Do you have a favourite pub in Australia? Enjoying delicious meals like chicken parmesan, beef burgers, and steak and chips is the most satisfying way to spend a day at an Australian pub. Kangaroos may even join you at your table.
Here is a selection of Australia’s best pubs, including those steeped in history and tradition and those with spectacular harbour points which have gained popularity after being featured in movies.
14 Best Pubs in Australia You Must Visit
NSW
Glenmore Hotel
It’s one of Sydney’s best pubs, and its rooftop bar provides a stunning spot on the waterfront and CBD. You can secure the best chairs in the apartment at the rooftop bar by reservation. The Glenmore Hotel, established in 1921, is a landmark in Sydney. The first two floors of this three-level hotel are reminiscent of an English pub.
This hotel’s menu rivals the best pub fare found globally, not just in terms of cocktails and wines. There is no better way to enjoy the sunset than sipping cocktails with your friends while looking out over the ocean.
The Palace Hotel
If the substantial silver shoe in the entryway doesn’t catch your eye, the Italian frescos on the walls will, and you’ll quickly realise that The Palace Hotel isn’t your average outback bar.
The tavern celebrates its camp background, having appeared in the iconic Australian film The Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Stay in the Priscilla penthouse, or at the very least, have your picture taken with the most iconic shoe ever to grace the top of a bus. Visiting The Palace is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable activities in Broken Hill.
Royal Hotel
Green Town, Port Macquarie’s famed town, faces the bay, and this hotel’s exterior is visible from there. The original building was constructed in 1841 but was unfortunately damaged by a fire outbreak in 1886. In 1888, skating rinks were installed in the hotel’s largest rooms during the reconstruction. Despite the lack of a municipal water supply, the hotel offered 40 rooms with sophisticated sewage systems and warm and cold running water.
In the late 1960s, this hotel had a significant renovation, and in 1999, it underwent a second major renovation.
This is the best location for lunch or supper with a splendid view of Green Town and Port Harbour. You can relax with a refreshing drink or bottle of champagne at the hotel’s Beach House while watching seaplanes fly and land with the next batch of tourists. Chicken Schnitzel, Fish ‘n’ Chips, and a variety of steaks are available for those who consume meat and those who do not. On a Sunday afternoon, you can relax with a refreshing drink and enjoy some of the pub’s favourite dishes while listening to live music.
Queensland
Nindigully Hotel
You should stop at this hotel passing through Southern Outback Queensland. It’s located on Sternes Street in Nindigully, a little town 30 minutes south of St George.
Despite the town’s modest size, this Mojave desert pub sees a steady flow of residents and visitors every day. In addition, there is a free camping spot immediately next to the stream.
It’s famed for its Big “Roan Train” Burgers, which serve at least four people, and it’s also a great place to get a cool drink. They host gatherings, weddings, and anybody searching for a beer garden to socialise with friends.
This hotel was featured in the production of Hugh Jackman’s 1999 Australian film “Paperback Hero”.
The Tavern
Agnes Water is located in the eastern part of Queensland, Australia, between Rockhampton and Brisbane. With little over 2,000 residents, the small town has just two eateries, making it easy to decide where to dine.
The Tavern offers a wide variety of reasonably priced alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, a separate area with gambling machines, outdoor and indoor seats, and a game room with cards and billiards, among other amenities. There is often a large crowd on weekends because of its late-night live music.
Even on weekdays, the Tavern breaks the monotony of trekking or spending the day on the beach. You should camp out at Agnes Water for a memorable experience.
The Wellshot Hotel
The Wellshot Hotel in Ilfracombe, Queensland, is where to go if you’re looking for a pub with outback charm.
Located on the Highway, Ilfracombe is a frequent pit stop for agricultural equipment, automobiles, and truck enthusiasts travelling through central Australia.
The hotel is located in the centre of town, across from Machinery, and dates back to 1890. Wellshot Station, the world’s biggest sheep station, has its rail hub near Ilfracombe. This rich history is commemorated through old photographs and agricultural memorabilia at the tavern.
As soon as you enter the pub, you’ll see that the ceiling is plastered with money supporting the Black Dog and the maintenance of the Machinery. Donations are lovely to throw on the roof since most customers in the pub are captivated by the spectacle.
The food at the hotel is lovely and hearty, and the steak sandwiches have the most delicate features. Clean, country-style rooms with shared bathrooms are available for those who want to stay a little longer and explore the environment.
The Wellshot Hotel is our favourite, so we visit here as frequently as possible because of its welcoming ambience and outback charm. Hotel guests should plan their vacations between May and September when temperatures are more bearable.
South Australia
German Arms Hahndorf
Main Street Hahndorf, a German-themed town in the Adelaide Hills, has the German Arms on its main thoroughfare. Pork platter, Jagerschnitzel, and Kassler chops are some of their best-known offerings. Schnapps and beer are on tap.
If you visit in the fall, you can sit outdoors and take in the changing colours of the leaves. There are log fireplaces to make you feel comfortable throughout the winter. After seeing Hahndorf’s historic main street, visiting the tavern is necessary.
Tasmania
Customs House Hotel
The Customs House Hotel is one of Hobart’s most excellent pubs. Salamanca Place is only a short walk away from the hotel’s waterfront location in Hobart.
In 1846, this hotel was erected for Charles Gaylor, one of Hobart’s first-time residents. His name is engraved into one of the pub’s front stones.
Enjoy a beer or wine during happy hour, and then stick around for some of Hobart’s most excellent pub fare. The Customs House Hotel has rooms available for rent as well.
Jack Greene Pub
Hobart’s Original Craft Beer Bar and a Must-Visit in Hobart Town are a few nicknames for this pub. If you’re celebrating something special, you can enjoy one of the 16 daily rotating beers on tap at the private bar upstairs.
Their burgers have been rated the second-best in Australia, and we couldn’t agree more. Their sliders are a must-eat! On Sundays, the burgers at the bar are half their original prices, so take advantage of their weekly promotions while you’re there.
With its central position in Salamanca Place, it is a popular destination for residents and tourists alike, particularly on Saturdays when the market is open.
Victoria
Dargo Pub
It’s hard to imagine that this pub is located in the most rural town in Victoria, but the people who go to the bar make it seem otherwise. It’s a sleepy hamlet with just a bush nursing centre, a convenience store, and the Dargo Pub to call its own.
Before travelling to the Victorian High Country, many visitors to Dargo stop here for gas, groceries, and a refreshing beer. On any Friday or Saturday night, you’ll find a group of people partying, eating, and conversing outside the bar, with 4WDS and motorcycles parked in front of the establishment. People travel to visit their favourite pubs in some of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes.
As soon as you step inside, the bar will take your breath away. You’ll find deers, Jack Daniels, and even a motorcycle on the walls, bar, or the establishment’s top. Upon entering the restaurant, you’ll discover a wide variety of the typical Australian pub fare that includes anything from schnitzels to steaks to cutlets.
Whether you’re looking for lodging for your trip to the highest country’s point or just a place to relax, this pub has you covered. Cabins are available at the pub. Alternatively, you can pitch your tent, sling, or small caravan beside the riverbank on the bar grounds.
With its live band concerts, New Year’s Eve bashes, and even hosting musicians like Kernaghan; the bar has grown increasingly famous in recent years, putting the little town on the list of Australia’s best pubs.
Metung Hotel
There is no better Australian pub than the Metung Hotel if you’re searching for views of vistas, an idyllic inlet, and a place you’ll never want to leave.
Over a century old, this tavern provides more than its fair share of great food and beers in Australia. East Gippsland, Victoria’s stunning Metung Village on the Gippsland Lakes, is the perfect place to get lost in nature.
Many residents meet here every weekend for dinner and a view of the sun. In a town with only one bar, it’s easy to understand why this establishment is so popular among the locals.
In the Bistro or on the veranda, you may enjoy your meal in any location if the weather is fine. The bar is just a few steps from Bancroft Bay’s crystal-clear waters, so you can sit outside and see the pelicans float past as you relax.
It isn’t uncommon for individuals to bring their boats to the bar to moar them while enjoying a meal, a drink, and catching up with friends while at the water’s edge.
While mainstays like sandwiched bread, chicken parmesan, and the day’s soup are available, many visitors dine on the restaurant’s fresh local seafood. The tavern benefits from having access to some of the most excellent and natural local fish because of its proximity to Lakes Gate, where trawlers sell their daily haul.
Metung Hotel is one of Australia’s top pubs for a reason: it’s right on the sea, making for an unforgettable experience.
The Portsea Hotel
This modest hotel is situated near Melbourne, Victoria, at the outer extremity of the Peninsula. It has just a small number of vacation accommodations but is immensely famous among Melburnians due to its wild and delicate beauty. It is home to the wealthy and has only modest holiday accommodation.
This historic hotel is the best location for wine and dines in Portsea, and it’s unquestionably the town’s most famous structure. The restaurant’s garden and outdoor eating area overlook Portsea Pier and Port Phillip Bay. You can enjoy a whisky and cocktail bar inside the burger bar during the winter, which looks out over the beer garden. In addition, a hotel and a restaurant are also located on the property.
Western Australia
The Guildford Hotel
In Perth, Western Australia, this hotel is housed in a heritage-listed pub. At the eastern terminus of the Fremantle-bound Eastern Railway line, this hotel, erected in 1883, functioned as a popular drinking establishment. A fire outbreak destroyed most of the hotel in 2008. Still, a complete renovation resulted in the fusion of sleek contemporary components with appealing old features, including jarrah roof beams, convict-made bricks, and mosaic-patterned tiling.
Nowadays, visitors from all over the world come to enjoy the hotel’s enhanced twist on pub classics, including the Chicken Parmi, garnished with smoked pulled pork. This is one of the top pubs in Perth because of its delicious smoked meats and wide selection of beverages, which includes many of Western Australia’s finest beers and wines.
John Forrest Tavern
Having a schooner in the pub’s yard as a kangaroo jumps about the pool table or even behind the bar is a very Australian experience.
Since Matt, Margaret, Richard, and the rest of the team became TikTok famous, they’ve had a steady stream of visitors from the John Forrest National Park’s wild roos. And it’s true, and the videos are pretty accurate.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading our post about 14 of the best pubs in Australia. Do you have a favourite among these establishments where you can have a nice drink and some typical pub fare? Do you share this article with your relatives and friends? And don’t forget to provide feedback on your experiences at these locations.