Hophaus Bar

First visit back post-covid, booked seats on the balcony. The atmosphere was as we remembered, but have to say we were a little disappointed with the food. We decided to go with old favourites- veal and chicken schnitzels. The meat itself was well made and prepared but the sides were bland and not particularly plentiful. There is an extensive and interesting range of beers on offer as well. I have given four stars because l have visited several times and always enjoyed it, but this time something seemed a little lacking.

Hophaus is a German inspired bar and eatery situated at the mezzanine level of the Southgate Restaurant Precinct on Southbank Promenade. With a more contemporary take on European Beer Halls, it features a large outdoor heated terrace with views overlooking the Yarra River to the the city. The bar offers 14 draught taps with a rotation of some of Europe’s best beers – Czech, Spanish, German, Scottish, Irish and Dutch beers and of course a few Australian brews. The menu consists of a few sharing dishes including some German favourites and on Sundays you can enjoy their Rotisserie of the Day with all of the trimmings for $30. You can’t not start with a Bretzel, it was crunchy yet fluffy inside and just the right amount of salt. It came with regular butter instead of whipped which didn’t bother us. I didn’t get the cheese or the bacon flavour from the Croquettes but it was definitely nice and creamy. My favourite dish to order at a German restaurant has to be the simple Chicken Schnitzel. This one was satisfyingly crispy, served with a deep jus and fresh house slaw. The Pork Knuckle also had a super crisp outer with the meat moist and falling off the bone. Both dishes could have done with more flavour and seasoning - but neither were disappointing. For dessert we ordered the Apple Strudel, it was sadly served luke-warm and again lacked flavour, mostly tasting like plain stewed apples. They are currently experiencing some supplier issues and trying to find the best ones for their cuisine. Hophaus is a perfect spot for after work drinks or a casual dinner. A reliable spot for a simple feed with a view and friendly service. ⭐️ 3.3/5 (Good)

Planning our engagement party here was a dream. Event and venue manager Eloise and Vicky were great to work with and extremely prompt responding to email queries. This venue went above and beyond to help and work with us through all of our covid cancellations and last minute adjustments. Food was perfect and the night ran smoother than we could have imagined. Staff are all extremely patient and worked with us all throughout the night to cater for everyone’s needs. View of the water was great and the event organization was a 10/10.