This October, the Robert Burns Hotel celebrates thirty years of serving Spanish food to Melbourne punters.

1984 was the start of many great things in Australia. Green and gold were proclaimed the national colours and vegemite became the first product in our country to be electronically scanned at a checkout.

On Smith Street in Collingwood, Urbano Gutierrez took over an old Hotel and the flavours of Spain were introduced to the Robert Burns Hotel. Thirty years on, the pub affectionately known as the Robbie has come of age, standing ground in the ever-changing Smith Street scene.

Spanish food is now part of the city’s wider food scene, but it wasn’t always that way. In 1984, Urbano’s authentic Spanish dishes were a rarity, though surely a welcome taste of home for the burgeoning Spanish population and something different for Collingwood’s sawmill workers.

The traditional 1860’s hotel never sought to change its name from that of Scotland’s favourite son, and so the odd partnership of Spanish fare and a Scottish moniker grew together. When CLG procured the hotel in 2009, an update was needed, and Techne Architecture & Design introduced the fabulous off-beat interior design combinations that you see today, celebrating the meeting of the two cultures. But you won’t find the same fusion in the menu design – which is Spanish all the way.

Authentic Spanish favourites can be enjoyed alongside Spanish beers and a wine list dominated by tipple from the Iberian Peninsula. To celebrate the Robbie’s 30th birthday, they are offering some great specials throughout the month of October, including:

• Half price paella on Mondays
• $10 Mojitos from 5pm til 9pm on Fridays
• Free pintxos with every drink at the bar, 5 – 7 pm, Monday to Friday!

So pop on by day or night for a fiesta and wish Robbie feliz cumpleaños!