Byron Bay & Northern NSW
Can be a bit rough around the edges but fine for a beer out on the waterfront back beer garden. Live music Sunday afternoons.
Must-see nightlife in Australia
Townsville & Mission Beach
The best place for a beer or postfishing cocktail on the marina in Lucinda, 27km northeast of Ingham. Meals also available.
Canberra
Canberra's compadres meet here to eat tacos, drink margaritas and listen to eclectic sets from the DJ. It's loads of fun.
Alice Springs
This enduring, classically Aussie pub has a lively bar, pokies, decent pub grub and occasional live music on weekends.
Melbourne
In atmospheric Degraves St, this institution is a good spot to grab a quick takeaway coffee and wander the laneways.
Cradle Country & The West
The most centrally located drinking den in town, with decent pub grub.
Exmouth
The poolside bar is great for whiling away an hour or three. Various events and live music keep things lively.
Brisbane
A divey, no-frills pub with pool tables, drag shows, 'camp karaoke' and an 'interesting' cast of characters.
Townsville
This boisterous Irish pub stages live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Cheap and tasty food too.
Mid-North Coast
A family-friendly pub that's good for a beer and does tasty bistro classics. Live music on weekends.
Melbourne
A cool Brunswick local with a bohemian feel, a leafy backyard beer garden and regular live music.
Melbourne Region
Dating to 1870, Hepburn’s local pub has a few beers on tap and serves filling bistro meals.
Melbourne
This long-standing gay pub hosts drag shows, karaoke, pool competitions and happy hours.
Whitsunday Coast
A frenetic dance club hosting a mix of resident and guest-star DJs and one-off parties.
Outback Queensland
This old timber corner pub is a decent place for a drink or counter meal.
Adelaide
Thank goodness the owners of this huge pub just east of the CBD got rid of the golf theme...but they replaced it with a jungle theme! D'oh… Theme-schmeme,…
Surfers Paradise
Long-standing Melbas is a party palace, with a large lounge and nightclub plus a restaurant. It attracts a slightly older crowd than the regular…
Melbourne
The Lounge has seen a lot of years and still feels like a share house from the early 1990s – in a good way, of course. Evenings are filled with the sound…
Darwin
It's a long way from Cork, but Darwin has a few Irish-theme pubs. Shenannigans mixes it up with a big Mitchell St terrace, hearty food and big party…
Northern Beaches
Right on the sand at Collaroy, this pub boasts great sea views and is a top post-beach option. At time of research it was receiving a major makeover…
Hobart
A very bricky, rather mainstream addition to the Salamanca Sq scene, with classic pub fare (burgers, fish and chips, slow-cooked lamb ribs with whisky BBQ…
Cradle Country & The West
On the main highway, Tullah's pub attracts local drinkers but has a rough edge and could be cleaner. In winter a large wood fire keeps customers warm. At…
Great Ocean Road
The town's only pub has a generic set-up, with mainstream beers, chicken parmas and a TAB betting shop. It does occasional live entertainment; check the…
Brisbane
Sporting pressed-tin wall panels, exposed brickwork and a cast of craft beers, this 1928-built boozer has no shortage of backpackers on the loose from the…
Gulf Savannah
The local pub has a typical outback bar, dinner Thursday and Friday nights only, and cheap rooms ($35 to $70) upstairs. There's a complete absence of…
South Coast NSW
In truth, you'll be gazing onto a view of the road rather than a bay view. But this friendly, if ordinary, pub is the local go-to place for a cold drink,…
Surfers Paradise
This Vegas-style sin pit is all about scantily clad staff, big-name DJs and a strange, slightly disturbing melange of high rollers and university students…
Warrnambool
One more for beer nerds looking to tick local breweries off their list, this otherwise unremarkable pokies pub stocks three of its ales on tap. They're…
Melbourne Region
Established in 1868, this historic corner pub is a rough-around-the-edges local hang-out offering pub grub (mains $20-33) and basic accommodation (r $100).
Sydney
Spread out along the street facing North Cronulla beach, Northies is Cronulla's main watering hole, offering a lively roster of sports, DJs and bands.
Phillip Island
Big windows overlook the beach and street action at this breezy corner pub, which serves basic pub grub and hosts DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.
Canberra
For a Guinness and some Irish-themed schmaltz head to PJ O’Reilly’s, endearingly referred to by the locals as Plastic McPaddy’s.
Victorian High Country
No-nonsense pub food (best enjoyed in the beer garden) is a refreshingly down-to-earth option in Whorouly. Sunday is pizza night.
Coffs Harbour
Lovers of lazy beer-garden afternoons will enjoy the landscaped decking and couch-filled breakaway areas at this relaxed pub.
Victoria
The spot to kick on to if you're after a big night out, this city cocktail bar is usually open till 5am at weekends.
