Overview
The Waterside Hotel, standing tall and proud on the corner of Flinders Street and King Street, is set to open before the end of the year following a massive transformation. Come November, the revitalised venue will showcase a new beer garden, multi-level South-East Asian restaurant, rooftop bar, outdoor terrace, ground-floor pub and additional event spaces.
While a huge undertaking, the project was in the safe and experienced hands of Sand Hill Road, a group known for redeveloping some of Melbourne's most notable and loved pubs. Their previous renovations include The Espy in St Kilda, the Richmond Club Hotel on Swan Street, and the Garden State Hotel on Flinders Lane.
"The Waterside Hotel is the culmination of decades revitalising pubs across Melbourne. We're deeply passionate about breathing new life into treasured venues, and we felt that now was the perfect time to revive The Waterside Hotel — restoring this iconic landmark while offering something truly unique for Melbourne, that is on a global scale," says Matt Mullins, co-owner of Sand Hill Road.
This project has been in the works for an eye-watering eight years. While the heritage-listed 1925 facade has been preserved, the interior was entirely redone to modernise the venue and create a new destination for Melburnians to head to for a night out in the CBD. The ground floor pub and beer garden will keep with traditions, offering up modern pub fare. At the same time, the new PAST/PORT restaurant, which spans three levels, will serve a Southeast Asian menu, all under the watchful eye of executive chef Sarah Chan (from the Espy's Mya Tiger).
Sand Hill Road has led the project with their signature 'Melbourne-first approach', which seeks to honour the legacy of historic venues, while revitalising them for future success and longevity. Mullins says, "The Waterside Hotel is not just about grand design — it's about how people connect to the rooms, the mood, and each other. We've strived to create something that carries the soul of a Melbourne pub, but on a scale and ambition that feels truly world-class."
Images: Michael Pham.
The Waterside Hotel is set to reopen in November at 508 Flinders Street, Melbourne. Subscribe now to keep up to date with the latest information. In the meantime, check out the best restaurants in Melbourne's CBD.