South Australian Brewery Pirate Life Is Opening Its First Victorian Site Right by South Melbourne Market

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 don't have to wait much longer.

Come Thursday, March 14, the South Australian brewing legends will officially welcome guests into the new site. Set within a former mechanic's garage, Pirate Life South Melbourne will be about a whole lot more than just beer.

Maria Delengas and Nicolas Lopez are working 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'll be getting the bulk of their produce from local traders, using it to create a bunch of sharing-friendly eats.

There'll be a selection of small snacking dishes, bigger plates and trays to share, sides and desserts. Pair your beers with raw dishes like the pickled octopus carpaccio and raw bonito with burnt lemon, or go for something hot like the smoked goat spring rolls, asado beef ribs and fried bug sandos.

Beers will all be shipped in from South Australia, including Pirate Life's core range of brews, limited-edition releases and The Market Street Lager, which'll only be 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 will clearly be far more than a mere afterthought, worth perusing just as much as the extensive beer options.

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

Live music, guest chef dinners and plenty of other events are also on the cards once the team officially settles into the new space.

Find Pirate Life South Melbourne at 139–145 Market Street from Thursday, March 14 — open from 11am–10pm from Monday–Thursday and 11am–late on Friday–Saturday. For more information, head to the venue's website.