An exciting wave of pub revivals has swept over Melbourne recently, from North Fitzroy Arms Hotel and Punters Club in the inner north to the recent retro reinvigoration of Hickens Hotel in the CBD, it's been a welcome rejuvenation of some of our city's best-loved boozers.
And now the Waterside Hotel (a Flinders Street institution since 1925) has followed suit, reemerging as a grand, multi-level destination complete with seven stories of food, drink and design. Sand Hill Road hospitality group – best known for restoring and reimagining popular Melbourne venues like the Espy and Garden State Hotel – has spent nearly a decade leading the ambitious project through planning and construction.
Though the redeveloped Waterside Hotel has retained its landmark heritage-listed facade, its interiors have been completely transformed and now feature lush terraces with ample space to take in panoramic city views.
“The Waterside Hotel is the culmination of decades revitalising pubs across Melbourne,” said Matt Mullins, Sand Hill Road's co-owner. “We’re deeply passionate about breathing new life into treasured venues, and we felt that now was the perfect time to revive the Waterside Hotel – restoring this iconic landmark while offering something truly unique for Melbourne, that is on a global scale.”
On the ground floor visitors can find a public bar and beer garden for modern Aussie pub eats and capacity for more than 400 people. Then up on level two is Southeast Asian dining concept PAST / PORT, where executive chef Sarah Chan (who played a key role in shaping the offering at St Kilda's Mya Tiger), is in charge of the entire venue's food program.
“The Waterside Hotel is not just about grand design – it’s about how people connect to the rooms, the mood, and each other,” added Mullins. “We’ve strived to create something that carries the soul of a Melbourne pub, but on a scale and ambition that feels truly world-class.”
The brand new dining and drinking destination also boasts a rooftop cocktail bar, plus several event and private dining spaces throughout the building. Keen to be one of the first to see it? Visit the website and make a reservation.
The Waterside Hotel is open now at 508 Flinders Street, Melbourne.
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