There are few places in Melbourne where the Irish population is more concentrated than near the beaches of St Kilda, so it’s only logical to assume you’d be able to find an Irish pub or two by the water.
Fortunately for both Irish expats and anyone looking for a taste of the Emerald Isle served with plenty of craft beer, they have more than just an Irish pub.
They have The Fifth Province.
The Fitzroy Street pub’s name is a nod to Ireland’s four provinces, with this fifth one in Melbourne’s south committed to bringing the best of the country under one roof. Opened by Irish expat Liam Ganley in 2014, the team has long ensured it was an Irish pub that was both classic and provided more than a pint of Guinness (even if there are few places in Melbourne that pour more creamy pints).
In 2024, the pub underwent a facelift and renovation, but anyone who fell for The Fifth’s taste of the old country needn’t fear that its heart and soul could disappear into sterile bright lights. Instead, the pub and restaurant is the kind of timeless watering hole where you could spend an eternity sitting inside.
Indeed, step into the public bar and its high roof, stained-glass windows, and stylish wooden fixtures make for something of a religious experience. Walk through and you’ll find a space filled with nods to the pubs of Éire, including the frontage of the famed Dublin pub O’Donoghue's tucked at the back. Naturally, mid-century Guinness posters line the walls, and they’ve even gone retro with the famed stout’s decal.
With 13 taps for beer, Victorian craft beer is kept front and centre, so you’ll find quality IPAs, pales, pilsners, and everything else poured with as much love and affection as those nitro pints. Live music, including traditional Irish tunes, takes to the stage each night from Thursday to Sunday, and The Fifth’s renovation brought with it a state-of-the-art sound system to ensure those nights are as lively as any Galway pub straight after sunset.
If you’re after a moment that’s a little more subdued but no less delicious, then The Whiskey Bar will have you covered. The more refined space brings table service and the soft sounds of country or Irish folk, which sets the mood for one of the finest whiskey collections you’ll find in Melbourne. The showpiece cabinet is filled with more than 100 bottles from across Ireland, where flights can allow you to explore the country without leaving your seat.
Keep exploring and you’ll be treated to two further distinct spots for a pint, or wine for that matter, with The Verandah a versatile spot that opens up on a perfectly sunny day while being cosy enough to suit the coldest days by the beach. Likewise, the beer garden brings its own retractable roof so punters can also escape or embrace the elements, and there are few joys like watching people roll by as your pint disappears.
But beyond pints and good times, The Fifth also brings a food menu that’s as elevated as you’ll find in any pub and filled with constant nods to Ireland, including a traditional breakfast menu served on weekends.
So while there are parmas and burgers, you can also tuck into Irish chicken curry served with rice and chips, stew, pies, and traditional bacon and cabbage (although we’re not sure if that same meal served as croquettes is quite as traditional for either the Irish or the French).
Throughout the week, visitors are treated to specials on parmas, steaks, Sunday roasts, and another Irish dish that, like Guinness, has well and truly been embraced by the youngest generation of drinkers: the spice bag.
Pair any of it with a pint of Victorian craft beer and many hours by the bar, and you’ll soon start looking up homes in St Kilda, wishing The Fifth was your local.
Will Ziebell
