The Craft & Co - Collingwood
Collingwood
Bar in Collingwood, Australia
Book with PearlWhy go
The Craft & Co on Smith St is a brewery, distillery, deli rolled into one; a solid choice for a casual date or drinks session where variety matters more than polish. Walk-ins are easy and the house-made drinks offer is the main draw. Go early for a quieter room; it builds noise as the night progresses.
About The Craft & Co - Collingwood
Is The Craft & Co worth booking for a date night in Collingwood?
Yes, with the right expectations. The Craft & Co at 390 Smith St is a multi-format venue doing its own brewing, distilling, fermenting, roasting under one roof; which makes it a genuinely interesting choice for a two-person evening where you want something to talk about beyond the menu. If you've been once and had a beer at the bar, the move on a return visit is to slow down: explore the deli counter, pick something from the bottle range, settle in rather than treating it as a quick drink stop.
For a date specifically, the space works better earlier in the evening when the crowd is thinner and conversation doesn't have to compete with the kind of noise that builds up in popular Smith St venues on weekends. The production side of the venue; you can see elements of the craft operation from inside, adds atmosphere without requiring you to explain it. That said, this isn't a candlelit room with low music and a single cocktail list. If a quiet, intimate bar is the brief, 1806 in Melbourne or Bar Leather Apron set a different standard for that format. The Craft & Co trades more on variety and the novelty of its production credentials than on polish.
What it does well for two people: the breadth of the drinks offering means you're not locked into one style. House beer, spirits made on-site, natural wine, there's enough range that two people with different preferences can both find something. The food offer skews deli and share plates rather than a full sit-down dinner, so align your expectations accordingly. If you're planning a proper dinner as the centrepiece of your evening, factor that in, or check our full Collingwood restaurants guide for dining-forward options nearby.
Smith St is an active strip with a lot of foot traffic, especially Thursday through Saturday. The Craft & Co is not a hidden-away spot, it sits right on the street and gets busy. For a regular returning visit, the recommendation is to arrive before 7pm if the goal is a relaxed evening, use the extra time to work through the bottle selection or ask what's new from the fermentation side. That's where the venue earns its repeat visits.
How It Compares
Quick Practical Details
| Venue | Format | Leading For | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Craft & Co | Brewery, distillery, deli, bar | Drinks variety, casual date, curious drinkers | Easy, walk-in friendly |
| Hotel Collingwood | Pub bar | Casual group drinks, after-work | Easy, no booking needed |
| Beermash | Bottle shop, bar | Beer-focused, relaxed | Easy |
| Easey's | Bar, rooftop, burgers | Casual date, groups | Easy |
| Goldy's Tavern | Neighbourhood pub | Low-key drinks, locals | Walk-in |
Getting There
The venue is at 390 Smith St, Collingwood. Smith St trams run frequently and stop close by. Street parking exists but is limited on weekends. If you're making a night of the neighbourhood, our full Collingwood bars guide maps out what else is nearby worth stopping at before or after.
Pearl Picks Nearby
Exploring beyond The Craft & Co? See our full Collingwood bars guide, Collingwood restaurants, Collingwood hotels, Collingwood wineries, and Collingwood experiences. For cocktail bars elsewhere in Australia, Bowery Bar in Brisbane is worth a look if you're travelling north.
Planning details
- Location
- 390 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia
- Website
- thecraftandco.com.au
- Phone
- +61 3 9417 4755
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Craft & Co reads as a working production bar embedded in Smith Street’s local scene. The narrative emphasises that the building isn’t dressing for effect: industrial structure and visible production infrastructure make the room feel purposeful rather than performative. That production-first logic gives the place a quiet confidence — it shows craft authority without ostentation — and it registers with neighbourhood regulars who value substance over surface. Expect a straightforward, unpretentious atmosphere where materiality follows function and the provenance of what you drink is part of the room’s character.
Best For
This Collingwood bar suits neighbourhood gatherings and celebratory nights where the focus is on shared drinking and discovery. Its production-led model makes it a natural pick for group outings and casual hangouts with friends, and the venue’s credentials also fit special-occasion evenings when you want something with personality and provenance. Because the space is rooted in local craft production, it rewards visitors who appreciate context — regulars and visitors alike use it as a place to convene, toast a milestone and enjoy drinks that relate directly to the place.
Ordering Tips
Prioritise house-made offerings: the venue brews, ferments and distils on-site, so ask staff what was produced in-house that day and how those batches differ. The copy frames the operation as production-led rather than a curated taplist sourced externally, so enquire about current on-site releases and any seasonal or small-run bottles. Staff knowledge is likely a good guide — they can explain the on-site processes and point you toward drinks that showcase the venue’s craft approach rather than generic options.
Venue details
Ambiance
Light-filled industrial-chic space with high ceilings, large windows overlooking Smith Street, modern yet warm finishings, and a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
View
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Beer Bar
- Late Night
- Closes by Midnight
Signature Pours
- Collingwood Dry
- Gingerbread Gin
- Navy Strength
- Old Tom
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Beermash; Notable alternative
- Easey's; Notable alternative
- Goldy's! Tavern; Notable alternative
- Hotel Collingwood; Notable alternative
- The Gem Bar and Dining; Notable alternative
Bar context
Against its Smith St neighbours, The Craft & Co occupies a different tier of ambition. Where Hotel Collingwood and Goldy's Tavern lean into straightforward pub formats; easy walk-ins, familiar drinks, no surprises; The Craft & Co brings a production angle that gives it more conversational texture. It's a better choice than either pub if you want a reason to explore the drinks list rather than just order a round.
Easey's competes more directly for the casual date and group market, with a rooftop format and a food offer (burgers) that arguably works better as a full evening. If food is as important as drinks, Easey's has an edge on that front. Beermash suits the beer-focused drinker who wants a deep bottle selection in a low-key setting; less atmosphere than The Craft & Co, but a sharper focus if craft beer is specifically the goal.
For a date night with a leaning toward cocktails and a quieter room, none of the immediate Collingwood peers match what a dedicated cocktail bar delivers. The Craft & Co wins on the Smith St strip for drinks variety and the novelty of its production credentials, but if the date calls for a more considered, lower-noise environment, it's worth looking at 1806 in Melbourne as an alternative anchor for the evening. The full Collingwood bars guide covers the broader neighbourhood if you want to compare more options side by side.
Explore Collingwood
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Craft & Co - Collingwood guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Craft & Co - Collingwood
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Craft & Co - Collingwood | Collingwood | No published awards |
| Beermash | Collingwood | No published awards |
| Easey's | Collingwood | No published awards |
| Goldy's! Tavern | Collingwood | No published awards |
| Hotel Collingwood | Collingwood | No published awards |
| The Gem Bar and Dining | Collingwood | No published awards |
How The Craft & Co Collingwood compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the food good at The Craft & Co - Collingwood?
Yes, with the caveat that the food here plays a supporting role to the drinks program. The Craft & Co at 390 Smith St is a multi-format production venue; brewing, distilling, fermenting, roasting all happen on-site; so the kitchen is built around that identity. Expect food that pairs well with house-made drinks rather than a destination dining menu. If a full sit-down restaurant meal is the priority, The Gem Bar and Dining nearby offers a more food-forward experience.
What's the crowd like at The Craft & Co - Collingwood?
Collingwood locals, craft drink enthusiasts, groups moving through the Smith St corridor. The multi-format setup; bar, café, production space; means the crowd shifts across the day, from coffee drinkers in the morning to beer and cocktail regulars by evening. It is not a late-night party venue; the atmosphere leans informed and relaxed rather than high-energy.
Is The Craft & Co - Collingwood good for groups?
Yes, more so than most Smith St options. The multi-format space at 390 Smith St accommodates varied group needs; there is enough room to spread out, a drinks list spanning house-brewed beer, spirits, fermented options means something for most preferences. For a formal group dinner, Hotel Collingwood has more dedicated event infrastructure, but for a casual group session centred on drinks, The Craft & Co works well.
Is The Craft & Co - Collingwood good for a date?
Yes, if your date is interested in craft production or the Smith St bar scene. The venue's in-house brewing and distilling gives you something to talk about and explore beyond just ordering drinks. It reads more casual than romantic, so pair it with dinner elsewhere if the occasion calls for something more considered. Goldy's! Tavern is a better pick if you want a more intimate pub setting.
What's the signature drink at The Craft & Co - Collingwood?
The house-brewed beers and in-house distilled spirits are the reason to come here specifically. The Craft & Co produces its own beer, spirits, fermented drinks on-site at 390 Smith St, which is the clearest differentiator from other Collingwood bars. Specific current offerings are best confirmed with the venue directly, as production rotates.
Do I need a reservation at The Craft & Co - Collingwood?
For small groups on weeknights, walk-ins are generally fine. Weekend evenings on Smith St get busy across the strip, so booking ahead for groups of four or more is the safer call. The venue's multi-format layout means capacity is less rigid than a pure restaurant, but do not assume space is guaranteed on Friday or Saturday without confirming.
