The Fifth Province Irish Bar & Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

First time to visit the new whisky bar extension which provides a nice, more atmospheric and cosy area for eating and catching up with family and friends. The place itself is so tastefully done and I was transported back home to a pub in Ireland. LOVE the whisky wall where I can look and browse alongside the well structured whiskey menu. I learned that Connemara is a whiskey distilled in Leinster :) There were three of us having a long overdue family catch up. I reserved a table via email a few days ahead as wanted to make sure we could get a table - that was a fast response via email so great service thank you. When we got there, the staff are attentive and kind and friendly without being overbearing. Easy to get their attention to order and not overly pushy which is a breath of fresh air. I got an Old Fashioned - wow - finally bar staff that KNOW how to mix a good cocktail - best one I have had in quite some time - I will be back for just this alone. Can't wait to try the others on the menu. Classic Cocktail menu, no OTT razzmatazz which is great. Great selection of Gins, Whiskies, Wines, Beers. Perfect. We ordered 2 x Roasts of the Day (Beef) and 1 x lamb pie. Didn't have to wait too long nor did they deliver too early. The food is delicious - love the cabbage on the roast as that is rare to get. The Yorkshire puddings were perfect. The meat was yum but a bit overcooked/dry. And the mash and veg were verging on cold. As a family who LOVE our food hot, a quick zap in the microwave for the potato and veg would not go astray - it's our pet hate. Food should always be hot not tepid. The lamb pie eater said his pie was delicious. Love the side portions of gravy too - really nice touch. Cannot wait to come back during week and try the Irish curry and all the other yummy food on the menu - plenty of choice for everyone and even starters for those who don't want a bigger meal but want to share. Great addition to the Fifth and looking forward to our next trip - a step above other pubs...

Nothing quite like an Irish bar to kick off a good weekend. I visited the Fifth Province at around eleven and the atmosphere was at its peak. Live music, Friday night football on the big screen, and a packed dance floor was all it took to lure us in. We got drinks but no food so though I’ve heard good things about the meals I can’t say much. Drinks were great though and the bar staff were having as much fun as their patrons it seemed.

There were so many different areas including a seated outdoor eating area, a bistro and bar. We spent most of our time in the bar which was also split into a few rooms including a section dedicated to sports fans streaming live games, and a back area for those who prefer a drink over a boogie. My spot was by the stage and the live music was enough to fill the bar and keep it going even as we headed off for the night. It got quite packed and the atmosphere was buzzing, I lost my friends a few times in the crowd but eventually found them between songs.

It’s quite loud in some areas of the venue so pick wisely if you’re there for conversation and a catch up. Parking is available on the streets surrounding but there’s also trams stopping out the front making getting home a breeze after a few drinks. I found it to be the most vibrant place on the street going into the early hours of the morning, so if you’re in for a night out in St Kilda put this Irish bar...

As an occasional volunteer organizer and chauffeur for lunch outings for some individual seniors and their support companions, I have received mixed feedback about many of the pubs, RSL's and reasonably-priced restaurants in the Brighton, Elsternwick and St Kilda areas over the years. It was therefore most gratifying to receive a report from two lovely ladies who I booked into The Fifth Province last Thursday, that they had the best time ever (and can't wait to return). They were full of praise about the delicious meals; generous portions; reasonable prices (for both food and drinks); the cozy atmosphere and the attentive, genuinely friendly staff. They even handed me a 'doggy bag' when I picked them up afterwards, containing a very tasty piece of fish that: "they just had to share with me" (that's a first!). The Fifth Province has a great reputation for fun nights and weekends, with music in the Irish tradition and special meal deal dinners, those deals also extending to lunches on the specified days as well. So, for all of the above reasons, a lunchtime visit during the week promises to be an equally rewarding experience, albeit 'somewhat less boisterous' than the evenings and weekends...