For anyone researching the Grandview Hotel in Fairfield, the first thing to know is that this 1888 landmark now houses two distinct dining identities: a traditional Front Bar and the Middle Eastern restaurant SAMA. This guide separates fact from platform listing, historical review, and secondary summary, drawing on official venue information and verified data from booking and review platforms.
Last checked: 2026-10-25
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Address: 429 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield, VIC 3078 · Established: 1888 · Cuisine: Modern Middle Eastern · Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 11:00am–11:00pm, Sun 11:00am–9:00pm
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-10-25.
Sources reviewed: official venue website, OpenTable listings, koalahotel.org summaries, historical 3AW and Yelp reviews, Tripadvisor listings.
Limitations: no on‑site visit, no staff interview; no full official hotel website beyond the SAMA page was found.
Key facts at a glance
- Located in Fairfield, Victoria, postcode 3078 (The Grandview Hotel)
- Front Bar menu features modern Australian pub classics: burgers, schnitzels, steaks, seafood, salads (OpenTable)
- SAMA is a Lebanese restaurant concept operating inside the historic pub (The Grandview Hotel)
- 300g scotch fillet listed at A$47 on the OpenTable menu (OpenTable)
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Location | Fairfield, Victoria, Australia (postcode 3078) (source) |
| Cuisine available | Modern Australian pub classics (Front Bar) + Lebanese (SAMA) (source) |
| Front Bar – chicken parmigiana | A$31 (OpenTable) (source) |
| Front Bar – steak sandwich | A$28 (OpenTable) (source) |
| Front Bar – fish and chips (GF available) | A$28 (OpenTable) (source) |
| SAMA – four‑course banquet | Reported A$65 (launch coverage) (summary) |
Grandview Hotel Fairfield Menu
The venue offers two separate menus. At the Front Bar, the OpenTable listing shows modern Australian pub fare: starters such as Grandview Bang Bang Chicken (A$18), arancini (A$16), and salt‑and‑pepper squid marked gluten‑free (A$16). Mains include seafood linguini (A$36), pan‑seared barramundi with warm potato salad and caper‑butter sauce (A$34), pan‑fried gnocchi (A$31), and vegetable curry (A$28). Steaks feature a 300g scotch fillet at A$47. Chicken parmigiana (A$31), chicken schnitzel (A$29), eggplant schnitzel (A$28), and veal schnitzel (A$32) round out the list. Burgers start at A$28 for the Grandview beef burger, A$26 for fried chicken, and the steak sandwich sits at A$28. Fish and chips is A$28 and can be made gluten‑free on request.
Separately, SAMA serves Lebanese cuisine. Independent summaries report dishes such as hummus with spiced lamb and pine nuts, baba ghanoush, lamb kafta, harissa‑marinated charcoal chicken, tabbouleh in lettuce cups, whitebait with pita crisps and tahini yoghurt, and lamb naye balls with sesame, pistachio and dried rose petals. A four‑course banquet was priced at A$65 at launch.
Notably, menu versions from December 2025 and March 2026 recorded price and item changes – for example, the beef burger shifted from A$24 to A$26 and the steak sandwich from A$29 to A$28 – so readers should confirm current pricing directly with the venue before ordering.
The bottom line: the Front Bar menu offers familiar pub classics at moderate prices (most mains A$28‑A$36), while SAMA provides a fully separate Lebanese experience.
Grandview Hotel Fairfield Reviews
Review coverage for the venue is mixed. A 2018 professional review by 3AW scored the pub 10.5 out of 20 and described the bar‑food list as “fairly priced but basic”. The same review reported a A$12 steak‑sandwich lunch special and A$10 barbecue chicken pizza – pricing that has since risen substantially. A Yelp reviewer in March 2021 praised the chicken parmigiana and the ability to substitute vegetables for chips, while noting the calamari salad was generous but the croquettes fell short.
On aggregate platforms, the broader Grandview Hotel venue recorded approximately 3.8 out of 5 from about 21‑22 Tripadvisor reviews. SAMA, by contrast, earned roughly 4.8 out of 5 from 33 OpenTable reviews, with one diner calling it “fantastic food and service”. One OpenTable reviewer of the pub side commented: “Great Parma and beer on tap.”
The sample sizes are small and the ratings come from different periods, so direct comparisons should be treated cautiously. No independent editorial review of SAMA beyond launch coverage was identified in the available material.
The implication: SAMA appears to generate stronger guest satisfaction than the pub side, but both are based on limited review volumes.
Grandview Hotel Fairfield Restaurant (SAMA)
SAMA operates inside the historic Grandview Hotel building at 429 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield. The official venue website presents SAMA as a Lebanese restaurant concept, separate from the conventional Front Bar. Launch coverage by Good Food and Time Out Melbourne highlighted dishes such as charcoal chicken, lamb kafta, and a four‑course A$65 banquet. The kitchen is described as contemporary, blending traditional Lebanese flavours with modern presentation.
Opening hours were listed as Monday to Saturday 11 am‑11 pm and Sunday 11 am‑9 pm in the available search material, but this could not be independently verified against an official source. The SAMA dining room has its own entrance and atmosphere, distinct from the pub bar.
What to watch: confirmation of current operating hours and any change‑over between SAMA and Front Bar service times should be sought before planning a visit.
- Pro: Two distinct dining options under one roof – pub classics and Lebanese cuisine.
- Pro: Historic landmark building with over 135 years of character.
- Pro: Gluten‑free options available on the pub menu (salt‑and‑pepper squid, fish and chips).
- Pro: SAMA’s reported OpenTable rating of 4.8/5 suggests high diner satisfaction.
- Con: Pub reviews are limited in volume and the historical 3AW score was low (10.5/20).
- Con: No official pub menu URL was found; prices may differ from platform listings.
- Con: Opening hours and promotion availability could not be independently verified.
Location and getting there
The Grandview Hotel is located on Heidelberg Road, a main thoroughfare connecting the inner‑northern Melbourne suburbs. Fairfield is roughly 8 km north‑east of the Melbourne CBD, reachable by car via the Eastern Freeway or by train (Fairfield station, Mernda line). Street parking is available along Heidelberg Road and adjacent streets. The address is 429 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield, VIC 3078, as listed on the venue’s official SAMA page.
Alternatives in the region
The name “Grandview Hotel” can cause confusion with the similarly named Grand View Hotel in Cleveland, Queensland, a separate property on Moreton Bay. To help readers distinguish, the table below compares the two venues.
| Property | Location | Year built | Cuisine / offerings | Operating hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grandview Hotel (Fairfield, VIC) | Heidelberg Rd, Fairfield VIC | 1888 | Modern Australian pub + Lebanese (SAMA) | Mon‑Sat 11–11, Sun 11–9 |
| Grand View Hotel (Cleveland, QLD) | Middle St, Cleveland QLD | No data | Pub‑style meals, bay views | No data |
Because the Queensland property operates under a different licence and service model, searchers should confirm they are looking at the correct venue before booking or ordering.
Our pick
For readers looking to experience the most distinctive offering of the Grandview Hotel Fairfield, SAMA provides a clear point of difference from standard pub dining. Its high platform ratings and unique Middle Eastern menu make it the stronger choice for diners seeking something beyond parmas and schnitzels. History enthusiasts will also appreciate the 1888 landmark setting, though the pub side is best approached as a straightforward local option rather than a destination.
“fairly priced but basic”
— Tony Leonard, 3AW reviewer
“the Grandview tries hard and the bar food is cheap”
— Tony Leonard, 3AW reviewer
Frequently asked questions
What type of cuisine does the Grandview Hotel Fairfield serve?
The venue offers two cuisines: modern Australian pub classics at the Front Bar (burgers, schnitzels, steaks) and Lebanese dishes at SAMA (hummus, charcoal chicken, kafta).
Where is the Grandview Hotel Fairfield located?
It is at 429 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield, Victoria, postcode 3078, as indicated on the venue’s official SAMA page.
Does SAMA offer a banquet option?
Yes, a four‑course banquet was reported at A$65 in launch coverage.
What is the reported Tripadvisor rating for the Grandview Hotel?
The broader Grandview Hotel venue recorded approximately 3.8 out of 5 from about 21‑22 Tripadvisor reviews.
What is the reported OpenTable rating for SAMA?
SAMA earned roughly 4.8 out of 5 from 33 OpenTable reviews.
Sources cited
- The Grandview Hotel – SAMA page: https://www.grandviewhotelfairfield.com/sama
- OpenTable – The Pub at the Grandview Hotel Fairfield: https://www.opentable.com.au/r/the-pub-at-the-grandview-hotel-fairfield
- OpenTable – Fairfield pub restaurants: https://www.opentable.com.au/cuisine/best-pub-restaurants-melbourne-fairfield
- Koalahotel.org – SAMA dining summary: https://koalahotel.org/reviews/grandview-hotel-fairfield-sama-dining/
- Koalahotel.org – Pub and Lebanese menu review: https://koalahotel.org/reviews/grandview-hotel-fairfield-pub-lebanese/