Mitre Tavern

Partystar Review

Some say it was Melbourne's very first building and some say it's haunted, but history aside - this ye olde watering hole built in the mid 1800s, has been a favourite meeting place for Melbourne lawyers and businessmen for a helluva long time. (The low ceilings even imply that people were shorter back then.) But the Mitre Tavern has moved with the times. The drinkers here are largely corporate, so Friday nights after work are popular, when the suits spill outside to enjoy the offerings.

Inside the Mitre Tavern, the decor remains seemingly untouched. There are a few little rooms and some seating, and a charming 'lunch room' upstairs which serves meals during the day and hosts private functions sometimes. Few people who enjoy the ales here are aware of the fact that this cosy cottage style pub spawned the name of the Mitre 10 hardware chain. Two of the founding members of the chain passed the Tavern when inspiration struck: 'mitre' is a hardware term. The '10'? - well, they needed 10 stores. Anyway, that's another story...

Well situated in the law and business precincts, the Mitre Tavern's popularity continues into yet another century. Friday nights are particularly popular for post-work drinks.

Outdoor Area / Beer Garden

When the weather is nice or when the building itself cannot hold all the guests - the outdoor area is well utilised.

Julie Whiting

Second Opinion

If you haven't done a proper Friday night sesh at the Mitre before, get your diary out. Step in via the far right door to the most English-style pub Melbourne has - immediately you will notice the difference to a manufactured English or Irish Pub. Feel the creaky floor, mind your head on the low ceiling, and admire the worn, worn wood.

Mark Davies