The Grandview Hotel Fairfield, a pub operating on Heidelberg Road since 1888, has added a new dining dimension with Sama, a modern Lebanese restaurant opened within the hotel’s former bistro space. This article separates the venue’s historic pub character from its acclaimed Middle Eastern dining room, drawing on official sources and editorial coverage to help you evaluate both experiences.
Last checked: 2026-10-22
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Property name: Grandview Hotel Fairfield · Address: 429 Heidelberg Rd, Fairfield, Victoria, Australia · Year built: 1888 · Current restaurant tenant: Sama (Lebanese restaurant, opened November 2025)
Grandview Hotel Fairfield: A Historic Pub Meets Lebanese Dining at Sama
February 2026
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-10-22.
Sources reviewed: official hotel website, local journalism (Time Out Melbourne, Good Food/The Age), booking platform and reviews (OpenTable), menu aggregator (MenuTrender), secondary review sites.
Transparent limitations: this content is based on published sources; we did not conduct an on-site visit, staff interview, or independent price verification.
Grandview Hotel Fairfield at a glance
- Year built: 1888
- Days open since restaurant relaunch (as of February 2026): approximately 3 months (since November 2025)
Snapshot: Grandview Hotel Fairfield & Sama
- Grandview Hotel Fairfield (The Grandview Hotel)
- 429 Heidelberg Rd, Fairfield, Victoria (The Grandview Hotel)
- 1888 (The Grandview Hotel)
- Sama (Lebanese restaurant, opened November 2025) (The Grandview Hotel)
Key facts
| Property name | Grandview Hotel Fairfield |
|---|---|
| Address | 429 Heidelberg Rd, Fairfield, Victoria, Australia |
| Year built | 1888 |
| Current restaurant tenant | Sama (Lebanese restaurant, opened November 2025) |
| Reported dining-room capacity (Sama) | 50 seats |
| OpenTable rating (Sama) | 4.8 out of 5 (from 33 reviews) |
| Reported banquet price (Sama) | A$65 for four courses |
| Planned expansion | Sama Meze (30-seat wine bar, status unconfirmed) |
For our comprehensive assessment of the venue, see the Grandview Hotel Fairfield review. Detailed Sama menu and history analysis is available in our Sama Menu, Reviews & History guide.
What is on the Grandview Hotel Fairfield menu?
The menu at the Grandview Hotel Fairfield reflects a deliberate dual identity. The hotel operates both its traditional public bar and the separate dining room of Sama, each with distinct offerings.
Sama’s Lebanese menu highlights
Time Out Melbourne describes Sama’s menu as charcoal-grill-driven, emphasizing Levantine flavours. Dishes reported at launch include hummus with spiced lamb and pine nuts, baba ghanoush, lamb kafta, and harissa-marinated charcoal chicken. Good Food’s Bonnie Savage added details of tabbouleh served in lettuce cups, whitebait with pita crisps and tahini yoghurt, and lamb naye balls coated with sesame seeds, crushed pistachio, and dried rose petals.
A four-course banquet was priced at A$65 according to Time Out’s coverage. MenuTrender, a menu aggregation site, lists individual items such as charcoal half chicken (A$40), moghrabieh beef cheek (A$43), and baba ghanoush (A$19), though these were not independently verified by the venue.
Pub classics at the Grandview Hotel
Ozhotel reports the hotel’s broader bistro menu includes standard pub fare such as burgers, steaks, parmas, and seafood dishes. This traditional offering remains available through the hotel’s front bar, creating a clear contrast with the modern Lebanese direction of Sama.
Hidden inside the Grandview Hotel, Sama is a charcoal grill-driven bistro from the El-Fahkri family.
Time Out Melbourne
The bottom line: Sama offers a distinctly different menu from the pub’s standard fare, focusing on charcoal-grilled Levantine dishes and Lebanese wines.
What is the Sama restaurant at the Grandview Hotel like?
Cuisine and atmosphere
Sama is officially described by the Grandview Hotel as “Lebanese Dining.” Time Out Melbourne identifies it as a charcoal-grill-driven bistro from the El-Fahkri family, hidden inside the Fairfield pub. The dedicated dining room accommodates approximately 50 guests, according to Good Food’s coverage. The venue combines a modern Lebanese menu with the setting of a longstanding Fairfield pub.
Dining options and price points
Sama’s reported wine list includes Lebanese wines from the Bekaa Valley. Cocktail ingredients reportedly include cardamom, burnt butter, and arak, though these details were sourced from Time Out’s launch coverage and current availability should be confirmed with the restaurant. Good Food reported the family planned a 30-seat wine bar called Sama Meze in a former gaming-machine room, with expectations for a mid-October 2026 opening. As of this article’s data collection in February 2026, this expansion had not yet opened and its status remains unconfirmed.
Editorial note: The Grandview Hotel officially distinguishes its front bar from the Sama dining room. Visitors can choose either experience independently via separate booking paths on the venue’s website.
The implication: Sama is positioned as a serious dining destination within the pub, not just a casual eatery, with a dedicated 50-seat room and a planned wine bar expansion.
What do reviews say about the Grandview Hotel Fairfield and Sama?
Sama’s OpenTable presence
OpenTable lists Sama as a Lebanese restaurant in Fairfield with a rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 33 reviews. The platform’s displayed rating for Sama varied between 4.7 and 4.8 during the research period, based on 33 reviews, creating a discrepancy in the platform’s displayed rating. Diner comments on OpenTable consistently praise the food and service. Diner Kirsten described the experience as having “fantastic food and service,” while Kirsty noted the restaurant accommodated a pescatarian dietary requirement in the banquet.
Delicious food and great service.
Kirsty, OpenTable diner
Data warning: OpenTable displays two different ratings for Sama: 4.8 and 4.7 out of 5, both based on 33 reviews. The reason for this platform discrepancy is not established by available sources.
Pub atmosphere and historical ratings
Reviews for the broader Grandview Hotel venue are distinct from those for Sama. Ozhotel reports a historical TripAdvisor rating of 3.8 out of 5 from 21 reviews for the general pub operation. This gap between the pub’s legacy rating and Sama’s current platform score highlights the divergence in the two experiences.
The catch: While Sama enjoys high ratings on OpenTable, the broader pub has a separate, lower review profile. The rating discrepancy on OpenTable adds a layer of uncertainty for researchers.
What is the history of the Grandview Hotel Fairfield?
The Grandview Hotel was built in 1888, operating as a corner pub on Heidelberg Road in Fairfield for well over a century. Its transition into a two-in-one venue began in late 2025 with the introduction of Sama.
- 1888: Grandview Hotel built.
- November 2025: Sama Lebanese restaurant opens in the hotel’s bistro space.
- February 2026: Current review compiled.
- Mid-October 2026 (planned): Sama Meze wine bar previously reported as in development.
SAMA. Lebanese Dining.
The Grandview Hotel Fairfield
Planning tip: A four-course banquet was reported at A$65 by Time Out Melbourne. Confirming the current price with the restaurant before booking is recommended.
Pros and cons of the dual pub-and-restaurant experience
Pros
- Dual experience: historic pub atmosphere plus modern Lebanese dining in one visit.
- High OpenTable rating (4.8) specifically for Sama’s dining experience.
- Charcoal-grill-driven menu distinct from standard pub food.
- Lebanese wines and arak-based cocktails.
- Expansion planned (Sama Meze) for a future wine bar experience.
Cons
- Menu prices from the aggregator (MenuTrender) not officially verified.
- OpenTable rating discrepancy (4.8 vs 4.7) requires clarification.
- Future expansion status and hours unconfirmed.
- Limited independent review volume for Sama outside of OpenTable.
Grandview Hotel Fairfield at a glance
| Property name | Grandview Hotel Fairfield |
|---|---|
| Address | 429 Heidelberg Rd, Fairfield, Victoria, Australia |
| Year built | 1888 |
| Current restaurant tenant | Sama (Lebanese restaurant, opened November 2025) |
| Reported dining-room capacity (Sama) | 50 seats |
| OpenTable rating (Sama) | 4.8 out of 5 (from 33 reviews) |
| Reported banquet price (Sama) | A$65 for four courses |
| Planned expansion | Sama Meze (30-seat wine bar, status unconfirmed) |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Grandview Hotel Fairfield still a pub?
Yes, the front bar operates separately from Sama, with its own booking path on the official website. The pub serves traditional pub fare.
What type of food does Sama serve?
Sama serves modern Lebanese cuisine described as charcoal-grill-driven with Levantine flavours. Menu items reported include hummus, baba ghanoush, lamb kafta, and charcoal chicken.
When did Sama restaurant open?
Sama opened in the bistro space of the Grandview Hotel Fairfield in November 2025.
Where is the Grandview Hotel located?
It is located at 429 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield, Victoria, Australia.
Can I visit the pub without dining at Sama?
Yes, the official website provides separate booking paths for the front bar and for Sama Lebanese restaurant.