In my opinion this is a tourist trap. Booked a party of six for lunch. Waited at the inside front door to be seated. Passed by wait staff approximately five times who didn’t acknowledge us standing there. When I asked who we should speak to about being seated waiter pointed to a person behind the bar pouring beer. He appeared disinterested however did arrange for someone to seat us. Burger ($28) was small and tasted like a frozen burger microwaved and then had lettuce added. Small thin beef patty. No egg. No tomato. Little taste. Small amount of fries for the price. Had to ask staff to wipe table after previous guests had left and we were seated. Most staff would be more suited to the undertaking vocation rather than the service industry, especially bar staff. There are plenty of better establishments in Melbourne you could treat yourself to in my opinion.
Me Ean · 2026-01-27
A lovely quirky old pub in downtown Melbourne. It was a great find on Boxing Day 2025 serving lunch when not much else was open! We thoroughly enjoyed our mash and snags, topped off with a huge apple crumble! Delicious and reasonably priced. Apparently there will be some upcoming renovations, but as it is, we’d return!
Diane M · 2026-01-23
We had a fantastic time at Captain Melville after our walking tour of Melbourne!
The atmosphere is super cool, and the food is great as well.
A great stop with a bit of Melbourne history as well. Highly recommend it for groups of all sizes,
hawksoccer33 · 2026-01-22
Captain Melville one of the best pub in the CBD. Selection of beers on Taps is good. They even have Guinness on taps, which is rare in Melbourne.
The food was wonderful, simple and delicious.
The service was great, the bar tender is ever ready to recommend the beer. They even give you a taste before you order, to make sure you like the beer you are drinking.
Kin Yon Tham · 2025-12-23
I visited Captain Melville in early October 2025 for a History Club meet up on a Saturday afternoon. It’s located beside Aldi near Melbourne Central, making it super easy to find with trains and trams just a short walk away. I walked from Melbourne Central Station and immediately loved the venue’s exterior! It has that old world charm that’s been so beautifully preserved, and it really stands out in the middle of the city.
Inside, the space is warm and inviting. There’s a small front porch for outdoor dining, cosy booths inside, and plenty of larger tables surrounding the central bar. The building’s character flows through everything with exposed brick, wood accents, and that hint of history that gives it such a Melbourne feel. I ordered a lemon, lime and bitters, which was perfectly flavoured, and the bar and wait staff were lovely and welcoming.
Our group sat out the back in the open courtyard, which was honestly the highlight of the visit. With stone walls, climbing vines, and greenery everywhere, it felt like stepping into another world entirely. Peaceful, timeless, and far removed from the busy city streets just outside. The courtyard had long communal tables and a relaxed energy that suited our little history chat perfectly.
We didn’t order food this time, but the menu looked fantastic with pub style meals and a few modern twists, all at reasonable prices for an inner city spot. The staff were super attentive, topping up our water and checking in as more of our group arrived, which made the whole experience lovely.
Captain Melville has such a charming atmosphere and feels like one of those rare city gems where you can slow down and actually breathe for a bit. I’ll definitely be going back soon to try the food properly, but even just for drinks and conversation, it’s a gorgeous venue that captures the best of Melbourne’s heritage and hospitality.
Ashlee Jayde · 2025-10-06