Southern WA
Look for Lucky Bay's beers in bars around Esperance or make the journey 12km west to this simple brewery and tasting room. Two-litre growlers are…
Must-see nightlife in Australia & Pacific
Port Douglas
Hemingway's makes the most of a fabulous location at the marina with a broad deck, a long bar and Dickson Inlet views. There are usually six brews on tap,…
Wellington
If Charles Bukowski was gasping for a drink in Wellington, this is where he'd come – an authentic, atmospheric US-style bar serving great cocktails, fried…
Perth
On Friday and Saturday you'll need the password to enter this speakeasy amid street art and Chinese restaurants – don't worry, it's revealed weekly on…
Southern NSW & The Murray
Come for the tasty beer – the hoppy Dark Alleyway IPA or the Piranha lager are both good choices – and stay for the wood-fired pizzas ($24 to $27). There…
Victoria
One of the first pubs in town to start serving decent beer, the Mallow remains a cherished, divey local. It has a dozen local beers and ciders on tap, and…
Victoria
Often bustling, the Goods Shed is a fine spot to try a variety of Aussie craft beers and local wines. Sixteen beer taps and around 100 bottles all focus…
Circular Quay & The Rocks
Downstairs it's a predictably nice old Rocks pub with great outdoor seating, but head to the rooftop and the views are beyond fabulous: the Opera House …
Fremantle
Try everything on tap – particularly the Pale Ale and Rogers. The floor's chaotic and fun, and the wood-fired pizzas ($20 to $24) are worth the wait…
New Plymouth
Inside an old electronics warehouse on an otherwise dull stretch of Gill St, stouts, IPAs, APAs and a new beer monthly bubble away in 10 huge stainless…
Victoria
With its sneaky lane location and intimate den-like space, the Dispensary is equal to any of Melbourne's hip city bars. It has a selection of 100-plus…
Outback Queensland
Standing strong in sandstone since 1884 is the much-loved Birdsville Hotel. There are few more famous pubs in Australia, and a beer in the Front Bar, its…
Hervey Bay
Roasting their own ethically sourced beans, the folks at Minimalist know their way around coffee. The cafe sits at the back of a cooperative including…
Napier
Big-city laneway style comes to Napier at this bar tucked away off Tennyson St. Look for the big neon sign proclaiming 'Who shot the barman?' and you're…
Victoria
One of only a handful of artisanal rum makers in Australia, JimmyRum was set up by a couple of aficionados who identified a gap in the market for those…
Canberra
The doorway to this little gem, hidden away down quiet Odgers Lane, is illuminated only by a light bulb. It may take some courage to push through the…
Victoria
Dubbed the 'Yank' by locals, the American is a modern reinvention of the classic Aussie pub. A glass atrium shades the beer garden, while the best beer…
Queenstown & Wanaka
The only indications that you've arrived are the unmarked blue doors – push them open and it's like stepping into a prohibition-era speakeasy. The low-lit…
Hobart
The gourmet burgers here nudge $20, but atmospheric Jack Greene (a European hunting lodge on the run?) is worthwhile if you're a wandering beer fan…
Cairns
Intimate, understated and bang on trend (think Edison bulbs, copper mugs and mixologists in old-timey barkeep aprons), this laneway bar delivers a welcome…
Manly
Just along the wharf from the ferry, this remodelled pub is all glass and water vistas, with loads of seating so you've a good chance of grabbing a share…
Surry Hills & Darlinghurst
The 'Shakey' is a classic Sydney pub (1879) with art nouveau tiled walls, scuzzy carpet, the horses on the TV and cheap bar meals. There are plenty of…
Sydney
A cracking pub, especially at weekends when it thrums with life all day, this is a real eastern suburbs favourite. The beer garden is among Sydney's best:…
Auckland
Formerly a butcher's – look for the Westlynn Organic Meats sign – this corner location is now a great little neighbourhood bar with a backstreets Bogotá…
Circular Quay & The Rocks
Enter this rough-hewn 1843 sandstone pub to meet some locals, chat to the Irish bar staff and grab an earful of the swing, folk and Celtic bands (Friday…
Coromandel Peninsula
Home base for the Coromandel Brewing Company, this pub and bistro regularly features about five of its own beers in a modern ambience. Hearty meat and…
City Centre & Haymarket
We love the dark romantic opium-den atmosphere of this small bar secreted away in a basement by a shirt shop. It's an atmospheric spot for anything from a…
Palmerston North
This impressively converted warehouse is the best spot for a drink in town. Stretching across an entire city block, the bar has 21 beers on tap and 45…
Darwin
A good place to start your Darwin night out, this brewery's tasting bar showcases some of the Top End's tastiest beers. We like the 4:21, a beer cheekily…
Surry Hills & Darlinghurst
Look for the unsigned wide door and enter this supremely cool brick-lined speakeasy. Ask the bar staff to recommend a whisky from the huge range on offer,…
Victoria
Head to the taproom or beer garden of this craft brewery located in the middle of a commercial estate to sample its four core tipples (an IPA, lager, pale…
Wellington
Into books, much? You'll find yourself in the right kind of bind at moody Library, with its velveteen booths, board games and swish cocktails. An…
Kingsland & Mt Eden
Brewing real ales and lagers on-site, this cosy English-style pub in a grand heritage building offers bliss on tap. There are always more craft beers from…
Western Australia
Going strong for over a decade, this tin-shed brewery draws beer lovers with its six rotating brews on tap – from the hoppy English IPA and traditional…
Launceston
The 10 taps get busy at this dark and delightful bar, pouring a vast range of craft beers for regulars of every age and social category. Food – fried…
Sydney
One of the great pleasures in life is languoring in the pumping beer garden of the Watsons Bay Hotel, mere metres from the ferry wharf, after a day at the…
Bay of Plenty
Hide by name, hidden by nature. Tucked down a tiny alleyway, Hide has successfully turned a hollow behind the main street into a garden patio. Ten taps of…
Darwin
Leave Mitchell St behind and head for a sublime sunset at this laid-back waterski club on Vesteys Beach. The view through the palm trees from the beer…
Cairns
On the waterfront by the yacht club, Cairns' coolest, classiest bar caters to a hip and happy crowd. With killer cocktails, tremendous views, live music…
Great Ocean Road
The place to be in summer, this pop-up rooftop beach bar has prime ocean views. Enjoy local brews on tap, cocktails, pizza, and live music or DJs.
