The Cherry Tree Hotel

Set among the industrial backblocks of Richmond - or Cremorne, as this pocket of the suburb is also known - sits the slick and sprawling Cherry Tree Hotel.

Once a rough-as-guts gangster hangout (crime matriarch Kath Pettingill launched her book there in the mid-1990s, while the notorious Squizzy Taylor's first conviction was reputedly for stealing from the pub's till) the Cherry Tree is now a classy community hub.

The wide-open windows facing the street frame a superb spot for a coldie on a steamy night. Scan the beer list and you'll find a range of serious brews including a range from premium boutique breweries and a wide selection of ales from smaller producers across Victoria.