The Drunken Poet

Nice easy place to kick back and have some drinks.
Bar staff were happy and often came over to our table and asked if we wanted another.
Small, rustic, easy.

Superace place, nice Irish lighting, live music free 6 days the week. Great pints, not a plastic paddy pub.

Best Irish bar in Melbourne, the ladies always sort me out with good beer! Live music every night and cosy atmosphere. Locally sourced Toasted sandwiches are out of this world and you can never have just get one!

Love the music, the service is kind and fast, good range of beers, they will always say hi with a smile!

Perfect for a quick beer after job by yourself or a night with mates

Was curious about this place, The Drunken Poet, so had to pay a visit, and so glad we did, and I reckon it’s our new little local.
We called to make make a booking, left a msg, and Siobhan tried 3 times to contact us-that’s well impressive!
The ambiance is excellent, music, Tayto chips, amazing toasties, and a few frosty beverages later, we left, ready to make a booking for the next visit.
Siobhan and the other bar person, I feel awful as didn’t get her name, were very welcoming, friendly and made the night all the better.
Absolutely a definite revisit.

You Can't Lose at the Poet

I spilt my guinness last night because I bumped into the end of my own table. I thought, I've made a right mess of this. While I was wallowing in sorrow, I heard the rustling of a scamper, and the squeaking of a mop. Not only this, but my guinness had been replaced - free of charge! I couldn't bring myself to accept it, but this bartender is not one to be argued with! Such ferocious kindness! Now, the music was an absolute delight, and I'm swooning in gulps of guinness so I thought 'Heck, I'll thank this Esmeralda playing the tunes by way of a glass of wine'. No sooner than I've placed the wine down before her, she produces for me a CD of those very tunes she was offering. What an exchange! All I'm trying to say is: you can't lose at the poet.

Great little pub, awesome service, friendly staff. Guinness & Kilkenny on tap. What more could you want in an Irish pub?

Great to get back to the old haunt, one year since the last time. Always enjoyable and welcoming. Keep it going Siobhan! Wish I could be more of a regular.

As authentic as you can get for an Irish pub in Melbourne. On the Sun afternoon I visited the staff were friendly, the pints of Guiness were creamy and dreamy and there was a good vibe amongst the crowd listening to live music. I love the collection of portraits on the walls.

Guiness on tap, good atmosphere.needs more things to do than drink, darts, a poetry library or live regular poetry themed events perhaps.

Has Calton on tap and a pretty youg Lass who's quick to strew up a tomato, ham, cheese toasty to lap! Awesome old school North Melbourne touch. Stay true! Colin Gower former owner of Vic Market Tattoo! True Addiction Tattoo Founder!

Apart from the great service, cool artwork and warm atmosphere, it's worth noting that they probably serve the best Guiness in Australia.

This is the best pub in Australia. Siobhan who runs it is one of the nicest people you could meet and she has created the nicest vibe in Melbourne. Food consists of great toasted cheese and ham sandwiches and taytos etc. What more could you ask for? The best Guinness outside of Dublin. A great and eclectic bunch of regulars and tourists who all mingle and chat (if you want). It's a great place for trad music on a Friday night or other live bands and singer songwriter types. There is no bright lights or tvs to distract. It's just a proper pub. Thank god for it! Ps great place for a tinder date as its nicely lit so your photos from 10 years ago on your profile will match. A+

One of the better if not the best pubs near the CBD. Top service, reasonably priced drinks and free live music 6 days a week. Gold.

Fab-u-lous pub. My favourite in Melbourne. Great music, cold beers (Guinness of course) simple fare (hope you like toasties) and a relaxed patronage. Just dont try to sit in the owners seat.

Love the cosy vibes of an almost all wooden bar, if you like rock music then pop some dollars in the jukebox and live it up

Lovely Saturday afternoon, live music and a great dram of whiskey! Ireland in Melbourne! Oh yes, Guiness is a must!

I wish I stayed longer in Melbourne to frequent this place. Guinness is really good and the lady (owner?) is the best!

I performed in the open mic here and enjoyed the facilities and Mornington IPA beer. I admit, I wasn't flattered when I saw the bar filled with much older men. But I'm happy I got a free drink from one of them, who was exceptionally handsome! One of them read their poems as well, and it did sound like he wrote it when he was drunk. So "The Drunken Poet" is really a perfect name for this place. (I'm sorry, to whoever I just insulted) But really, It is nostalgic. Every time I come back to this place I'll remember: Open mic, beer, and drunken old people reading their poems. Toodles!

What kind of Irish pub doesn't know what a boilermaker is?

EDIT: So we're debating etymology now? How Irish is Carlton Draught?