Prince Alfred Hotel

What do bottomless pancake brunches, a rooftop bar and the 100 Burgers group have in common? Well, probably not much. That is, until the opening of the Prince Alfred Hotel (PA) in Carlton. A local favourite to many university students, the iconic pub has reopened its doors and invites you to booze it up or feast in their 450-person two-storey funhouse.

Let’s dive into PA’s backstory for a hot second. Serving beers to countless cohorts of uni students since 1926, the historical pub was sadly closed in 2015. The 100 Burgers Group – founders of fan faves Belle’s Hot Chicken, Mr Burger and Welcome to Thornbury – took over the venue in 2017 and pumped new blood into it, opening a spacious rooftop bar.

Fast forward to the present-day, 100 Burgers founder Daragh Kan says, ‘We’re already really happy with how people are embracing PA so it’s exciting to reveal the final piece of the venue.’  The fit-out is overrun with a sumptuous blue colour palette, using texture to create vibrant contrasts between the bespoke joinery and tiled areas.

Known as Melb Uni’s favourite watering hole, the range of beers on offer will give relief to any inundated student. Local favourites (4 Pines, Great Northern and McCracken’s) and international brands (Goose Island IPA and Hoegaarden) make the cut, and any bar that serves Hoegaarden is already ahead of most. If you want a splash of fancy, then order a neat Negroni, an Uncle Storm – a local take on the Dark and Stormy – or a Basil in my Gin.

Feeling peckish? PA’s Bottomless Pancake Party is one party you cannot decline. But why would you deprive yourself of a syrupy stack of buttery, fluffy and delicious pancakes? Foolish, right? Held every Saturday from 11.30am to 2.30pm, you can devour as many pancakes as you like for $25 and for an extra $40 you can pair it with bottomless mimosas, Bloody Mary’s or Hoegaarden. DJs are on the decks from noon to get that party vibe started.

Ditch the textbooks, gather your mates and head to PA’s for a boozy brunch indeed!

Prince Alfred Hotel 
191 Gratton Street, Carlton
Cafe hours: Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 3pm | Pub hours: Monday to Saturday, 11.30am to late
princealfred.com