What more could you want from your friendly neighbourhood pub?
Hotel Railway has reclaimed its rightful place at the beating heart of the ever-vibrant Brunswick. Step inside and you’ll discover a pub that effortlessly blends old-world charm with a modern twist. Featuring an eclectic mix of multi-era furniture, quirky memorabilia and eccentric artwork, this old local creates a truly unique atmosphere with their contemporary touches the likes of custom carpets, Italian-inspired murals and sleek lighting.
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For those that have been inside, you’ll know that Hotel Railway is a massive space with a large capacity. One of the key ways the venue uses the large spaces is with a massive Trivia night. Every good pub in Melbourne has one, and Hotel Railway’s is on Tuesday nights at 7pm. With some incredible prizes like a generous $150 voucher for first place (plus $75 for second and $30 for third), grabbing your smartest friends is a worthwhile venture. Everyone wins however, thanks to $16 beer and cocktail jugs, food specials and a happy hour to help you pre-game from 4pm to 7pm.
One of the highlights of Hotel Railway is their traditional Sunday Roast. With their Yorkshire pudding and triple-cooked potatoes adding the perfect touch to what is arguably the best Sunday roast in town, this classic corner pub might just become your local haunt on a Sunday arvo.
“We want to make people in this neighbourhood happy, and we like to give them what they want; that is our service standard which we get rave reviews on all the time,” says venue manager Tom Winfield. “Our aim is to serve up the best Sunday roast in town, and we think we’ve nailed it with the addition of our Yorkshire pudding and triple-cooked potatoes.”
Tom, whose heavy British accent indicates he’s not from around these parts, speaks about how he was chosen due to the pubs he was running back in the UK. “You can have good food and good service, but you can still have a convivial atmosphere and engage with the local community. I know gastro-pub is often considered a dirty word, but I come from a background of gastro-pubs in the UK, and really it is just a pub with an elevated offer.”
Hotel Railway is the place to be as we descend into AFL season; with the biggest outdoor screen in Brunswick, you won’t miss a single minute of the footy action. With a dedication to showcasing the AFLW, multiple screens spread across the venue mean you can catch various games and sports simultaneously.
With a rich history of serving locals for over a century, this fun, casual, and inclusive venue offers a range of sharp local spirits, seasonal and quality cocktails – as well as a wine list with an organic, bio, and natural twist. And, of course, there’s plenty of beer to choose from while you enjoy a game of footy or compete in their trivia nights.
If all of these drawcards weren’t enough, we need to discuss the menu. We’re talking about a charcoal rotisserie with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-influenced flavours reflecting the heritage of Brunswick. “Our menu has a theme; it is Levant influenced, and there are a lot of dishes that are made to be shared,” says Tom.
“So, if you want to sit down with friends and share a few things across the table, you absolutely can, but we have large plates as well. You do have pub classics in there as well, as that is definitely something that the locals want, so you can still grab a schnitzel or a burger. We’ve also got pizzas from the pizza oven and a live-fire kitchen. Everything that comes from that grill is amazing.”
Pop down to catch a game, enjoy a cocktail or eat something delicious (like $25 steak night every Thursday) at Hotel Railway, 291 Albert St, Brunswick. Your new favourite local is open Monday to Thursday, 4pm – 11pm, and Friday to Sunday, 12pm until late.
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This article was made in partnership with Hotel Railway.
