The George Hotel
Address: 139 Cecil St, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Opening time: Open Tuesday to Sunday
Bookings and info via thegeorgehotelsouthmelbourne.com.au
After a long stretch of silence, The George Hotel in South Melbourne has reopened, returning a familiar face to the corner of Cecil and Coventry streets. The pub dates back more than 150 years, and its latest chapter is being steered by publican Scott Connolly, who took over in late 2024. Connolly’s known for breathing new life into old venues, including the Orrong and Healesville Hotels, and he’s taken a similar approach here: restoring The George as a proper local.
The overhaul focused on making the space feel like a pub again. Gone are the cocktail bar trimmings; in their place are tartan carpets, vintage footy snaps, and a courtyard dotted with beach umbrellas. The idea was to create a spot that feels lived-in and welcoming, somewhere you’d happily settle in for a few hours. “For us, a refit is about emphasising the fact that it’s a pub,” publican Scott Connolly says, “Because we’re pub people.”
Chef Steve Svenson, who’s previously worked at Moby and Lenny, has put together a menu that plays with pub standards. There’s burrata with chilli oil, calamari with yuzu aioli, and barramundi served in jungle curry with greens and pickled ginger. But the classics are still there; beer-battered fish and chips, and a parma served on the bone.
Prices are pitched to be fair, with mains starting at $26. Thursday night steak comes with chips and salad for $27, and the Sunday roast runs all day at $29. Happy hour is on five nights a week, with $5 pots and $10 pints.
The drinks list is straightforward, with local wines and beers, including two house specials in collaboration with Stomping Ground. Cocktails are pared down, with a few spritzes, an Espresso Martini, a Margarita, and a signature “The George” with shortbread-infused whisky.
The George is open Tuesday to Sunday and aims to be a casual, community-focused spot where locals can drop in for a drink or a meal without fuss. It’s a return to form for a pub that’s been part of South Melbourne’s story for more than 150 years.
