Overview
Things have been a little bit quiet on the corner of Montague Street and Dundas Place ever since the century-old Albert Park Hotel shut up shop in 2014. After sitting dormant since it was bought by the Colonial Leisure Group, the historic pub is gearing up to throw open its doors once again in March.
Given that the group also runs Lucky Coq, Bimbo Deluxe, Brunswick's The Penny Black and the Portsea Hotel, you can expect the ol' Albert to re-emerge with quite the spruce, including fully revamped interiors and a modern Chinese menu.
Six Degrees Architects — responsible for the designs of Top Paddock, Newmarket Hotel and The Corner Hotel, among others — and acclaimed stylist Anna Roberts have headed up the makeover side of things, reimagining the 137-year-old pub with an aesthetic that carefully melds old and new. The centrepiece is undoubtedly a new four-storey atrium — it'll have an indoor tree and large windows to give the space with light, while keeping the original brickwork. Both the pub and restaurant are spotted with carefully selected vintage pieces.
Downstairs, you'll find the roomy public bar which will — just like before — spill out into some sunny al fresco street seats primed for watching the world go by. The restaurant, Happy Valley, comes off the main bar. Executive chef Ken Yuen will oversee a menu of snacks and mains that will go down very well with a beer or two. The final menu hasn't been finalised, but you can expect to find xiao long bao, prawn toast, XO pippies and peking duck on it when it opens.
One level up, a separate lounge and bar makes for a cosy hideaway, complete with private eight-person booths with rattan shutters, a Chinese-inspired snack menu and cocktails designed by luxury spirits group Proof & Company.
Find The Albert Park Hotel at the corner of Montague Street and Dundas Place, Albert Park, from March.
Images: Simon Shiff