Melbourne institution, the Post Office Club Hotel has returned to its roots as a classic neighbourhood pub. Since 1871, locals have been heading to the St. Kilda boozer for cold beers and good times and after a stint as a fine-dining French-style bistro, custodians the Tommy Collins group have gone to great lengths to reinstate everything that makes a good pub good.

From locals’ nights, daily specials (including steaks and schnitties), happy hours and Sunday roasts, for group founder Ben Avramides, the goal is to keep the spirit of classic, independent pubs alive. And that means getting back to basics.

“The French restaurant was good, but for me, it was a bit too formal. And I think it was a bit formal for the area and especially for the building. We’ve made the Postie a bit more accessible, a bit more fun, and more in line with the history of the pub.”

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Honouring the hotel’s heritage, Avramides has been overwhelmed by the response from misty-eyed guests as they’ve shared their stories with him. “So many people come in and they’ve all got stories. We had these two older gentlemen in for lunch recently and they asked if they could check out upstairs. 

“It turns out that their dad was the publican back in the 1950s and they lived in the pub as babies. They told me their stories and it really reassured me on the decision to pub-ify this pub. That’s what this place is. That’s its history.”

Catering to patrons from all walks of life, the purpose of the new Postie is to be a place for a couple of beers while the footy is on, or a place for an elevated pub experience where it’s not uncommon for three generations to be sat at the same table. A far cry from the fables of gangsters stashing their guns behind the bar in the ’30s or the silver service and escargot. 

The Postie has moved from gangsters, guns and gastronomy to pub grub. Granted, it’s very good pub grub. Beef tartare with egg gel and black garlic; sustainably sourced pork belly with carrot and pickled enoki; fried Brussels sprouts with pomegranate dressing; and of course, a steak frites for the “little Posties.” 

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Importantly though – especially for a pub – Avramides is protective of the little things. “We’ve got a really broad demographic, which is really nice. We’ve got a few barflies who we love dearly that come and chew the bartender’s ear which is part of the pub’s heritage. We’ve got the tradies who come and knock off half a keg of Guinness after work. 

“We’ve got families eating meals, we’ve got young folks having a wine in the courtyard. It’s what we’ve always loved in hospitality, that ability to sit next to all different types of people and have that common enjoyment of a drink in a nice environment. Footy on in the background, good music, you just become part of the space.”

306 St. Kilda Road, 3182
Open daily, noon-late
@postofficeclubhotel

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