$$$$Price: Expensive • Greek • South Melbourne
Heritage pub turned Greek Islands-inspired paradise, Golden Fleece Hotel has brought Santorini to South Melbourne. Entering off Montague Street, you’ll find curvaceous, stone-look tables, booths and walls (with alcoves filled with ornate vases and ceramics, and all sorts of cacti). There’s also an adjoining bottle shop where the walls are lined with vino you can take away. A level up the colourful mosaic-tiled stairwell is a darker, moodier space with jet-black booths (contrasting against flashes of red brick), as well as a pool table and DJ booth.The rooftop is where you’ll feel most transported, as the sun beams down on the same kind of stone-look surrounds as on the ground level. Sip a fun Ouzo Sour, or a salty Mykonos Margarita to feel the holiday vibes. The menu is similarly Mediterranean. Among the highlights: locally sourced Octopus terrine, fluffy fish-roe dip, salt-and-pepper calamari, and a delicious Yia-Yias style Moussaka.