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Celebrating the best in cocktails, local wines and beers, and snappy all-day dining, MISTER MUNRO opened its doors on 26 April in a new space in the venerable The Victoria Hotel on Little Collins Street, bringing another addition to the cosmopolitan Melbourne restaurant and bar scene.

The legendary The Victoria Hotel in Melbourne’s Little Collins Street might have been a ‘dry’ hotel for almost a century after it was founded by leading temperance advocate and former Victorian Premier, James Munro, but the hotel’s new bar and restaurant, MISTER MUNRO, aims to make up for lost time.

MISTER MUNRO features a relaxed, locally-sourced menu boasting all-day favourites such as charcuterie plates, a signature seafood platter and decadent desserts. The menu will celebrate the best in Victorian produce such as Portarlington Mussels, Victorian Rainbow Trout and Yarra Valley beef.

The inspiration for the restaurant and bar draws heavily on the heritage of the venue. James Munro and the Temperance League originally founded The Victoria Hotel in 1880 as the Victoria Coffee Palace, an alternative to the rowdy, bawdy pub accommodation on offer during the late 19th century. A ‘coffee palace’ in Melbourne also differentiated itself from other hotels in another important way – it was a dry hotel – with no alcohol allowed. Instead, patrons enjoyed beef tea, mineral waters and, of course, coffee.

Fortunately, things have changed since those days, and imbibers at MISTER MUNRO can now expect a menu that delivers a lot more punch.

Amy TrengoveGeneral Manager, The Victoria Hotel said, “We are thrilled to unveil our modern Art Deco inspired restaurant and bar bringing to life the hospitality that this building has been renowned for since 1880.

“Guests can expect a relaxed menu and vibe that evolves throughout the day – from breakfast, lunch and business meetings to post-work drinks, cocktails, a pre-theatre menu and dinners.

“We will also offer two private dining spaces, which would have appealed to Mister James Munro, as they will be ideal places for networking and to get deals done, though he mightn’t like the idea of the ‘stiff’ drinks that might accompany them.”

MISTER MUNRO are taking bookings now for their Mother’s Day Lunch Special which features two courses for $55 with every Mum receiving a signature cocktail on arrival and a small Mother’s Day gift when leaving.