Must-see nightlife in Victoria

  • Inside the Aireys Pub with fireplace.

    Aireys Pub

    Great Ocean Road

    Established in 1904, this pub is a survivor, twice burning down before closing in 2011, only to be revived by locals chipping in to save it. Now it's…

  • Loch Brewery & Distillery

    Victoria

    A shining example of regional Victoria's rise as an epicurean destination, this brewery and distillery occupies a 19th-century bank. Set up by a husband…

  • Gurneys Cider

    Victoria

    Run by a family of expat Brits, Gurneys is an impressive, hands-on team of cider-makers who are passionate about producing real dry English ciders…

  • Great Ocean Road Brewhouse

    Great Ocean Road

    Set up by renowned Otways brewery Prickly Moses, this taphouse pours an impressive range of its own and guest ales. The front bar is a classic pub and…

  • Mickey Bourke's Koroit Hotel

    Great Ocean Road

    At the forefront of Koroit's Irish heritage, this hotel (c 1853) with an art nouveau facade is a prominent landmark on the town's historic main street. It…

  • Pomonal Estate

    Victoria

    Whatever your tipple, this popular winery, microbrewery and cider producer has you covered. It boasts a fantastic location within an architecturally…

  • Blackman's Brewery

    Great Ocean Road

    One of Victoria's best microbreweries is this brewpub, where you can taste all eight Blackman's beers, which are produced on-site. Go the tasting paddle (…

  • Jetty Road Brewery

    Victoria

    Hidden away in the industrial backstreets of seaside Dromana is this well-respected taphouse known for brewing quality beers. As well as their core range…

  • Mörk Chocolate Brew House

    Melbourne

    You might spy Mörk in top cafes, restaurants and gift stores, but this is where the magic happens. Within a former 1950s bakery, this tiny chocolate cafe…

  • Waterwheel Beach Tavern

    Victoria

    Head to the adjoining township of Lake Tyers, 9km east of Lakes Entrance, for this wonderfully relaxed coastal pub looking out to Ninety Mile Beach. There…

  • Hop Temple

    Victoria

    Symbolic of Ballarat's meteoric rise from unglamorous country town to happening city is this converted red-brick warehouse tucked down a lane. There are…

  • Nelson Hotel

    Great Ocean Road

    As real as outback pubs come, the Nelson Hotel (established 1848) is an essential stop for a beer and a friendly yarn with locals. It's got a character…

  • Mitchell Harris

    Victoria

    This stylish red-brick space without a hint of pretension was set up by local winemakers Mitchell Harris. It showcases their own range as well as wines…

  • Leonard's House of Love

    Melbourne

    Inside what appears to be someone's '70s love-shack party house you'll find this American bar touting 'free love and cold beer'. The menu is mostly…

  • Siglo

    Melbourne

    Siglo's sought-after terrace comes with Parisian flair, wafting cigar smoke and serious drinks. It fills with suits on Friday night, but any time is good…

  • Forrest Brewing Company

    Great Ocean Road

    One of the main drawcards at Forrest is its microbrewery-pub, which was producing quality ales way before the craft-beer trend exploded. All beers are…

  • Bar Americano

    Melbourne

    A hidden laneway bar off Howey Pl, Bar Americano is a teensy standing-room-only affair with black-and-white chequered floors complemented by subway-tiled…

  • Wye Beach Hotel

    Great Ocean Road

    This is undoubtedly one of the finest coastal pubs in Victoria, if not Australia – the ocean views don't get much better. It has an unpretentious, local…

  • Mallow Hotel

    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…

  • Goods Shed

    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…

  • Dispensary Bar & Diner

    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…

  • JimmyRum Distillery

    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…

  • American Hotel

    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…

  • Mornington Peninsula Brewery

    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…

  • Bomboras

    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.

  • Little Rebel

    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…

  • St Andrews Beach Brewery

    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…

  • Arbory

    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…

  • Victoria Hotel

    Victoria

    An attractive country pub, the lovely red-brick double-story terrace hotel (built around 1924 by the Ballarat Brewing Co.) has grapevines dangling from…

  • Origami Coffee

    Victoria

    A one-man operation run by Japanese expat Takeshi, this quirky outdoor cafe is set up in a tiny cabin on a vacant lot. Takeshi does some of the best…

  • Littlefoot

    Melbourne

    The menu here takes inspiration from the diverse cultures that make Footscray so wonderful, whether a burger prompted by the local football team, banh mi…

  • Heartbreaker

    Melbourne

    Black walls, ripped leather banquettes, skeleton beer-tap handles and a rockin' jukebox offer a nice change from too-slick CBD bars. The tough-looking…

  • Back Alley Sally's

    Melbourne

    Here's how you do a dodgy-back-alley warehouse conversion: plonk a great bar in the middle, expose the brick walls, fill it with steampunky wrought iron…

  • Cambrian Hotel

    Victoria

    A must for lovers of craft beer, this laid-back country-style pub has an impressive choice of Aussie microbrews on tap. There's a casual backyard beer…

  • Kangaroo Hotel

    Victoria

    A pub since 1856, the Kangaroo is a Maldon institution. Come for a meal in the beer garden, a jug of beer on a street-side table, or the lively pool table…

  • Whitehart

    Melbourne

    Tucked away at a laneway's end is this two-storey container bar festooned with giant staghead ferns and graceful palms. Grab a local beer on tap and head…

  • Looking across at Ponyfish Island bar under the bridge.

    Ponyfish Island

    Melbourne

    Not content with hiding bars down laneways or on rooftops, Melburnians are finding ever more creative spots to do their drinking. Where better than mid…

  • Lui Bar

    Melbourne

    Some might be happy to shell out $30 for the view from the 120m-high Melbourne Star, but we'd rather spend $26 on a cocktail at this sophisticated bar…

  • Taproom

    Victoria

    It's been a long time between drinks, but finally Castlemaine has a brewery again. It's a good one too, set up within the Mill complex, with 10 of its…

  • Seven Seeds

    Melbourne

    This inconspicuous warehouse cafe a little north of Queen Victoria Market has plenty of room to store your bike and sip a splendid coffee with something…