Restaurant
The Drunken Poet
65 Peel St, West Melbourne VIC 3003, Australia
Find The Drunken Poet
65 Peel St, West Melbourne VIC 3003, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Book NowAbout 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.
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
Most popular items
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.
Before you head over
Practical tips on food options, crowds, and seating for your visit
Plan meals ahead of time
The pub keeps things simple by serving toasted sandwiches, nuts, and Irish crisps rather than full meals. If you want a substantial dinner, eat beforehand or grab food across the road at Queen Victoria Market.
Arrive early for live sets
Live music sessions draw energetic crowds into a compact room with standing room only on busy nights. Arrive earlier in the evening or between sets if you prefer snagging a bar stool or pool table.
Pull up a stool at the bar
If you are visiting by yourself, head straight for the bar counter. The intimate layout makes it effortless to chat with the bartenders and locals without feeling out of place.
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