North Melbourne Hotel

With a rich history of establishing food led pubs in historic buildings across Melbourne, owners of Bouzy Rouge Sandra and José De Oliveira return to North Melbourne where they first made their mark over thirty years ago.

The De Oliveiras are celebrated for their cheeky extravagance, dedication to Modern European food and warm and engaging service. Expect to pop your tongue-in-cheek when visiting North Melbourne Hotel, set in the glitz and glamour of a modern De Oliveira establishment with Mediterranean share fare and wine at incredibly reasonable prices.

Their newest venture offers thoughtfully sourced wines from France, Italy and Portugal at exceptionally low bar prices starting from $5 a glass. 

Supporting local breweries, the tap selection caters for both the sessional drinker and craft lover, with North Melbourne Hotel Draught at $4 a pot and rolling craft beers.

Menu options are a nod to the hotel’s carefully created spaces for dining or lounging – with smaller plate options such as a stunning duck liver parfait with house pickles and toast– and more substantial options such as The North seafood paella and 12 hour roasted lamb shoulder.

An absolute highlight of our visit was the char grilled whole calamari. Cooked to perfection, we loved the addition of fresh coriander and green chilli chimichurri which lifted the dish with a spicy kick. 

Another must-have is The North's take on Duck A L’orange - far from being a tired cliché of the 1960s, the duck was absolutely moreish with a brilliant caramelisation and was served with a rich, sticky and gooey sauce boasting layers of flavour. 

To finish, the Crème Catalana will ensure your visit concludes on a sweet high. The consistency of the custard in the Crème Catalan was velvety smooth and delicate. Possessing the requisite sugary hard shell, the custard was an absolute delight to indulge in.

Location: 480 Victoria Street, North Melbourne
Phone: 03 9329 1634
Link: thenorthmelbournehotel.com.au/