George Hotel - Reimagined Pub Gem in South Melbourne
Stepping into the reimagined George Hotel feels like slipping into Melbourne's soulful pub tradition, polished to a fine sheen yet brimming with its original charm. Located across from South Melbourne Market in Cecil Street, this 150-year-old corner boozer has been reimagined under new steward Scott Connolly, a publican with a knack for reviving locals like the Orrong and Healesville Hotels. Gone is the brooding ambiance of old; now, the George radiates a lighter, more inviting vibe. Tartan-patterned carpet cushions your steps, walls glow with faded footy photos that hum with stories of past glories, and exposed steel pipes, painted a playful fire-truck red, add a cheeky nod to the building’s industrial bones. The courtyard, shaded by retro beach umbrellas over sturdy wooden tables, beckons for lingering afternoons as sunlight filters through the market district’s brick facades. It’s a place that doesn’t demand attention but quietly captivates, urging you to settle in and savour its warmth.
We began with a beer in the front bar served by a bartender whose genuine smile matched the room’s easygoing spirit. The crowd was a lively mix: locals unwinding with pots, couples sharing quiet laughs over spritzes, and mates clinking glasses in celebration. Service hums with effortless care - no fuss, just spot-on timing for refills and recommendations that feel like tips from a friend who knows the menu inside out. Connolly’s vision is clear: this is a pub for everyone, with happy hour stretching late at five bucks a pot and ten for a schooner, anchoring it as a true South Melbourne haven amid the suburb’s pricier haunts.
Drinks set the tone, as any great pub should. I started with The George, a cocktail that weaves shortbread’s buttery sweetness into a Rob Roy, its smoky Scotch softened by a crumbly, nostalgic finish. It paired beautifully with the beer list, led by two Stomping Ground brews: a crisp lager for traditionalists and a hazy pale ale that cuts through spice with breezy refreshment. The wine selection leans approachable, with Victorian gems like a peppery Yarra Valley Shiraz that primes the palate for the meal ahead. These pours don’t overshadow the food; they elevate it, striking a balance that feels effortless.
Chef Steve Svenson’s menu is a love letter to pub classics, infused with a subtle Asian twist that keeps things fresh. We began with burrata, its creamy center spilling under a drizzle of house-made chili oil, which bloomed with floral heat against the cool curds, brightened by micro herbs. Next came calamari, semolina-dusted for a shattering crunch, paired with yuzu aioli that zinged with citrus, evoking Tokyo street eats reimagined for a Melbourne laneway. Priced around eighteen dollars each, these starters arrived on mismatched vintage plates, a nod to the George’s heritage that feels charmingly unforced.
The mains were a triumph. Barramundi, filleted and simmered in jungle curry sauce, arrived with wok-tossed greens, pickled ginger slivers, and a vibrant scattering of Asian herbs weaving lemongrass and kaffir lime. The fish flaked delicately, its mild sweetness melding with the coconut-rich broth, a dish that delivers far beyond its price.
The chicken parma, served boldly on the bone for extra juiciness, boasted a golden, crisp schnitzel coating under molten mozzarella and a Napoli sauce spiked with chipotle’s cheeky heat. Paired with thrice-cooked chips - fluffy inside, crunchy out - and a rocket salad with shaved parmesan, it’s a masterpiece. Thursdays bring out the steak special with all the trimmings, a nod to the pub’s commitment to value and heart.
Dessert was a spontaneous delight: sticky date pudding, studded with walnuts and cloaked in butterscotch that clung like velvet. Paired with a double-shot flat white from the bar’s humming espresso machine, it was a comforting finale. The sweets menu is concise, but in a pub reborn for hearty roasts and good company, that restraint feels just right. The George is a South Melbourne cornerstone where history meets the present, where plates satisfy the appetite and the airy, welcoming vibe feeds the soul. Connolly has crafted a gem, peeling back the pretense to reveal a boozer that’s both timeless and vibrant. In a city chasing culinary trends, the George is a keeper, a place you return to for its glow of belonging.