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 …
Must-see nightlife in Australia
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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:…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Exmouth
Award-winning Froth wears many hats and we love them all. It's a cracking microbrewery where you can quench your post–Ningaloo Reef thirst with a pint of…
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.
Victoria
Coffee aficionados will definitely want to make a detour to this micro-roastery tucked away in an industrial estate in Dromana, which is generally thought…
Newcastle
Pull up a stool at the long wooden bar in this Prohibition-style speakeasy where you'll find Newcastle's finest drinking Old Fashioneds to the blues. The…
Cairns
Tucked away in a sea of sugarcane at the base of Macalister Range, this microbrewery produces unpasteurised craft beers that have been the toast of the…
South Coast NSW
Rising above the Gong CBD, this multistorey bar culminates in an attractive roof terrace with retro parasols, overseen by some very competent mixologists …
Canberra
In a little courtyard just off Lonsdale St, achingly hip Kyō serves coffee just as good as its slick, minimalist fit-out promises. Options are limited to…
Hobart
This low-key city pub is the best boozer in the CBD, with open fires, creative pub food (such as trout Kiev, or hazelnut and beetroot gnocchi; mains $15…
Canberra
Locally owned and roasted Ona coffee beans are the drawcard at this excellent cafe on the pedestrian mall in Manuka. Coffee-lovers should make a beeline…
Albany
Just west of Albany, this nautically themed microbrewery is particularly popular for its Rough Seas pale ale, though the hoppy Stiff Mast and malty Dirty…
Townsville
Craft brews are made on-site at this hopping, stunningly restored 1880s former post office. Soak up a Townsville Bitter or Bandito Loco, and take a…
South Coast NSW
The social centre of Huskisson is this light and airy pub that offers fabulous bay views from its deck, which packs out in summer. There’s live music most…
Perth
International and Australian craft beers – including seasonal and one-off brews from WA's best – as well as comfy lounges and funky decor make Mount…
Adelaide
A hidden gem under the flight path in industrial Thebarton, with an arty crowd of students, jazz musos and the gainfully unemployed. Tidy beer garden,…
Victoria
A few years can make the world of difference, as evidenced by this unlikely conversion that's seen Australia's premier horse-racing stables transformed…
West Coast Australia
Murray, Serpentine, Harvey: Mandurah's three rivers all flow into the Peel Inlet, which in turn empties into the Indian Ocean. It's a cyclic environmental…
Melbourne
Situated as close as a venue can get to the Yarra without toppling in, Arbory occupies the decommissioned platform for the Sandringham train line at the…
