Brandon Hotel in Carlton North
Looking for an authentic Melbourne pub? The Brandon Hotel, located in the backstreets of Melbourne’s inner north, feels like the beating heart of its community—a true local pub where authenticity reigns and gimmicks are refreshingly absent. Here, it’s about honest quality food, affordable prices, and a menu that delivers hit after hit.
Thursday Steak Night is emblematic of the Brandon’s charm: $29 for a generous, melt-in-your-mouth Rump steak (yes, better than many pricier steakhouses), accompanied by fries, salad, and a pot of beer or glass of house wine.
This philosophy runs throughout the menu. Pulled pork tacos offer a joyful burst of flavor, while the Fisherman’s Caddy—a medley of fried seafood—is as nostalgic as it is fun. The house Sausage rolls are moorish perfection.
A Potato cake dish, served in a set of four with a sharp vinegary sauce, feels like a love letter to comfort food in an era of rising costs. The Chicken Parma—large, satisfying, and paired with golden fries and salad—is another highlight. A glass of the 2022 Maxwell Silver Hammer Shiraz proves an ideal companion to this unpretentious yet satisfying feast.
Andrew Boreham, the publican since 2006, is the kind of figure every neighborhood pub needs—a steadfast presence who knows his community and keeps the beer cold, the specials enticing, and the raffles lively. The vegan tray raffle on our visit added a modern touch, as did the tasty vegan panna cotta dessert.
What makes the Brandon Hotel special isn’t any one dish, beer, or gimmick—it’s the whole package. This is a Melbourne pub at its finest, where good food, welcoming vibes, and a strong sense of community collide. Whether it’s steak night, a meat tray raffle, or just a cold beer on a quiet afternoon, the Brandon Hotel feels like home.