Pubs Fitzroy

Builders Arms Hotel

A renowned gastropub on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy with a 4.3 rating across more than 1,600 reviews.

Spot Score

Worth a Look

4.3(1,604)· GoogleClosed$$$$

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Why it's worth checking out

Builders Arms Hotel is a long-standing Fitzroy pub with a strong sense of place. The website traces its story back to 1853, describing the hotel as a constant in the local community and a witness to more than 150 years of change. Today, it brings together a public bar, bistro and private dining room at 211 Gertrude Street, with the venue positioned as a place for a meal, a drink, a celebration or an afternoon watching the footy.

The food offering is broad but grounded in familiar pub and bistro cooking. The current menu includes snacks such as country sourdough with cultured butter, chicken liver parfait toast and chickpea panisse, followed by shared plates including roast beetroot salad, mussels with pork sausage and fermented chilli, and a twice-baked cheese soufflé. Larger dishes range from king trout and fish pie to confit duck leg, while the grill includes the Builders Arms cheeseburger, lamb Barnsley chop and several steaks. Desserts include sticky date pudding, vanilla crème brûlée and an affogato, with a cheese selection also available.

Weekly specials give regulars another reason to return. Monday is Steak Night, with options including a 250g O’Connor striploin or a 200g eye fillet. Tuesday focuses on half rôtisserie butter chicken with cucumber and mint salad and fragrant rice, while Sunday offers wood-roasted O’Connor striploin with colcannon, heritage carrots and jus. The website also lists monthly pub trivia, seasonal events, a sausage festival and footy-focused gatherings, suggesting a calendar shaped around shared occasions as much as dining.

The Builders Arms suits a range of visits: a casual drink in the public bar, a proper bistro meal, a group gathering or a private function. Its own description presents it as somewhere for colleagues, family and friends, as well as a stop at the end of the day or week. With service seven days from midday until late, it offers a flexible Fitzroy setting for locals and visitors wanting a historic pub with a substantial food menu and an active events programme.

Reviewed by Iyan B.