The Prince

The Prince Public Bar is one of Melbourne's oldest gay-friendly pubs, a St Kilda institution steeped in local history; in fact, the smaller bar of the grand Art Deco Prince of Wales Hotel was long Victoria's oldest surviving gay bar. Freshly renovated but with its heritage intact (smooth wood paneling, black-and-white photos, easy-going vibe), it's now a classic all-welcome Australian pub with a wood-fired-leaning menu of parmas, burgers, steaks and St Kilda's best steak night, great coffee and breakfast served daily, a solid roster of brews and pool tables out the back. Upstairs, the iconic Prince Bandroom keeps St Kilda's live-music tradition alive with local, national and international acts. Its most beloved queer moment comes every February, when, for Midsumma, the pub cheekily rebrands as "The Kween," swapping out its storefront sign and throwing Pride parties, drag bingo, and other festival fun. Beachside, historic and warmly welcoming, it's a gay-friendly Melbourne classic.