The Railway Hotel

The Railway Hotel in West Melbourne is all you'd dream an old public bar should be. The walls are full of witty cartoons, varnished wood, TV on the racing channel, menu blackboard, and a good honest bloke behind the jump. The beer was cold and lively. The cook, plump and 45 did her training at pub cook school or the Brandon in Station St, North Carlton, and didn't try to outdo herself. Cracked a joke and called me "darlin'" as she brought out the Ham hocks with 5 veg. But I could have had Indian beef curry, any type of chops grilled, preceded by a choice of soups/ vegetable or artichoke.

Though it has the air of an honest Aussie pub at a quiet lunch time, I expect it to be noisy and chockers with local workers having a drink before catching the train home. This old hotel has been around for more than a hundred years and has survived almost renovation-free with some original leadlights, the old fashioned island bar and historic photos of Flemington race course.

118 Ireland Street
West Melbourne
Melways reference 2A:E11
Phone: 9328 1773
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10.30am-11pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 12noon-8pm
Licensed
Accepts credit cards
Seats Inside: 64
Features: Kids encouraged, private rooms seat 30 and 40
Favourites: House beer from $3.10, Basic spirit 3.60, House wine from $2 per glass, Coffee compleimentary

*An updated review can be found in Mietta's Eating & Drinking in Australia 2000 pg103, published by Black Inc., 2000, Vic