Natural History Bar & Grill

Right in the heart of the CBD at 401 Collins, there’s this wildly atmospheric resto-pub that feels like stepping into a 19th-century diorama. High ceilings. Copper beer stills suspended overhead. Vintage matchbooks slipped beneath the bar glass. The aesthetic is pure *Cabinet de Curiosités*—think moody lighting and eclectic taxidermy that gives your after-work pints an eccentric, museum-esque backdrop. Corporate crowds and cocktail purists flock here for the impeccable mixology; word around town is the Frosty Fruit concoction is an absolute triumph. While the kitchen turns out hefty pub classics—including a Tuesday steak special and a surprisingly brilliant char-grilled broccoli—the real draw is the sprawling, versatile space. It’s a prime location for group gatherings or milestone bashes, anchored by absolute legends in the Melbourne hospo scene who know exactly how to keep the handles of Asahi flowing. Skip the stiff dining rooms—grab a booth, order a round, and soak in the eccentricity.