The Carpenter's Ruin

The Carpenter’s Ruin is a pub, bistro and bar at 15 Inkerman Street in St Kilda, offering a food-led take on the local pub. Its menu combines familiar pub and bistro dishes with daily specials, including moule frites and pies, while the drinks list covers local and international beers on tap, Australian wines by the glass, a broader bottle selection and hearty cocktails.

The venue’s standout event is its Friday three-martini lunch, held from 12pm to 3pm. The set offering pairs steak and chips with three martinis for $75, reviving an old-school business-lunch format in a St Kilda setting. The lunch is presented in collaboration with Melbourne Gin Co and gives the end of the working week a distinct occasion without straying far from the pub’s food-and-drink focus.

Inside, the space is described as comfortable and arranged for relaxed enjoyment, making it suited to a casual meal, a drink with friends or a Friday lunch booking. The broad menu and bar selection also give groups some flexibility, while the bistro-style food makes it a reasonable option for diners wanting more than a quick drink. The Carpenter’s Ruin is open from 3pm on Monday to Thursday, from midday on Friday and Saturday, and from midday on Sunday. It has a 4.8 Google rating from 69 reviews.