Ascot Vale Hotel

Forget the sterile, over-styled gastropubs. Ascot Vale Hotel is a proper local boozer done exactly right. A masterclass in old-school Aussie hospitality—the kind of spot where the bar staff remember your name and your order before you've even hit the counter. Savvy pint-drinkers constantly point to the Tuesday steak night as the ultimate drawcard: a thick, juicy 300g porterhouse with a generous heap of proper chips, perfectly rendered fat, and a heavy pour of creamy peppercorn sauce. Pair that with a frosty pot of beer during happy hour, and you’re looking at absolute daylight robbery on the bill. Cozy corners. Freshly shaken cocktails. A dog-friendly front bar packed with regulars soaking up the live tunes. Unpretentious, lightning-fast, and deeply satisfying.