Looking for a great pub? Done. Looking for a rooftop bar? Found it. Looking for an amazing restaurant? Here it is! The Waterside Hotel has officially reopened and Mamma says it is fantastic.

From the street you’ll see the familiar heritage façade, but the moment you step inside things get very exciting! The renovation is huge – bright, open and full of cool retro touches that make it pretty much the place to be.

Downstairs is your classic pub energy with an enormous central bar and bar-style food. Plenty of space, lots of spots to sit, and it’s an easy drop-in after a visit to The Melbourne Sealife Aquarium or after a day in the city.

Head upstairs and you’ll find the restaurant Past/Port – and honestly, it’s gorgeous. The slow-turning ceiling fans, the lighting and those retro touches make the whole space feel a little transportive. Where are we again?

The cocktails are spectacular and the menu is loaded with South-East Asian flavours – we tried the raw kingfish with salted plum and Thai basil, the Nyonya fried ‘Inche Kabin’ wings, the grilled snake beans and a perfectly cooked 250g porterhouse with nam jim jaew.

Everything was fresh, bright and absolutely full of flavour. There’s plenty of space too, and the side-booth tables look straight out across the city – such a great spot to settle in.

And then there’s the rooftop. Cocktails, city views, warm nights – it’s very Melbourne with the trains zooming past and exactly what you need in a rooftop bar.

The team behind the Waterside has pulled off something pretty special – three completely different experiences under one roof, and each one is worth a visit.