The Drunken Poet
Once upon a time in West Melbourne, a little green-fronted pub appeared on Peel Street, destined to become one of the city’s most beloved watering holes. Enter The Drunken Poet, a cozy Irish pub that has been serving up pints, poetry, and plenty of personality since 2006.While the pub itself is relatively young, the building has a longer history, fitting right into Melbourne’s rich architectural heritage. In the late 19th century, directories list 65 Peel Street as a private residence, and then by the 1930s, it had transformed into a fishmonger’s shop. Over the following decades, it became a café, and by the 1970s, the building was home to A & L Tomato Supply, a fruit merchant business. Eventually, it found its current identity as the lively, music-filled haven it is today: a beloved Irish pub known for its live music and welcoming atmosphere. The building’s long history reflects Melbourne’s evolving streetscape, transitioning from residential use to commercial spaces that have served the local community for over a century.
Captain Melville
G’day history buffs and pub lovers! Welcome to Captain Melville, a Melbourne institution with a past as wild as the bushranger it’s named after.This iconic pub is housed in Mac’s Hotel, the oldest continuously licensed pub and oldest surviving purpose-built hotel in Melbourne’s CBD. Established in 1853 by John McMillan, it was designed by James & Charles Webb, who later became prominent architects.Please now make way for the great Melbourne pub debate—who poured the first pint? 🍻Whilst Captain Melville's exact licensing date in 1853 is a bit of a mystery, it claims to be the oldest bluestone pub and it boasts a 24-hour license today. On the other side, we have The Duke of Wellington, proudly waving its 1853 liquor license like a victory flag. It’s officially recognised as Melbourne’s oldest licensed pub and is still serving up history with every sip. So, who wins? You and your mates can try and settle this one whilst enjoying a pint in both of these beloved drinking institutions on this tour.
The Duke of Wellington
Originally designed by Richard Dalton for local businessman Timothy Lane, this iconic watering hole started as a boarding house before securing its liquor license in 1853. Over the decades, it has evolved from a humble establishment into a bustling hub, welcoming generations of Melburnians and visitors alike.Please now make way for the great Melbourne pub debate—who poured the first pint? 🍻The Duke of Wellington proudly waves its 1853 liquor license like a victory flag and is officially recognised as Melbourne’s oldest licensed pub. On the other hand, however, is Captain Melville, who's exact licensing date in 1853 is a bit of a mystery but claims to be the oldest bluestone pub (and it boasts a 24-hour license today, which has got to count for something, right?). So, who wins? This tour includes both so enjoy a pint at both of these beloved drinking institutions and decide for yourselves.
Young & Jackson
Ah, Young & Jackson—where Melbourne’s history meets a good pint! 🍻The building perched at the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets was originally purchased by John Batman, one of Melbourne’s founders, in 1837. It housed a schoolhouse before becoming a pub in 1861 and has been serving up stories ever since. This iconic pub, is an amalgamation of five separate structures, including an original 1853 bluestone building, which was later expanded.Originally known as the Princes Bridge Hotel, it was taken over in 1875 by two Irish diggers, Henry Young and Thomas Jackson, who gave it the legendary name we know today.But let’s talk about its most famous resident—Chloé, the scandalous nude painting by Jules Joseph Lefebvre in 1875, and which has graced the Young & Jackson’s walls since 1909. This French masterpiece caused quite the stir when it first arrived, with some folks clutching their pearls while others raised their glasses in admiration. Read on if you would like to learn about how she influenced pop culture and was the subject of many soldiers’ letters from wartime.
The Charles Dickens Tavern
Step into The Charles Dickens Tavern, Melbourne’s very own slice of ye olde England, tucked away beneath 290 Collins Street.The tavern sits within the historic Block Arcade precinct, a stunning Victorian-era shopping arcade built between the 1870s and 1890s. With its mosaic floors, grand arches, and stained-glass windows, the arcade is a masterpiece of Melbourne’s architectural heritage—so naturally, it’s the perfect home for a pub that celebrates tradition. The tavern itself was constructed in 1883 and began serving Melburnians as the Fitzroy Coffe House. 4 years later in 1887, it was converted into a pub called The Hundred Marks where it served cold pints for just over 30 years, before becoming the Fitzroy Tavern in 1919. Whilst the exact date of the name change to The Charles Dickens Tavern is unknown, this hidden gem has been serving up British charm, hearty pub fare, and football fever for over three decades, making it a beloved haunt for locals and expats alike.As for the owners? Well, legend has it that a mysterious older gentleman has been a fixture at the tavern for years, quietly collecting glasses and slipping into the staff-only room like a Dickensian character straight out of Great Expectations. Whether he’s the owner or just the most dedicated regular, one thing’s for sure—he’s part of the tavern’s charm.So, settle in, raise your glass, and let the spirit of Dickens and old-school pub vibes with a Melbourne twist wrap around you like a well-worn novel. Cheers! 🍻
The Sherlock Holmes Inn
Step into The Sherlock Holmes Inn, Melbourne’s very own Victorian-era mystery, tucked away beneath 415 Collins Street. Having been a hidden gem for pub-goers for yonks, this cozy basement pub is a haven for lovers of British ales, hearty pub fare, and the atmosphere of a classic London tavern.The building itself sits within Melbourne’s historic business district, blending old-world charm with modern hospitality. With exposed ceiling beams, period wall prints, and hidden nooks, it feels like a place where Sherlock himself might have pondered his latest case over a pint.
The Mitre Tavern
The Mitre Tavern is like Melbourne’s time-traveling tipple spot — pouring pints in a building so old, it probably overheard the city’s founding gossip before the ink dried on the maps. If these walls could talk, they’d tell tales of political intrigue, fevered horseracing debates, and a few legendary drinking sessions.Originally built as a private residence in the 1830s, the building was later transformed into a watering hole in 1868, when Henry Thompson became its first publican. Over the years, it became the unofficial clubhouse for Melbourne’s horseracing, hunting, and polo elite, with legendary figures raising their glasses here. Sir Redmond Barry, the man who sentenced Ned Kelly to death in 1880, Captain Fredrick Standish, the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police from 1858 to 1880, who was credited with introducing horse racing to Melbourne and helped establish the Melbourne Cup, have both enjoyed a few drinking sessions within these walls.
Dikstein's Corner
🍷 Let’s rewind the clock on 433 Little Collins Street, the home of Dikstein’s Corner Bar, and uncover the layers beneath its wine-splashed charm.This corner of Bank Place and Little Collins has been part of Melbourne’s urban fabric since the mid-1800s, when the city was booming from the gold rush and Bank Place became a hub for financiers, merchants, and the occasional scandalous rendezvous. The building itself is a Victorian-era terrace, likely constructed in the late 19th century, with its tall sash windows, decorative cornices, and dual street access—a design made for visibility and commerce in a bustling colonial city.Over the decades, the space has evolved with the city. It’s believed to have housed everything from merchant offices in the 1880s to cafés and boutique shops in the 20th century. By the early 2000s, it began its transformation into the cozy, Euro-inspired bar we know today. Dikstein’s Corner Bar officially opened its doors in the 2010s, embracing the building’s heritage bones while adding a splash of modern Melbourne flair—think Chianti, jazz, and truffle pizza.So next time you’re sipping a red under those dangling wine bottles, just remember: you’re not just in a bar—you’re in a slice of Melbourne’s living history, where 19th-century commerce meets 21st-century Chianti.
