Malvern’s new Gardiner Hotel is much more than your typical pub. Looking at the building on the corner of Malvern and Glenferrie roads, you’ll spot all the hallmarks of an inviting, local watering hole: casual seating, sports on screens, beer on tap. But head upstairs and you’ll find yourself on a swanky rooftop with cocktails, share plates and stunning sunset views.

“It’s fresh and new and different, but it’s also got that classic feel downstairs,” says venue manager Scott Matthews.

Housed in a former 1914 bank, the pub is owned by Australian Venue Co, a group that runs more than 200 venues across Australia, including Garden State Hotel, Morris House and The Espy.

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The dynamic space offers both casual stool seating and bigger tables to enjoy a sit-down meal. Head up to level one and you’ll find the Wattletree Room, an elegant but casual function space available for private events, both sit-down and cocktail. And the rooftop terrace is a leafy space with sleek outdoor furniture and a retro, checkerboard tile floor as well as a retractable roof and heating for when the colder weather hits.

Head chef Michael Flemming (Arkhe, Press Food and Wine) developed a menu with a mix of classic pub meals and small share plates. Expect salt and pepper squid, kingfish crudo, and cauliflower cheese croquettes served with sweet and sour pickled cauliflower. Standouts from the grill include a 14-day dry-aged Victorian duck breast and the hanger steak, both served with pepper sauce, bearnaise and fries.

If you love a pub classic, there’s chicken schnitzel with chicken jus, caper salsa, parmesan and fries, as well as beer-battered fish’n’chips served with yoghurt tartare and curry sauce. Plus a rotating Sunday roast, served with all the trimmings for $35, will be available from midday until sold out.

Sommelier Matthew Skinner has curated a list of Australian and European wines, most available either by the glass or the bottle, as well as classic cocktails from Martinis to Aperol Spritzes, with a few non-alcoholic options, including a Spicy Watermelon Margarita.

While there’s the rooftop bar Harvie just across the street, and plenty of restaurants along Glenferrie Road, the area has noticeably lacked a pub. “I ran the Auburn Hotel up the road,” says Matthews. “And we realised that there’s not a lot like that around here.” The group also plans to open another level at the end of the month, which will offer city views.

The Gardiner Hotel
84 Glenferrie Road, Malvern
(03) 8840 4889

Hours:
Mon to Thu midday–11pm
Fri & Sat midday–1am
Sun midday–11.30pm

gardinerhotel.com.au