A proper pub with a twist

The Lion & Wombat wears its British heart on its sleeve. A Union Jack in the window and a lion-and-wombat crest above the door set the tone before you even step inside. From the polished interiors to the sunroom and rear beer garden, this St Kilda local is part cosy corner pub, part love letter to the UK.

British comfort, Melbourne charm

Owners Alex Back and Sophie Machin bring real pub pedigree to the menu—Back’s run venues in both Australia and the UK. That experience shows in thoughtful riffs on British classics: fish fingers made with rockling, a soft-boiled Scotch egg wrapped in sausage mince, and chunky tartare sauce all feature. There’s a rotating list of local beers on tap, including their house Wombat Draught by Stomping Ground, and over 30 wines, mostly Australian. The cocktails add another layer of playful British nostalgia—like the Paddington, with marmalade and whisky, or the Cuppa Tea, made with jasmine gin, ginger, and peach.