THE PRINCE OF WALES HOTEL

THE TUNES We’re divided on this one. Some of us remember the Prince more fondly before it was reno’ed and played host to DJS every Saturday night. Back in those days your feet stuck to the carpet and bands like the Smashing Pumpkins and the Breeders ripped it up on stage. (In fact, during the latter gig, the wooden barricade between the stage and dance floor collapsed and severed a girl’s toe. True story.) That said, there are plenty of (safe) good times to be had these days, with everything from pop and R’N’B to metal on the bill each month. THE FOOD The back area of the band room and the balcony have now been converted into a South East Asian eatery, and while we’ll leave you alone to unpack the politics of calling it POW, we can say that the food’s pretty tasty. Pork and prawn dumplings swimming in Sichuan chilli oil; cumin lamb ribs; Korean style beef tartare; and charred fish and banana leaf salad with the aniseed tang of fresh Thai basil all make for welcome dance fuel. Æ 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda 3182. 03 9536 1168. princebandroom.com.au. Daily noon-late.