The Duke of Wellington Has Scored a New Cocktail Lounge and Dining Room As Part of Its Latest Makeover

That ol' chestnut about old dogs and new tricks sure doesn't ring true when it comes to the Duke of Wellington. The historic boozer at the corner of Flinders and Russell Streets is thought to be Melbourne's oldest licensed pub, yet it's been through its fair share of reinventions over the decades. And now, it's just reopened following its latest extensive revamp.

Reimagined at the hands of Australian Venue Co (Yarra Botanica, State of Grace, BrewDog Pentridge), the pub's showing off a multi-level makeover with something to offer footy-watchers, cocktail-sippers and casual diners alike.

The new-look ground floor space is as much a haven for sports fiends as ever before, with a swag of big screens dialled into the latest action and a hefty tap-list to hit up on your way to or from a match at the nearby MCG.

One floor up you'll find the revamped dining room, which is slinging a refreshed menu of modernised pub classics. To kick things off, there's a chunky pork and fennel sausage roll with cherry ketchup, kingfish crudo paired with grapefruit and finger lime, and oat-crumbed lamb cutlets done with sage and an anchovy butter.

Traditionalists will get around the likes of a signature roast beef roll, the lamb and ale pie, and a range of burgers and parmas. Or, step things up a notch with plates like the garlicky crab linguine, an aged pork chop with crumbed heirloom carrots, and mushroom gnocchi finished with pumpkin seed pesto. You've got a handful of quality steak cuts and some soul-warming desserts, too.

Sharing a level with the restaurant is the new cocktail bar they've dubbed Arthur's — a sophisticated sibling to the drinks destination downstairs. Up here, you can match a couple of classy tipples with elevated snacks — think, fried chicken with dollops of caviar, eggplant fritters with black garlic mayo, a lobster bun and the king prawn club sandwich.

To sip, you'll find an extensive list of vino, a solid crop of beers, and cocktails running from a reworked French martini to a spicy watermelon marg made on Olmeca Altos. Arthur's is also exclusively slinging a range of tap cocktails including a strawberry passionfruit spritz and an earl grey-infused take on the paloma.

Meanwhile, the Duke's all-weather rooftop bar remains unchanged, open daily for eats and drinks overlooking Russell Street.

Find the newly revamped Duke of Wellington at 146 Flinders Street, Melbourne. The public bar is open from 11am–1am Monday to Saturday, and from 11am–11pm Sunday. The Dining Room and Arthur's are open daily from 12pm–late.