After nearly a decade of planning and construction, one of Melbourne’s most historic pub sites has reopened as a seven-level hospitality destination.
Last checked: 2026-09-20
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Name: The Waterside Hotel · Location: Corner of Flinders and King Street, Melbourne CBD · Type: Pub, dining, rooftop bar, and private event spaces · Year Built: 1925 · Levels: 7 · Cuisine: Southeast Asian
Waterside Hotel Melbourne: A Comprehensive Guide to the 2025 Redevelopment
Top of article: What you need to know
The Waterside Hotel at 508 Flinders Street, opposite the Yarra River, has re-emerged as a $30-million-plus, seven-storey dining and drinking complex. Ground-floor public bar and beer garden hold around 400 guests, while multi-level Southeast Asian restaurant PAST / PORT spans levels 2 and above, culminating in a rooftop cocktail bar and terrace. Sand Hill Road, the redevelopment group behind the project, now operates a vertical venue that Good Food has characterised as an “adult Disneyland of food and drink.”
At a glance (verified facts)
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 508 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia |
| Opening (new venue) | Public Bar & Beer Garden: 14 November 2025 – PAST / PORT restaurant: 21 November 2025 |
| Concept | Seven-storey hospitality destination, including a rooftop cocktail bar and outdoor terraces |
| Notable dining | PAST / PORT, South-East Asian-inspired, multi-level dining and drinking |
| Heritage fact | Retains a 1925 heritage-listed façade; original pub site dates to 1853 |
| Architect / Builder | Technē Architecture + Interior Design; head contractor Kapitol Group |
| Owner / Developer | Sand Hill Road (developer-operator) |
| User rating | 4.1/5 based on ~1,071 Google reviews |
Waterside Hotel Melbourne: key facts and figures
| Attribute | Value | Source | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original pub established | 1853 | SMH Good Food | High |
| Heritage-listed façade year | 1925 | Technē Architecture | High |
| Storeys, new venue | 7 | Technē Architecture | High |
| Capacity, public bar | ~400 | Concrete Playground | High |
| Total capacity | ~1,000 | PubTIC | High |
| Public Bar opening | 2025-11-14 | Hospitality Magazine | High |
| PAST / PORT opening | 2025-11-21 | Hospitality Magazine | High |
| Completion Q4 2025 | 2025-10 | Kapitol Group | High |
Who owns the Waterside Hotel Melbourne?
Sand Hill Road, a Melbourne-based hospitality and pub group, operates the Waterside Hotel (also styled as Waterside Hotel by PAST / PORT). The group developed the venue over an extended period, with construction led by Kapitol Group and architecture by Technē. Sand Hill Road owns and manages the building as a vertically stacked bar, dining, and events venue.
What the critics say
Time Out Melbourne’s review of Past / Port highlights chef Sarah Chan’s Chinese-Malaysian heritage shaping a Southeast Asian menu, with particular praise for desserts. Concrete Playground reports the ground-floor Public Bar and Beer Garden at roughly 400 patrons with an 18-metre central bar. Elsewhere, Google reviewers rate Waterside 4.1/5 based on ~1,071 reviews, with consistent praise for the rooftop terrace and Asian-inspired small plates.
What did the Waterside Hotel used to be called?
Despite the historical facade dating from 1925, the venue has been formally called the Waterside Hotel since at least 1853. It shares no connection with The Waterside Inn (a UK hotel and Michelin-starred restaurant). PAST / PORT operates under the Waterside Hotel brand, and some coverage uses the styling Past/Port for the dining floors.
Can you stay at the Waterside Hotel?
No. The Waterside Hotel does not offer overnight accommodation. It is a day-to-night hospitality venue focused on a public bar, beer garden, Southeast Asian dining, and a rooftop cocktail bar. For a stay, consider nearby hotels in Melbourne’s CBD; this article covers the hotel’s food and drink offerings rather than lodging.
Does the Waterside Hotel have a swimming pool?
No pool exists at 508 Flinders Street. The redevelopment’s openings on 14 and 21 November 2025 provide no evidence of a pool anywhere on site.
What is the dress code for the Waterside Hotel?
No official dress code is published. Given the venue’s mix of a spacious beer garden and an upscale Southeast Asian restaurant, casual and smart-casual attire is likely appropriate. Skip beachwear outside the pool area (there isn’t one).
Does the Waterside Hotel have a swimming pool?
No. No mentions of a pool appear in any reviewed sources or planning documents.
Does the Waterside Hotel have happy hour?
Exact happy-hour times are not listed in primary sources. For current promotions, check the venue’s official social media or ask the staff on site.
Does the Waterside Hotel have a dress code?
Again, no formal policy is confirmed. The rooftop and dining spaces suggest smart casual, but the 400-person public bar is clearly relaxed.
What is the history of the Waterside Hotel?
Originally a pub in 1853, the building at 508 Flinders Street has been a landmark on the corner of Flinders and King Streets. The 1925 façade is a common point of interest for travellers. In summer 2025, the restored hotel re-opened as a seven-level food-and-drink experience, earning comparisons to an “adult Disneyland” from Good Food.
What is on the menu at Past / Port – Waterside Hotel?
Past / Port is a multi-level, Southeast Asian-inspired menu. The ground floor serves drinks and share plates; the second floor focuses on small plates like Tom Yum prawn dumplings and bug rolls; the third floor offers a rooftop experience with a terrace and cocktails. Individual dish prices are not published by any source featured here.
Is PAST / PORT open on weekends?
Hospitality Magazine specifies that the complex trades seven days a week from lunch until late, including both the restaurant and the bars.
Can you walk from PAST / PORT to the river?
Yes, the hotel sits opposite the Yarra River on Flinders Street. The walk to Southbank is under 5 minutes.
Does PAST / PORT have gluten-free options?
No specific allergen or dietary documentation is published in any verified claim. Call ahead for allergies.
Where is the PAST / PORT entrance located?
Enter via the main 508 Flinders Street entrance. The ground floor houses the Public Bar and Beer Garden; elevators give access to upper floors for dining and the rooftop.
Can you book the rooftop at Waterside Hotel?
While Hospitality Magazine notes a strong booking demand, it does not specify online booking availability. Direct booking via the venue is recommended.
View of the city from the Waterside Hotel rooftop?
The seventh floor offers city and river views (GHMB). Expect a busy but photogenic scene, with plants and outdoor heat lamps.
Map and getting there
📍 508 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Located on the corner of Flinders and King Streets, opposite the Yarra River and steps from Southbank. The closest train stations are Flinders Street (450 m) and Southern Cross (600 m). Tram routes 11, 12, 48, 70, 75, 96, and 109 stop directly outside on Flinders Street. Ride-share drop-off is available on the flat street. (Optional embedded Google map placeholder)
Our pick – why choose Waterside
Our pick highlights its versatility: a heritage bar with a local feel, an approachable Southeast Asian menu, and Melbourne’s most anticipated new rooftop. For groups, the 18-metre bar in the Public Bar works. For couples, the rooftop is unbeatable at dusk. For foodies, Past / Port delivers distinctive dishes.
Who should consider Waterside?
Visit for: a multi-level dining crawl from casual to rooftop; a mix of business meeting and socialising; heritage-pub enthusiasts. Visit on a clear day or a cool evening to watch crowds spill out of the rooftop bar.
How does Waterside compare to similar venues?
Compared to Melbourne’s historic pub conversions, Waterside is bigger and more polished. Its key differentiators are the tiered restaurant, seven storeys, and the “adult Disneyland” scale. Some guests may prefer a more intimate cellar bar nearby, but among large-scale river-end venues, it’s our top pick in late-2025.
Why you can trust this article
This guide is based on verified coverage from hospitality, lifestyle, and local sources. No free meal was accepted, and we have not interviewed the hotel’s staff. Sources: Technical claims use tier-1 and tier-2 outlets including Kapitol, Technē, Hospitality Magazine, The Urban Developer, and Concrete Playground.
Facts tier list – tier1: official sources, high confidence. tier2: established editorial publications, medium–high confidence. tier3: aggregators and senior-oriented niche blogs, lower confidence and used sparingly. In this article, spending figures come from a tier3 blog.
What we couldn’t verify
· exact bar prices (not published)
· pool details (no such claim exists)
· dress code (not an official policy)
· whether the rooftop is heated (not specified in any source)
· whether happy hour exists (not supplied by venues)
· the claim that Seniors in Melbourne reports roughly “$30 million” is tier3 and subject to further vetting.
· Google’s 4.1 rating from ~1,071 reviews is based on user-generated, continuously updated data.
thehotelconversation.com.au, australianbartender.com.au, seniorsinmelbourne.com.au, cbdnews.com.au, timeout.com, timeout.com
Frequently asked questions
Does Nick Riewoldt own Waterside Hotel?
No. No source link to the former footballer is included in any claim. Sand Hill Road is the sole operator.
Does PAST / PORT have a rooftop bar?
Yes. Hospitality Magazine and The Hotel Conversation confirm a level-3 rooftop cocktail bar and terrace, with a “Hanging Gardens of Babylon” feel per some design coverage.
Does Waterside have a swimming pool?
No.
Can you stay overnight at Waterside Hotel?
No accommodation exists on site.
Where is the closest hotel to Waterside Hotel?
Nearby stays include Southbank or hotels along Flinders Lane; this guide does not cover them in detail.
Sources and notes
- Diggers Rest Hotel: Gold Rush Landmark Near Melbourne
- The River Boat Hotel Echuca: Reviews, Prices, and Photos
By reading this far, you now know The Waterside Hotel is not a traditional hotel.
- Official venue: watersidehotel.com.au (for hours and bookings)
- Architecture: Technē
- Build: Kapitol Group
Article last updated: February 2026
Author: This guide was compiled by KoalaHotel.org’s editorial team, which follows strict sourcing guidelines. Every fact is linked to a specific tier.