Dorset Gardens Hotel Croydon: Menu, Reviews & Prices

Looking for a clear, fact-based overview of the Dorset Gardens Hotel in Croydon, Victoria? This guide pulls together verified data from the venue’s official site, regulatory filings, and multiple booking and review platforms to give you a grounded picture of its menu, prices, guest reviews, and ownership. We start with the fundamentals: the bistro operates daily for lunch from 11am and dinner from 5pm, according to the property’s website (official site).

Last checked: 2026-07-10

Property name: Dorset Gardens Hotel ·
Location: Croydon, Victoria, Australia ·
Rating: 3.8/5 (TripAdvisor) ·
Price range: From $78/night (Kayak) ·
Type: Pub, tavern, motel

What is on the menu at Dorset Gardens Hotel?

The bistro at the Dorset Gardens Hotel offers a seasonal menu of traditional pub classics and chef-selected dishes, marketed as casual dining. The official site describes the food as “pub classics” and “chef-selected meals” (official site). Opening hours are set: lunch from 11am and dinner from 5pm, seven days a week.

Dorset Gardens Hotel bistro offerings

Reserving.com’s listing adds that the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a menu including continental and cooked breakfast, pasta, steak, and soup dishes (Reserving.com). TripAdvisor categorises the cuisine as bar, pub, and Australian, and notes vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free options (TripAdvisor restaurant listing). Guest reviews consistently describe the food as “quick to arrive” and served in “generous portions.”

Seniors menu and prices

The hotel offers a dedicated seniors menu with flexible one-, two-, or three-course options. A TripAdvisor review from February 2023 cites a specific seniors meal price of AUD $18.50, though the same reviewer noted the portion size felt smaller than cheaper alternatives (TripAdvisor). Other reviews on the hotel’s feature page (TripAdvisor hotel feature page) emphasise that the seniors servings are large and the pricing is good value.

The trade-off: The seniors menu is popular and well-regarded for value, but the $18.50 price point (as of 2023) might feel high to some compared to other local pub deals.

How can I contact Dorset Gardens Hotel?

The hotel is located at 335 Dorset Road, Croydon, Victoria 3136, in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges. The official website lists a contact phone number for bookings and bistro reservations (official site).

Phone number and address

While we do not reproduce the phone number here to avoid stale data, the official site provides it prominently. The physical address is confirmed across multiple sources: the official site, VGCCC filings, and the TravelWeekly Hotel and Travel Index all list 335–341 Dorset Road, Croydon (TravelWeekly).

Photo gallery

Images of the hotel, bistro, and guest rooms are available on the official website and on TripAdvisor’s hotel and restaurant pages. The property’s scale – described by the VGCCC as “one of the largest entertainment venues of its type under one roof in Victoria” – is evident in the photos showing the bistro, sports lounge, and gaming area.

“One of the most iconic local pubs in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and the greater Maroondah area.”

— Eat Drink Cheap local guide

Why this matters: The hotel’s central location in Croydon, close to the Dandenong Ranges, makes it a convenient stop for travellers heading to the Yarra Valley or the eastern suburbs. The presence of a drive-through bottle shop and a large function space adds to its utility as a one-stop venue.

What do reviews say about Dorset Gardens Hotel?

Guest feedback is generally positive, with a TripAdvisor restaurant rating of 3.8 out of 5 from 115 reviews, ranking it #7 of 76 restaurants in Croydon (TripAdvisor). The hotel’s Expedia guest rating is 7.6 out of 10, based on several hundred reviews (Expedia Australia).

TripAdvisor reviews and ratings

Multiple TripAdvisor restaurant reviewers praise the “consistently excellent” food, quick service, and generous portions. Drinks are described as “typical pub prices,” with one reviewer noting a bottle of house wine at AUD $26 (TripAdvisor). However, at least two reviewers remark that the décor feels “tired” and “needs refreshing,” despite praising the food and service. On the hotel feature page, guests highlight the large seniors meal servings and the availability of bingo and poker machines.

“The food is consistently excellent, quick to arrive, and served in generous portions. Desserts are also rated positively.” For more details on dining options and guest experiences, you can explore the Dorset Gardens Hotel Croydon menu, reviews, and prices at $Harbour Town Gold Coast outlet.

— TripAdvisor restaurant reviewer

Guest feedback highlights

Kayak summarises positive feedback about the restaurant and bar, citing good food quality and service. Expedia notes that guests receive complimentary snacks at a daily manager’s reception, and have access to an outdoor terrace, Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and free parking (Expedia Australia). Overall, the pattern suggests that the food and service are the hotel’s strongest assets, while the physical décor is the most common criticism.

The bottom line: If you prioritise solid pub food and friendly service over modern aesthetics, the Dorset Gardens Hotel delivers consistently. The décor complaints, while real, do not appear to affect the overall satisfaction scores significantly.

How much does it cost and who owns Dorset Gardens Hotel?

Room rates vary by season and day of the week. Kayak data from a recent two-week sample shows rates between AUD $77 and $96 per night, with July and April being cheaper months and Fridays typically more expensive (Kayak). Expedia’s current prices hover around AUD $127–$135 including taxes and fees for a one-night stay.

Room rates and deals

The pricing band is budget-friendly to mid-range. The hotel offers 45 motel units and self-contained apartments, so there is a range of accommodation styles. Free parking is included, and the daily manager’s reception (with complimentary snacks) adds a small perk. For the bistro, mains are not listed with fixed prices online, but the house wine bottle price of AUD $26 gives a reference point for drink costs.

Who owns Dorset Gardens Hotel

The venue operator’s licence is held by DG Hotel Pty Ltd, as confirmed by the VGCCC in September 2025 (VGCCC). A 2006 business article in The Age reported that the hotel was sold for about AUD $44 million, with Peter and Ruth Francis as the sellers and Mario Scerri as the reported buyer (The Age). Dun & Bradstreet’s company profile for DG Hotel Pty Ltd lists Joseph Scerri as a key principal, suggesting a family connection to the Scerri name (Dun & Bradstreet). Recent rumours of a sale have been denied on the hotel’s Facebook page, though we cannot independently verify that statement.