The Albion: The Phoenix of Pubs

I’m sure most business owners and chefs getting ready to open a new venue feel like opening night will never come. For the The Albion in South Melbourne, it almost never did. In October 2015, the hotel’s owners were just two weeks from opening night when a devastating fire burned the venue to the ground.

Like a phoenix, The Albion has risen from the ashes to become a bigger and better venue,  finally opening its doors on February 10, 2018. Set to become one of Melbourne’s big new hot spots, The Albion boasts three storeys, including a huge rooftop looking out to Melbourne’s city skyline that licensed to hold up to 300 people, as well as a downstairs nightclub with a 5am license on weekends.

What looks like an old heritage pub with a new lick of paint from the outside opens to become a huge new venue that boasts a mix of classic and contemporary style. Depending on your mood, the venue offers contrasting vibes through its different spaces, both of which have their own DJ booth and dancefloor. The rooftop is light and fresh, with a chilled vibe that is complemented by the wooden bar, booths and tables and a flourish of greenery with plants lining the whole rooftop and a fire ready for when the nights get colder. Alternatively, the huge downstairs bar features mood lighting, classic big booths in rich tones of chocolate leather and turquoise tiles, with a smaller room upholding a vintage look through its ornately decorated teal and turquoise walls and furniture.

Located literally across the road from the South Melbourne market, the location is every chef’s dream. The Albion will offer $20 express lunches on Wednesdays with a menu that will consist of whatever fresh produce inspired the chefs at the market that morning. The venue will also be available to hire for functions and booths can be booked on weekends.

Priding themselves on great produce sourced both locally and interstate, The Albion’s experienced team of chefs offer a contemporary menu of share plates to satisfy all palates. Some choice picks include the melt-in-your-mouth spiced lamb on cauliflower paratha with heirloom tomato and cucumber salad finished with mint yoghurt, the soft shell crab bao with chilli mango slaw and kewpie mayo and the cider braised pork belly with all the trimmings —  think parsnip puree, candied sprouts and apple mustard sauce.

Ticking the boxes for any occasion, The Albion is really a venue that has you covered for lunch time to wine and nibbles or a few beers after work, a hearty dinner and an overall good time into the wee hours of the morning.

Make your way to the rooftop before these balmy summer nights end and enjoy their signature ‘Ginvender’ cocktail (made with Bombay Sapphire, St Germain Elderflower, Capi tonic and lavender) as you take in the Melbourne skyline before getting out on one of the dancefloors.

The Albion 
172 York Street, South Melbourne
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm to late; Lounge bar, Open Friday and Saturday, 10pm to 5am
thealbion.bar