The Waterside Hotel on the corner of Flinders and King Streets has reopened its doors, following the historic site’s “ambitious redevelopment”.
The reveal of the seven-level Melbourne venue has been eight years in the making, and has seen the heritage-listed 1975 facade preserved.
The redevelopment is the latest project from Sand Hill Road, an independent hospitality group with 26 years’ experience revitalising historic pubs across Melbourne including The Espy, Garden State Hotel, and Richmond Club Hotel.
Guests can pick between casual afternoons in the Public Bar and Beer Garden, South-East Asian restaurant dining at Past Port, late-night rooftop cocktails, or celebrations in private spaces that overlook the city.
Executive Chef Sarah Chan (ex-Mya Tiger) will oversee the entire food programme. Her food philosophy blends personal South-East Asian traditions with a communal style of dining.
With capacity for more than 400, The Public Bar and Beer Garden on the ground floor embraces the spirit of a traditional Australian pub.
Chan’s menu for the Public Bar, working alongside Head Chef Kim Kim, features pub classics and snacks, with pizzas and shareable plates. The drinks programme is led by Tommy Morison, with everything from a quick pint to cocktails.
The space will also host a line-up of live music and DJs, and showcase major sporting events.
Past Port is The Waterside’s 160-seat restaurant on the second floor. Working alongside Head Chef Liam Lee, Chan’s menu celebrates Australian produce while drawing inspiration from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Menu highlights include snacks such as Nyonya pie tee with crab and salmon caviar, tom yum prawn dumplings, and crying tiger steak tartare. Meanwhile, signature mains include Balinese crispy fried duck, chicken curry Kapitan, spanner crab pad thai, som tum, and chilli caramel eggplant. Desserts include fried banana fritters with palm sugar caramel and after-dinner choc mint mochi.
Chan’s personal highlight dish is Sarawak laksa, a nostalgic nod to her hometown roots. It will be offered as a weekday off-menu lunch special until sold out.
Chan, who grew up around slow-simmered curries, sambals pounded by hand, and family feasts prepared with “painstaking detail”, says she learnt early that food is memory, love, and tradition on a plate.
“Past Port draws upon the flavours of my heritage and the diverse places I’ve lived and travelled to across South-East Asia, all brought to life with the vibrancy and energy of this city,” says Chan.
The drinks programme includes local wine makers Mac Forbes, Mulline, and Yarra Yering, alongside international styles. Signature cocktails include a Jungle Bird, Pandan Fizz, PP Ranch Water and more, plus “timeless classics”.
The Past Port rooftop cocktail bar and outdoor terrace on level 3 is an extension of the dining experience. It’s an area for guests to enjoy drinks and small plates before or after dining at Past Port, or to settle in for the evening with a menu of Tom Yum prawn dumplings, kingfish sashimi with salted plum dressing, and bug rolls.
Level five features the private lounge bar with capacity for up to 50 guests. Level one and four are dedicated to large events, functions, and further private and semi-private dining spaces. Capacity ranges from intimate gatherings of 32 seated to cocktail-style events for up 300 people.
The redevelopment took the better part of a decade, after the site was purchased in 2017. The new era pairs bold, dramatic architecture with warmth and intimacy. A grand staircase runs throughout the building, creating a sense of discovery across the levels.
Sand Hill Road director Matt Mullins says The Waterside Hotel is the most ambitious project they have undertaken.
“We’re thrilled to finally open the doors and share it with the city. It’s a venue that stays true to the soul of a Melbourne pub while setting a new benchmark for world-class hospitality experiences with each level having its own energy and character,” says Mullins.
The ground floor Public Bar and Beer Garden will open to the public on Friday 14 November. Past Port will open on Friday 21 November 2025. Visit here to make a booking.
Photography by Jack Carlin.
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