The Clifton Hill Hotel offers a stunning crossover between microbrewery and family-run independent pub – where great beer and good vibes come together.
It’s the kind of place where you walk in and immediately feel like home. There’s no manufactured cool or curated attitude, just a genuine sense that someone’s put real thought into what makes a local pub brilliant. Cold beer, good food, friendly faces and a sense of community. There is history on the walls and whole lot of heart behind the bar.
Perched on the corner of Queens Parade and Wellington Street, the Clifton Hill Hotel has been part of the neighbourhood for over a century. Family-owned and operated for nearly 40 years, it wears that history well. Original features lovingly restored, paired with modern touches that keep it sharp without losing the soul of the place. It’s a pub that knows where it came from, but isn’t stuck in the past.
At the heart of the hotel, is the microbrewery. A rotating list of craft brews, plenty of local representation and staff who are more than happy to steer you towards something new. This isn't a craft-only affair though. Alongside the house brews, you'll find staples pouring proudly, served with the same care and consistency locals have come to expect. Think classics like Carlton Draught and Guiness sitting alongs side curated family run Victorian brands from family-run suppliers. This is much more than a ethos, it's a community.
Built on the belief that beer is best drunk in the shadow of the brewery, it’s a philosophy that spills into every pint. Whether you’re knocking off work with a crisp pale ale, or spending an afternoon in the beer garden with something a little darker, it’s clear The Clifton Hill Hotel isn’t just serving beer. It’s celebrating it.
Handcrafting a unique range of fresh, small-batch craft beers, you can not only indulge in the brewery itself, but take the party home with selections of cans available in the onsite tap room and neighbouring bottle shop.
This is the venue that takes the comfort of a traditional pub and looks at it through an innovative lens.
You’ll find all the classics here. The parma, the porterhouse, the fish and chips, but what sets the menu apart is the attention to quality. Think dark ale beef cheek with Paris mash and broccolini, fish battered in Clifton Hill’s own larger, or pizzas fresh out of the woodfired oven. It’s proper comfort food with depth and care.
Vegetarians and gluten-free diners are well looked after and there’s a real effort to make the menu feel accessible without being predictable. It’s the kind of food and vibe you come back for.
There’s a rhythm here that is hard to fake. Locals chatting, trivia nights, pool and live music. It’s a throwback to the glory-days of the quintessential Australian pub, but all grown up. The fit-out is spot on. Timber, polished concrete, exposed brick and a sense of the history that is held with the walls of it’s Federation-era roots. There’s space to spread out, or tuck into a corner with a glass of expertly brewed beer. Whether you’re in the mood for noise or a moment of laid-back lounging, there’s a spot for you here.
The Clifton Hill isn’t reinventing the wheel – it’s making it smoother. A keen focus on stellar hops, great food and an ambience that feels like your stepping into your own home, it’s a proper Melbourne pub.
Beer is best drunk in the shadow of the brewery. Food is best enjoyed somewhere that still remembers what hospitality actually means. The Clifton Hill delivers on both with no ego, no fluff and no shortcuts.
Frankly, that’s exactly what a great pub should do.
