Pirate Life South Melbourne

Overview

When it was first announced that Pirate Life was heading to Victoria, the brewery's South Melbourne venue was slated to open in mid-2023. Sadly, that time came and went, and we were left sans Pirate Life. Argh. But craft beer fans didn't have too long.

In March, the South Australian brewing legends officially welcomed guests into the new site. Set within a former mechanic's garage, Pirate Life South Melbourne is about a whole lot more than just beer.

Maria Delengas and Nicolas Lopez work together as co-head chefs, infusing their Greek and South American heritages throughout the food menu. Proximity to the South Melbourne Market also means they get the bulk of their produce from local traders, using it to create a bunch of sharing-friendly eats.

There is a selection of small snacking dishes, bigger plates and trays to share, sides and desserts. Pair your beers with cold dishes like fresh oysters and the pickled octopus carpaccio. Or go for something hot, like the smoked goat spring rolls, asado beef ribs and barbecued leeks.

Beers are all shipped in from South Australia, including Pirate Life's core range of brews, limited-edition releases and The Market Street Lager, which is only poured at the South Melbourne venue.

Brewery bars know that they can't just serve beers though, so Pirate Life has tasked sommelier Foni Pollitt with creating a top-notch wine list. Punters can expect a mostly organic and sustainable lineup of wines from Australia and across Europe. The wines are clearly far more than a mere afterthought and worth perusing as much as the extensive beer options.

South Australian-based architecture and design firm Studio Gram has done up the space without removing its industrial charm. It's not trying to look too flashy, featuring plenty of exposed brickwork, polished concrete, plants, murals and roaming exhibitions.

Find Pirate Life South Melbourne at 139–145 Market Street, open from 11am–10pm Monday–Thursday and 11am–late on  Friday and Saturday. For more information, head to the venue's website.