Melbourne’s pub scene just levelled up.
After eight years in the works, The Waterside Hotel is officially reopening this Friday, November 14, bringing new life to the historic Flinders Street corner it’s called home since 1925.
The ambitious seven-level transformation has been led by Sand Hill Road, the hospitality group behind The Espy, Garden State Hotel and Richmond Club Hotel. The team purchased the site back in 2017, and after nearly a decade of design and development, they’re unveiling a venue that celebrates Melbourne’s past while embracing the city’s ever-evolving energy.
Credit: Jack CarlinRelated story: The best new bars and restaurants in Melbourne
“The Waterside Hotel is the most ambitious project we’ve ever undertaken, and we’re thrilled to finally open the doors and share it with the city,” said Matt Mullins, Director of Sand Hill Road. “It’s a venue that stays true to the soul of a Melbourne pub while setting a new benchmark for world-class hospitality experiences with each level having its own energy and character.”
At street level sits the Public Bar and Beer Garden – a bright, buzzing space that pairs pub classics with DJ sets, live music and major sporting screens. The bold, 18-metre-long central bar sets the tone: polished, playful and made for people-watching. The kitchen, led by Executive Chef Sarah Chan and Head Chef Kim Kim, delivers hearty, shareable dishes alongside pizzas and bar snacks, while Tommy Morison oversees the drinks – from crisp pints to late-night cocktails.
Chan, best known for her work at The Espy’s Mya Tiger, also leads the food offering across all seven levels. Her cooking blends South-East Asian influences with Melbourne’s flair for communal dining. On level two, her signature restaurant PAST / PORT channels nostalgia and flavour into refined, contemporary dishes. Think tom yum prawn dumplings, crying tiger steak tartare and Balinese crispy fried duck, alongside fried banana fritters and choc mint mochi for dessert.
“Growing up around slow-simmered curries, sambals pounded by hand, and family feasts prepared with painstaking detail, I learned early that food is memory, love, and tradition on a plate,” said Chan. “PAST / PORT draws upon the flavours of my heritage and the diverse places I’ve lived and travelled to across South-East Asia, all brought to life with the vibrancy and energy of this city.”
Her personal favourite? A Sarawak laksa served as a weekday lunch special until sold out – a dish that nods to her hometown and her philosophy of food as storytelling.
The experience continues upward. On level three, the Rooftop Cocktail Bar & Outdoor Terrace serves skyline views and snackable plates like kingfish sashimi and rooftop bug rolls, while the Private Lounge Bar on level five sets a more intimate mood for 50 guests, complete with butler-style service.
Designed in collaboration with Techne Architects and Eleisha Gray, the venue layers natural textures and greenery with its heritage bones, creating something both timeless and new.
The Public Bar and Beer Garden open this Friday, November 14, with PAST / PORT Dining following on November 21, 2025.
The Waterside Hotel
508 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
watersidehotel.com.au
Comments
Join the conversation
Log in Register