A time-tested pub of the highest regard.
Live music: is just one of the weekly events on at the Rainbow Hotel. With nights dedicated to steak, burgers, roasts and trivia, every day is a new adventure at this place.
Famous for: its laidback atmosphere and killer Happy Hour on every weekday ($10 pints!).
Infamous for: its no pub crawls policy. This place likes to keep the vibe charming and comfortable, so don’t come through if you’re too drunk and acting up.
Okay, so you’ve had a big, bad week and you’ve finally made it to Friday arvo. All you want in the world is a cold pitcher of beer and a good feed – something rich, savoury and well-portioned to take the edge off. In this case, book your Uber straight to the Rainbow Hotel.
Homey and fuss-free, the place invites you to put your feet up and settle in for a long, luxurious night of unwinding. The staff will take care of your every need. The drinks will be free flowing. If you need more dopamine than that, the beer garden is dog friendly, meaning you might even be lucky enough to pet a few pups while you’re at it.
Sometimes, you just need a pub that’s reliable and trustworthy – somewhere that’ll have the game on the TV and always a few tables free. Operating for more than 150 years, the Rainbow has stayed true to its roots as a classic Fitzroy watering hole, even though the menu has surely been revamped since then, bringing in pan-continental influences that reflect the diversity of Melbourne itself.
Find big cuts of meat alongside Moroccan, Nepalese and Korean-inspired dishes. Steak Nights on Wednesdays is always a fave, featuring an assortment of accompaniments including red wine jus, café de Paris butter, chimichurri, peppercorn, mushroom and blue cheese sauce. If you’re mouth’s not watering yet, there’s something wrong with you.
WHERE: 27 St David St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
OPEN: MON-WED 3-11pm / THURS 3-12am / FRI-SAT 12pm-1am / SUN 12-11pm
