After years of construction, the CBD’s legendary Metropolitan Hotel has finally reopened its doors. Inner city workers might remember this pub from the late 2000’s for its $10 wood-fired pizzas and jugs of Bloody Mary for Mellbourne’s late-rising stragglers or its cheap pub meal deals, but a lot's changed since then. While the heritage façade of the building has been restored to its 1930s splendour with exposed red brickwork and arched windows, the inside has been utterly transformed into a brand new drinking, dining and live music space over three revamped stories.
Flowing onto a sleek modern bar and restaurant area on the ground level, the new custodians have installed a giant artistic showpiece designed by internationally recognised Melbourne street artist Rone. Feast your eyes on the work before sidling up by the bar to taste a sommelier-selected drop or crafty pint, but if it’s your first time back you’ll want to stay for a bite to eat.
The new head chef Andre Raulino has serious chops working in top kitchens around the globe, from Brazil and Peru to England and Spain, and you’ll taste this international diversity in the starters menu alone. Think feijoada croquettes (a Rio de Janeiro favourite) with black beans, pork and rainbow chard; eggplant involtini with manchego cheese and smoked tomato sauce; and a Roman-style gnocchi with beef brisket. Mediterranean-leaning mains cover pasta, paella, Aussie pub classics and veg alternatives, with a small dessert menu to round out your meal. Go for the churros!
Upstairs, discover a plush, contemporary speakeasy den for signature cocktails, late night bites, and tunes from some of Melbourne’s top DJs. The top level features an alfresco deck for drinks over sweeping city views, and sophisticated climate-control systems and wind-up doors to keep revellers cosy during the cooler months.
