The Clifton Hill Hotel — Restaurant in Melbourne

I don't like it when I feel compelled to write a review, because it usually means that I have had a negative experience. But after talking to the (apparent) owner about my issues with the lighting in this venue I feel compelled to say something.

Now before I get to the crux of the issue, I would like to balance some positives with negatives. They brew their own beer here and it is pretty good but space is tight and the toilets are a little hard to find. The automatic taps mean you don't have to touch anything to wash your hands but this benefit is reduced by the fact that the infra red sensors are mounted quite high and the fine streams of water only turn on when your hands are close to the nozzle and you end up with an non trivial amount of spray everywhere including on yourself. I'll leave my opinions to myself about the doors that open inwards meaning you have to touch the handles used by all those not bothering to wash their hands.

The staff are friendly and ever present clearing the tables and appearing genuinely interested in how your day is going. But the front bar, which is where I prefer to hang out, is very poorly lit, to the point that you have to use a torch to read the menu after dark if you are not near the spotlighted areas. The owner actually admitted that this is deliberate, the lighting is designed to highlight the brewery, but this is done in an exclusive modern retro style with a mixture of hanging bulbs of varying intensity and some annoying naked bright incandescent pedestal lights at eye level.

You wont know what I'm talking about unless you go there yourself. The pedestal lights themselves are not even permanent fixtures, they are plugged into power points, the cord lying on the floor looks tacky but there is a bit of that going on elsewhere in the bar. We were invited to sit in on an alternative table but this really ignores the fact that the lighting design in this venue has been intentionally skewed towards fashion rather than comfort for the customers.

Obviously this is all my opinion but my two companions agreed with me, but the owner was adamant there was no problem. But there is, the bar is dimly lit and this is made worse by the bright naked light at eye level, preventing your eyes switching to night vision. We seriously had to use the torch on our phones to...

I don't normally get into/around Cliffton Hill, but post some mountain biking (with Zip) around Yarra Bend I thought a cheeky detour to a pub worth the effort.

Lovely old pub from the outside but quite a different look inside. I'm more an 'inferior' decorator so Im not the best when it comes to explaining interior design, so not sure how to explain the bar, but lets go that it was bright and cheery (the quirky yellow table/chair trim a bit different too).

Seemed that there were a few locals around (always a good sign) but being a late Saturday arvo, it was easy enough to grab a table.

Service was friendly and prompt - and so got my beer and ordered some food accordingly. I wasn't really hungry so went with a starter which was the Lobster Ravioli - alas, I can't rave about it, but having been to Italy many a time, I might have been spoilt with the ravioli there.

I'll definitely give it another go ... and will try the more traditional pub fayre...

Jess and I decided to go somewhere different. I searched brewery from maps and one of the results was Clifton Hill Brewpub. 31 minutes from hometown bayswater and got a parking spot just outside the entrance of the venue.

I tried their pale ale for the first time, it was perfect, the texture and flavour was delicious. Jess was happy with the vodka and coke served to her as she described it as, "nice and stronger" than the other pubs she's ordered it from, this was exectly how she likes it.

The staff here are one of the friendliest and accommodating workers we've had serving us ever. Always on the ball when finishing our drinks seeing if we're ready for another. Always smiling and the venue was very busy.

We decide to order food at the venue. The menu had a large variety of our favorites. I decided to go with the Buffalo wings and Jess got the schnitzel. Both done perfectly to our likings. 5 stars on the food from both of us.

Amazing...