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Restaurant

The Drunken Poet

65 Peel St, West Melbourne VIC 3003, Australia

Recommended by 70 people

Updated

Find The Drunken Poet

65 Peel St, West Melbourne VIC 3003, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9348 9797
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 3:00 PM – 1:00 AM Wednesday: 3:00 PM – 1:00 AM Thursday: 3:00 PM – 1:00 AM Friday: 2:00 PM – 1:00 AM Saturday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM Sunday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About The Drunken Poet

Sitting directly opposite Queen Victoria Market, this Peel Street haunt pours Melbourne’s definitive pint of plain at genuine cellar temperature. No shamrock gimmicks or sprawling gastropub menus—just portraits of Irish literary icons gazing over a single pool table and a jukebox. Regulars crowd the timber bar six nights a week for intimate live folk and original sets, trading banter over toasted sandwiches, bowls of nuts, and bags of Tayto crisps.

  • Proper Stout Pour: Served at proper cellar temperature with a rich, creamy head, drawing stout loyalists across Melbourne.
  • Live Music & Jukebox: Original and folk acts perform directly on the floor six nights a week alongside an analogue jukebox.
  • Counter Toasties & Crisps: Skips commercial dining menus for straightforward toasted sandwiches and imported Tayto crisps at the mahogany bar.
  • Classic Peel Street Haunt: Literary portraits, a vintage pool table, and friendly banter directly across from Queen Victoria Market.
RestaurantPubBar

What's On at The Drunken Poet

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Visit The Drunken Poet

Discover why this authentic Irish locals haunt stands out in Melbourne for pints, music, and banter.

  • Properly Poured Temperature-Controlled Guinness

    Poured at proper temperature rather than overly chilled, delivering a consistently creamy head and authentic stout flavour.

    Still the best pint in Melbourne, perfect temperature and creamy.

    Cathal Grealish

  • Bar Snacks & Comforting Toasties

    Foregoes an extensive dining kitchen to concentrate on perfectly crisp toasted sandwiches and imported crisps over the counter.

    Not the pub if you're looking for a traditional pub feed, but, the toasties are fantastic.

    Rod Tarrant

  • Intimate Live Music Most Nights

    Features floor-level performances where musicians interact directly with the room without stage separation.

    Great 🍺 Guinness, 🎶 live music nights, 🍻 pub atmosphere. Highly recommend

    The Nik Take

  • Analogue Jukebox & Classic Pool Setup

    Features a classic physical jukebox and a single pool table without pokie machines or sports wall clutter.

    The drunken poet has 1 pool table and a jukebox, that's it. So bloody refreshing 😍. In other words, it's a pub.

    Trent Moore

  • Effortless Banter for Locals & Solo Visitors

    Fosters an approachable, warm bar culture where solo visitors and regulars effortlessly chat with staff and locals.

    Never quiet, and if you're a lonesome traveller take a seat at the bar, you are unlikely to be lonely long.

    James Secomb

  • Personalised Irish Publican Hospitality

    Owner-operated hospitality that creates immediate recognition, authentic banter, and a sense of belonging from your first visit.

    The kind of bar where the publican remembers your name and your order and will have a pint waiting when you enter the bar.

    James Wilkinson

Classic draught pours and bar bites that define the Poet experience

  • Guinness

    And the Guinness? It's simply outstanding!

    Treyton Nguyen

  • Toasties

    the toasties are fantastic

    Rod Tarrant

  • Kilkenny

    Guinness, Kilkenny and cider on tap plus a large wine selection

    Rod Tarrant

  • Magners draft

    without a shadow of a doubt it was the best pints of Magners draft I have ever drank

    Cunnerz99

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful quirks and hospitality details that define The Drunken Poet

  • Personal Welcome & Pint Ready on Arrival

    The publican greets regular patrons by name and order, having their preferred pint poured and ready upon arrival.

  • Irish Literary Portrait Wall

    The walls feature an educational portrait gallery of celebrated Irish literary figures, doubling as a cultural brain teaser for visitors.

  • Vintage Comic-Lined Restrooms

    The pub restrooms are distinctively lined with vintage comic strips for a quirky, old-school touch.

  • Imported Irish Crisps at the Bar

    Imported Irish snacks like Tayto and Mega Meanies crisps are stocked at the bar alongside toasted sandwiches.

Frequently Asked Questions

What food is available to order?

The Drunken Poet does not offer a full kitchen menu or traditional pub meals. Instead, they serve toasted sandwiches alongside bar snacks like nuts and Irish crisps (such as Tayto and Mega Meanies). Many patrons recommend grabbing a heavier meal at nearby Queen Victoria Market if you want something more substantial.

Do they have live music?

Yes, the venue features live musical performances on most nights of the week, spotlighting original artists, Irish tunes, and acoustic acts in an intimate setting right by the bar.

Can you reserve a table?

The bar does not accept reservations and operates entirely on walk-in seating, which can fill up quickly and become standing room only during busy weekend sessions and live music gigs.

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