Image: @Clarkyonthego via Instagram
Historic tours, sophisticated wine bars, neighbourhood dining experiences and staycation options are all on offer at Melbourne's newest dining and entertainment precinct - Pentridge. Excitingly, the historic and infamous Pentridge Prison site has been transformed into a $1b lifestyle precinct, packed to the rafters with food and dining experiences, whilst preserving the historic 170-year-old buildings for generations of Aussies to come.
Sip and Savour
BrewDog: For great vibes, craft beers and a pub-style menu, drop into the popular BrewDog pub, located within the former E Division. At 12,000 square feet, it's got room for 500 punters; complete with a ground floor dining room and den, three upstairs function spaces, and a beer garden with its own container bar and dedicated games area. BrewDog’s beer garden is a must-visit in summer!
The Boot Factory: Also set within the grounds of Pentridge, you’ll find the warm and eclectic Boot Factory café. Steeped in history, the café building dates back to the 1850s and was once part of the Coburg Penitentiary where well-behaved prisoners worked making shoes and boots for the prison guards. Lucky for us, the family-owned Boot Factory now brews the best coffee in Coburg and is open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch.
Olivine: Lovers of fine wine and great grazing food will fall in love with Olivine wine bar. Set within the prison’s former B Division, the impressive 100-seat wine bar sees former heritage cells reimagined into plush and moody intimate booths and a walk-in cellar door. Choose by the glass or bottle from the wine list, called the Book of Wine, conceptualised by one of Australia’s finest young sommeliers, Wine Curator, Liinaa Berry. With more than 500 labels listed, Olivine is a must for wine lovers and history buffs alike, while signature cocktails and craft sprits also feature on the list.
North & Common Opening May 2023: North & Common is an elevated bistro-style restaurant - also located in B Division adjacent to Olivine – that is set to be a new northside favourite in Melbourne. With Chef Mark Glenn at the helm, the seasonal menu promises to hero local Victorian produce, with a thoughtful wine list to match!
Visitors to Pentridge will also find many cosy cafes, dessert bars and delightful eateries in and around the Pentridge Shopping Centre.
An Unconventional Venue
If you’re in Melbourne, Pentridge is the destination of choice for unconventional conferences and extraordinary events. Located within the prison’s former B Division, ‘Chapter Place’ comprises nine indoor and alfresco event spaces with high-end facilities. From weddings, to conferences, meetings or celebrations, Chapter Place and its five-star events team will harness the power of hyperlocal suppliers and artisans in the city’s creative north to create a uniquely-Melbourne, signature experience catered to your needs.
The Eclectic and Creative North
Melbourne's creative north is celebrated within the bluestone walls at Pentridge precinct. Culture vultures and curious minds can take part in a tour of the site where they learn about the time spent inside by some of Australia’s most notorious criminals and lived experiences of thousands of people over several generations. The National Trust runs three tours exploring H Division, B Division and night tours (suitable for 16+).
In Pentridge Shopping Centre art lovers can discover Divisions Gallery – an eclectic art space run by Pentridge Arts. Curated in-house, Divisions Gallery is dedicated to showcasing the work of resident and local northside artists. For history buffs, a timeline outside the Gallery showcases the fascinating history of Pentridge Prison, while inside, exhibitions, such as ‘Whence It Came’, hero new and emerging artists. The exhibitions change every five weeks.
Opposite Divisions Gallery, Palace Cinema is home to 15-auditoriums with luxurious fully reclining chairs and a fully licensed menu (yes, you can take your drink in!). In the warmer months, visitors can watch their favourite movies under the stars at the pop-up outdoor cinema.
A Contemporary Hotel in an Historical Setting
After a day or weekend of exploring Pentridge precinct, rest easy at the contemporary new Adina Apartment Hotel Pentridge Melbourne.
Deliberately designed to contrast and complement the 170-year-old heritage site-turned-modern-lifestyle-precinct, Adina Pentridge is a 106-room apartment-style hotel, offering generous living spaces, kitchen amenities, individual climate control and balconies. The mini bar is avalable to order upon request and features local suppliers including Coburg’s own Koko Black whilst Ritchies IGA is onsite for those wanting to cook a home-style meal. Overnight guests also have access to complimentary bike hire to explore beyond the bluestone walls such as Merri Creek trail.
