Gertrude Hotel

The Gertrude Hotel used to be an old man pub, and the new owners could have gone the way of many a Fitzroy pub and gone for the younger Bimbos crowd. However, they have managed to turn it into nice, relaxed local pub. The crowd seems to be mostly locals and a 30-something crowd who come for the meals, the beers, or the footy on the tv on a Friday night. The food is really nice and reasonably priced. There are $10 meals on Mondays (which gets pretty busy), and there are different specials on most nights. There is a real music focus to this pub, with framed music posters on the walls and quality music always guaranteed on the stereo. The staff are really friendly and always up for a chat. There are three sections to the pub, so depending on your mood you can sit in the front bar and watch Gertrude Street pass by, sit by the open fire in the dining room section, or hang out by the heaters out in the courtyard. A great pub for meeting mates for a post-work drink, or for dinner with friends or family.

You know when it's the end of the payweek and you're starving and all you have is 10-15 bucks and you don't know how you're going to survive? Well, fear not! Coz The Gertrude Hotel is here to save your day :-) Great place, very cosy and very very very cool..Front bar area has bar stools and high tables so u can stay there for a drink but also grab a bite to eat..The back area has tables for meals and also has a great little fireplace, but I'm sure you'd have to fight to get that spot, huh? Didn't check out the back bit or the courtyard (too cold, too hungry)..Small little menu which is offered in specials on different nights (Mon $10 meals, Tues Pasta/Parma $10 etc)

I had the Parma and it was bloody massive and the girlfriend had the Ravioli (Pumpkin) which was awesome too..Look out for the friendly pub dog who was stocky (do u think everyone feeds him chips?) and belonged, dude!

So, overall, a very cool pub..I got great vibes as soon as we walked in so will definitely go back..Also, a lot of Brunswick eateries are closed on Monday nights and Builders Arms (I love that joint! It is rockin') is not to everyone's tastes so The Gertrude offers a nice, cozy, relaxed vibe for the weeknight when the wallet's a bit light..