Baden Powell

I've stayed here lots of times and never had an issue. It's a convenient, inexpensive 3 star hotel, basically a pub with good food and comfortable beds. The food is great, the beers and wines keep changing, and the pizzas are probably the best in Melbourne. It's consistently well managed and friendly. Some reviews seem to expect a red carpet welcome and a huge reception area, but there's a Hilton just down the road for that. For what this place is, it's five stars from me.

The restaurant downstairs is the highlight, with amazing traditional artisan-style pizzas. My partner and I had a blast over our two nights at the Baden Powell. The room is simple but has what you need, and the tram into the city takes five minutes, with a stop right outside the pub. Service was outstanding, and I liked how casual it all felt. We'll be back for sure!

The main problem is the noise: the wood-panelled ceiling bounces every chair scrape, clink of glass, and loud laugh around the open-plan dining and kitchen area, so talking across the table is difficult. The fireplace does make it feel cosy, and the staff, with their trendy beards, were friendly and accommodating. There’s a good range of reasonably priced wine and a few unusual beers on tap. The menu is full of tasty, though decidedly pretentious, pub pizzas. A recent renovation has turned what used to be an old-man, swill-smelling rat hole, charms and all, into a rather upscale and inviting space.

It's sad to see a business that used to be good go downhill. It was once a lively local pub, popular with residents and nearby creative types for after-work drinks. Now it's mostly empty, with a strangely gloomy 1970s feel. The staff seem more interested in chatting with each other than serving customers, though the food is still okay if you insist on getting service.