasis that’s cool in summer and heated in winter. Back in the dining room an open fireplace will keep you toasty on cold nights – dig into your dinner here before checking out the gigs that play from Thursday to Sunday.

33 Errol Street, North Melbourne

The Last Jar 

The Last Jar is a North Melbourne institution, blending traditional Irish charm with hearty, comforting meals. Known for its rustic atmosphere and house-made butter, bread, and bacon, it’s the perfect spot to settle in. Open Wednesday to Sunday, it’s especially famous for its live music. Wednesdays and Sundays bring traditional Irish tunes, while Thursdays feature Scottish and Irish jigs, and Fridays are reserved for rotating acts. Pair a pint of Guinness or a whisky with the vibrant atmosphere for a truly memorable pub experience.

616 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne 

Bobbie Peels

Bobbie Peels is a laid-back North Melbourne pub where classic charm meets contemporary style. Inside, it’s all warm lighting, great wine, and a seasonal bistro-style menu made for long, relaxed dinners. On Saturdays, the beer garden fills with locals sharing rounds of craft beers, while wine lovers can explore a curated list that spans aged Shiraz to skin-contact naturals. Whether you’re settling in with a red or sipping something crisp in the sun, Bobbie’s is an easy favourite—welcoming, reliable, and effortlessly cool.

351 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne

Limerick Castle Hotel

This reliable neighbourhood boozer has been a local catch-up spot since 1886. Open seven days a week, it’s the kind of place where there’s always sport on the TV and a friendly face at the bar. A drink in its well-worn rooms—complete with deep red carpet—offers a front-row seat to a slice of history, but the kitchen is serving something new. Collingwood’s beloved burger joint Easey’s has taken over, turning The Limerick into a go-to for juicy cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and chilli cheese dogs. Instantly one of our favourite North Melbourne pubs.

161 Errol Street, North Melbourne

Prudence

While technically more of a bar, Prudence brings the same laid-back, local energy we love in a great pub. But don’t expect anything ordinary—where other venues lean into sleek minimalism, this North Melbourne gem goes full charm offensive. Think vintage knick-knacks, eclectic artwork, and Victorian chandeliers—it’s a ‘more is more’ approach, and it works. On the drinks list, you’ll find trusty tap beers, local wines, single malts, and all the spritzes and sours your heart desires. A cosy, character-filled favourite with serious soul.

368 Victoria Street, North Melbourne 

The Leveson

For a more upmarket, polished vibe, head to The Leveson, where a spacious, modern fit-out and on-trend offerings draw in the after-work crowd. There’s live music most weekends—acoustic sets during happy hour and DJs spinning late into the night—but if you’re just after a pizza and a pint with the footy on in the background, there’s space for that too. The menu pairs classic pub grub with dishes like lemongrass fried chicken, mussels in nduja and tomato broth, and rigatoni alla vodka. An easy favourite for a great pub meal in North Melbourne.

46 Leveson Street, North Melbourne

The Castle Hotel

If you’re passionate about all things brewed, check out The Castle Hotel, where they have a specialty Belgian beer bar that’ll transport you to the beer halls of Europe. Belgian beers are known for balancing light body and low bitterness with fruity, spicy, floral and herbal aromas, and you can see for yourself with the Castle’s dozens of varieties on tap and in bottle form. Try four at once with a beer tasting paddle, best enjoyed with some crispy beer-battered John Dory fillets or a classic porterhouse steak.

Sitchu Tip: Come summer, this delightful local really shines as one of the best pubs in North Melbourne, due to it’s gorgeous outdoor seating arrangement. 

56 Courtney Street, North Melbourne

Three Crowns Hotel

The Three Crowns Hotel is the kind of laidback local you hope to stumble across but rarely do. One foot inside and you’re met with timeless pub charm—polished wood, no-fuss service, and the familiar hum of good conversation. The beer list is strong, the Southern fried chicken bites hit just right, and the courtyard is an easy place to lose a few hours. A proper neighbourhood spot doing things right, seven days a week, with live music to boot. A quiet classic in West Melbourne.

365 Victoria Street, West Melbourne

Royal Standard Hotel

The Royal Standard Hotel in neighbouring West Melbourne feels like a secret you’ll want to keep to yourself. A local classic with a timeless vibe, it’s where history meets the hum of the modern world. The kitchen dishes up bold, Italian-inspired fare—from gourmet pizzas to rich pastas to seafood platters—while the beers flow freely and the conversations get deeper.

333 William Street, West Melbourne 

Looking for more places to have a tipple? Check out these great value happy hours across Melbourne, our favourite new bars, and the coolest cocktail bars in town. And now that the mercury’s dropping, you can get a glass of hot mulled wine at these bars and pubs too.