Melbourne’s newest urban pub and beer garden
Good Nature Hotel has opened at Federation Square, bringing a new all-weather pub, beer garden and social meeting place to one of Melbourne’s busiest cultural and sporting corridors.
Taking over the former Beer Deluxe site, Good Nature transforms the landmark Federation Square venue into an urban pub and beer garden that’s a fresh, nature-led oasis. The relaxed pub culture and year-round outdoor venue give guests somewhere to pause in the middle of the city, whether they are settling in for lunch, meeting friends before the footy, staying on for live sport, or finding a comfortable table with family while the energy of Federation Square moves around them.
Blending lush greenery, flexible social spaces and contemporary pub hospitality, the redesign gives the site an open, garden-led feel while keeping the familiar ease of a city pub. Green tonal interiors, native-focused planting, light timber, natural stone, brass accents, stainless steel detailing and layered lighting have been used to soften the urban Federation Square setting and create a venue that can shift from daytime dining to evening drinks.
The venue arrives as AFL crowds prepare to move through the city and towards the MCG. Good Nature has been designed as an easy city meeting point before or after the game, with live sport screenings, pub dining, drinks, DJs, live music and face painters for children across the opening weekend.
Venue Manager Ebony King said the venue has been designed to feel welcoming, social and distinctly Melbourne.
“Good Nature is about creating a place where people can come together, whether it’s for a casual lunch, after-work drinks, live sport, family outing or weekend celebration,” said King. “We wanted the venue to feel fresh and relaxed while still capturing the energy of Melbourne’s pub culture and Federation Square.”
At the centre of the renovation is the Beer Garden, designed to make outdoor drinking and dining more comfortable across Melbourne’s seasons. The Beer Garden is now anchored by a permanent weather-protected structure, with a retractable awning, heating, umbrellas and flexible seating designed to make outdoor dining and drinks comfortable across sunshine, drizzle or cooler weather.
Landscaping and greenery help define the beer garden as a calmer pocket within the city, while upgraded AV and large screens allow the space to host live music, DJs, sports screenings and seasonal activations. Mixed-height tables, communal seating and open sightlines have been introduced to suit everything from quick knock-offs to larger group catch-ups.
Inside, the Ground Floor Pub is the heart of the venue, while the Atrium offers a place for everyday dining and functions. Both light-filled spaces offer flexible seating and a food focus to compliment the drinks offering. The central bar on the Ground Floor is a place to gather and screens provide casual sports viewing.
Upstairs on Level 1, the Grove Bar & Terrace introduces family-friendly features including a children’s playground, booth seating, AV and lighting upgrades and a screen to watch sports, making it suited to families visiting Federation Square as well as private functions and major event bookings.
The Good Nature menu focuses on modern pub dining built around elevated classics, seasonal produce and social share plates. Guests can find their favourite pub staples such as parmas, fish and chips and grills as well as seasonal signature dishes. These include:
- Sticky Soy and Chilli Pork Ribs (with crispy noodle, Asian pickles, yuzu sesame)
- Char-grilled Lamb Skewer (with smoked eggplant, za’atar, paprika)
- Fried Chicken (with fermented chilli mayo, guindillas)
- Pan-fried Barramundi (with Good Nature greens, roasted chat)
- Spanner Crab and Prawn Spaghetti (with confit garlic & chilli butter, split tomato, chardonnay, lemon, parsley)
Adding to the atmosphere of the pub, weekly programming will include:
- Thursdays: Beer Garden DJs from 4pm until late
- Fridays: Beer Garden DJ and roaming musician from 8pm until late
- Saturdays: Acoustic duo from 4pm, DJs and roaming musicians from 8pm until late
- Sundays: $38 Sunday Roast
- Sundays: Free kids entertainment from 12pm–3pm, plus game-day face painters
Additional major activations planned throughout the year include screenings of the World Cup, State of Origin and NFL programming.
Good Nature is a modern urban Melbourne pub that meets cultural precinct energy with appeal to both locals and tourists of all ages. It’s a venue that feels lush, relaxed and welcoming, while remaining polished, social and distinctly city-based.
Good Nature Hotel
Federation Square
Flinders Street
Melbourne, 3000
03 9810 0093
https://goodnaturehotel.com.au/
Image credit: @zennieshia-55