The Esplanade Hotel

Mietta's Eating & Drinking in Melbourne 2000

Contributors' Choice
Page 182

The Esplanade Hotel

Food from the Expy Kitchen is "cheap, fresh and delicious". The room has a very specific feel, it's about being in a local pub with a community kitchen where you pick up and then return your own plates to the wash up window.There's no 'decor' to speak of, it's completely internalised, there's nothing else to look at except the kitchen. There's a strong local following. You need to know how to find it which is by coming through the pool room of the hotel. The kitchen which is the original one for the old hotel puts out healthy, interesting meals from a blackboard menu. Candles create an inward focus for each table. There is also a back room which is larger and brigher for functions of about 50.

11 Upper Esplanade
St Kilda
Melways reference 57:K10
Phone: 9534 0211
Opening hours: 7 days Lunch: Thur-Sat 12.30-2.30pm. Dinner: Mon-Sat 6.30-10pm, Sun 3.30-9.30pm
Licensed
Does not accept credit cards
Seats Inside: 150
Features: Private rooms available
Favourites: House beer stubbie $4, Basic spirits from $3.70 , House wine from $2 per glass