Warrnambool Pubs to Try On Your Next Visit

No Aussie road trip is complete without a trip the pub (or several).

Warrnambool serves up its fair share of bars and pubs, from heritage country hotels to leafy beer gardens and slick cocktail bars. Whether you’re passing through or staying a while, we’ve compiled an ultimate guide on where to go for the best vibes, pints and pub grub.

In short

If you only visit one pub in Warrnambool, make it the Hotel Warrnambool for its rich history, charming decor and sophisticated pub fare.  

The Cally

Behind the traditional façade of this cosy pub , you’ll find a modern bar, bistro, and light-filled beer garden serving the usual suspects, from pizzas and burgers to classic pub fare and craft beers. Its midweek specials and regular live music gigs on Tuesdays, Saturdays and some Sundays make it a popular spot with both visitors and locals. Tuesday night is our pick: $30 steak night with beef sourced from the local Union Station Farm, and a rotating lineup of artists playing in the front bar (check their Facebook page for event updates). It also gets a tick for serving all-day coffee, and offers accommodation.

Address: 112-114 Fairy St, Warrnambool

Hotel Warrnambool

Hotel Warrnambool is an icon of the city, with a rich history spanning 100 years. The original site was home to the Grand Ozone Coffee Palace, a five-storey hotel opened in 1890; that building was destroyed by fire in 1929, and in 1931 the current hotel was constructed. Today, Hotel Warrnambool retains its old-world charm, and is a must-visit for lovers of history and architecture. Pop into the restaurant for elevated pub fare such as house made gnocchi and almond crumbed chicken breast, or relax in the beer garden with a traditional hand pump beer. If you’re interested in staying, there are several hotel rooms upstairs.

Address: Cnr Koroit And, Kepler St, Warrnambool

Rafferty’s Tavern

With a play area and kids eat free nights, Rafferty’s Tavern is a casual, family-friendly pub where parents can relax that bit more. The crowd-pleasing menu features pizzas, steaks, stir fries and classic pub meals alongside extensive kids’ and seniors’ menus. The chicken schnitzel with gravy is a no-brainer, as is Raff’s sticky date pudding for dessert. Come on a Friday night for the raffle; there’s also a sports bar and drive-through bottle shop on site.

Address: 1145 Raglan Parade, Warrnambool  

Seanchai Irish Pub

There really is an Irish pub in every city, and Warrnambool is no different. Everything you expect is here at Seanchai Irish Pub and that’s kind of what’s so great about it: a dark moody interior, live music on weekends, trivia nights and plenty of Guinness. They don’t serve their own food, but you can order pizzas from the bar and they’ll come straight to you from Bojangles across the road. If by any chance you want to change things up, they also have a curated cocktail list featuring classics and signature creations such as the Whiskey Ice Tea (Wild Turkey, mango liqueur, Mr Consistent sour mix, lemon and Pepsi).

Address: 62 Liebig St, Warrnambool

The Flying Horse Bar & Brewery

Located off the Princes Highway on your way into town, The Flying Horse is worth the stop. Pop in for a pint under the white-and-yellow striped umbrellas in the beer garden (there are over ten beers and ciders on tap), or settle in for a top-notch meal from Embers, their charcoal and wood-fired kitchen. Expect dishes the likes of skewers grilled over charcoal, wood-fired steaks, burgers and brisket, and classic pub fare. Look out for weekly specials and raffle nights; there’s also a kids’ play area with TV monitors, so parents can relax while keeping an eye on the kids.

Address: 10691 Princes Hwy, Warrnambool

The Dart & Marlin

Whether it’s romantic cocktails at the cosy bar or stone-baked pizzas in the leafy courtyard with your mates, The Dart & Marlin is known for relaxed, European-inspired vibes. Cocktails, vino and craft beer rule the drinks list (with a focus on Victorian natural wines), while pizzas feature gourmet toppings such as honey, eggplant and halloumi, and pear and guanciale. The handmade ricotta gnocchi is also a standout.

Address: 216 Timor St, Warrnambool

Frolic Lane

If you’re heading out for a cocktail in Warrnambool, the sleek and sophisticated Frolic Lane is the place to go. Step through the arched entrance into the opulent, high-ceilinged bar; or for a more intimate atmosphere, head downstairs to the speakeasy, a cellar with sandstone arches and low ceilings. While the vibes are sky-high, the mixologists and bartenders are making sure the drinks are up to scratch. Ask for a recommendation, or opt for a classic like a dry martini. They also serve food – small bites, charcuterie boards, pizzas – and the cocktail garden is dog-friendly.

Address: 95 Kepler Street, Warrnambool

The Whalers Hotel

The Whalers Hotel has been a stalwart fixture of Warrnambool since 1856, making it the oldest hotel in town. You can’t miss its white façade standing proudly on the corner of Timor and Liebig Streets; inside, you’ll find inviting, refurbished interiors, with a restaurant, bar, alfresco area and band room (check their website to see upcoming gigs). Treat yourself to one of their premium steaks using locally sourced beef, or graze on yummy tapas in the front bar with a glass of vino.

Address: 53 Liebig St, Warrnambool

Victoria Hotel Warrnambool

This proudly old-fashioned country pub has had several renovations and refurbs since its construction in 1905, but it retains its original charm and heritage façade. You’ll find all the classics on the bistro menu, from seafood baskets and fish and chips to chicken kiev, chicken parmigiana and a scotch fillet steak. If you’re keen to mingle with the locals, head to the friendly bar for a pint or two (wine, spirits and non-alcoholic options are also available).

Address: 90 Lava St, Warrnambool  

Saltwater Bistro

Step inside the Warrnambool RSL and take a seat facing the water at the Saltwater Bistro. This is the place to try old-school staples such as lamb’s fry and gravy, bangers and mash, and slow-cooked lamb shank; there’s also the usual burgers and parmas, and several vegetarian options. With reasonable prices, friendly service, and views of Lake Pertobe, we rate this spot for a relaxing weekend lunch.

Address: Cnr Merri Street &, Liebig St, Warrnambool

The Lawn Bar (Seasonal)

an alfresco drinking space at The Lawn Bar — Grab a chair and linger over sunset drinks. (Credit: The Lawn Bar)

You know it’s summer when an outdoor bar pops up at a tennis club (the Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Club, to be exact). When you spot the white umbrellas and marquee, you know you’re in the right place; grab a chair and settle in, because you’ll want to linger over a cold beer or cocktail. With regular live music and on-site food trucks, the social atmosphere is unbeatable (visit their Facebook page for updates).

Address: 41 Pertobe Rd, Warrnambool

The charm of Mildura is hidden in plain sight along the Sturt Highway. The capital of Tropical North Victoria is in a league of its own.

From the moment you arrive in Mildura , the warm air and palm trees invite you to slow down. While most Australians might drive right past it, Mildura is full of surprises. Here you’ll spend one day witnessing over 50,000 years of First Nations history in a UNESCO-listed National Park, and the next dining in a hatted restaurant after wandering through 12,500 fireflies as the outback sunset bursts to life above. From roadside fruit stalls and family-run wineries to houseboats and galleries, it’s time to explore Mildura.

Feast Street, at the heart of Langtree Avenue in Mildura. — Taste, wander and be surprised in Mildura.

Taste Mildura’s produce

It makes sense to start your trip by addressing the most important question: where to eat. In the beating heart of Australia’s food bowl, sample the local produce directly from the source. And then, of course, experience it through the menu of a hatted chef. Or sandwiched between pillowy slices of Nonna’s ciabatta.

Rows of orchards and olive groves invite you to spend the day traipsing from farm to farm. Taste olives propagated from Calabrian trees brought over in the 40s, oranges picked right from the tree and squeezed into juice and spoons full of honey . Bring the holiday back to your kitchen by stocking your pantry at roadside produce stalls, or calling into the ‘silver shed ’ (Sunraysia’s gourmand Mecca).

Thanks to the warm, balmy air and fertile soils, the wineries dotted along these hills produce award-winning local wines. Like Chalmers , a family-run, innovative winery dedicated to making their wines as sustainable as possible. And picturesque Trentham Estate offers views of the snaking Murray River as you sample their vintages.

Venture beyond the gnarled shadows of olive groves and fragrant rows of blossoming fruit trees and you’ll find an otherworldly side to Mildura. With Discover Mildura as your guide, visit Murray River Salt’s Mars-like stacks. The naturally pink salt is formed from an ancient inland sea and evaporated entirely by the sun to create one of the region’s most iconic exports.

Start your day with just-squeezed sunshine.

Hatted dining & Italian history

Mildura is home to a proud community of Calabrians and Sicilians. This, paired with the exceptional local produce, means that you can find paninos on par with those in Italy. The Italian is a Paninoteca serving up made-to-order, hefty, authentic Sicilian paninos. Nonna Rosa’s pork meatballs, slowly cooked in tomato ragu and served in a crusty, fluffy roll topped with gratings of Grana Padano cheese and salsa verde, will call you back to Mildura for the rest of your days.

To find hatted dining in Mildura, simply follow the staircase down into the basement of the historic Mildura Grand Hotel to find Stefano’s . Following the muscle memory and instinct of his Italian roots, he delivers on the principle of ‘cucina povera’. That is, the Italian cooking ideology that turns simple, local ingredients into magic.

Things to do in Mildura include dining at the acclaimed Stefano’s, where simple local ingredients are transformed into Italian culinary magic beneath the historic Grand Hotel. — Bite into Mildura’s Italian heritage.

Discover a thriving culture scene

The city is alive with culture. Whether it’s painted on the town’s walls, told in ancient yarns, or waiting for you in a gallery.

The Mildura Arts Centre was Australia’s first regional art gallery. Behind the walls of Rio Vista Historic House, you’ll find a lineup of ever-changing exhibitions. The gallery’s wall space pays tribute to the art and songlines of local First Nations People, the region’s awe-inspiring landscapes and more. Outside, on the gallery’s lawn, find 12 contemporary sculptures in the Sculpture Park.

Mildura’s streetscapes are a punch of colour. Swirling strokes of paint blend the winding artery of the Murray River, red dirt and local characters into a story you can see with your own eyes, thanks to the Mildura City Heart’s Mural Art Project . Pick up a copy of the Murals of Mildura guide from the Visitor Information Centre.

Follow the border of NSW and Victoria on a map and you’ll see it hugs the curves of a tiny island on the Murray. That’s Lock Island, where, as the sun and moon trade places, the island comes alive as darkness falls. The island is dotted with 12,500 firefly lights that lead you on a meandering path through the outback sunset. The installation is known as Trail of Lights and was created by the same visionary who dreamt up Field of Light at Uluṟu, Bruce Munro.

Things to do in Mildura include exploring its rich cultural scene. From vibrant street art and ancient stories to exhibitions at the Mildura Arts Centre, Australia’s first regional gallery. — Find culture around every corner.

Wonder at ancient landscapes

The landscapes of Mildura feel almost transcendental. The skyline bursts to life with reds, pinks, and deep, sparkly night skies.

The nature will leave you in awe. See hues of pink water changing with the weather at Pink Lakes inside Victoria’s largest national park, Murray Sunset National Oark. Cast a line into Ouyen Lake. Watch the sunset against 70-metre tall red cliffs that reflect the setting sun. Or get the heart racing and sandboard down the Perry Sandhills dunes, formed 40,000 years ago at the end of an ice age.

Just don’t leave without following the twists and turns of the Murray. Stroll or ride along the Shared River Front Path, or jump onboard a boat for a scenic ride.

Your itinerary will be incomplete without a visit to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park . Head out with an Indigenous ranger to witness ancient campsites and footprints, before standing in awe of ancient civilisation near the discovery site of Mungo Man—Australia’s oldest human skeleton at 42,000 years old.

Mungo National Park at night is a vast, silent landscape where ancient dunes glow under moonlight and stars blanket the sky in breathtaking clarity. — Walk in the footsteps of ancient civilisation.

Meet your home away from home

On equal par with planning your meals and adventures, is finding the perfect place to relax at the end of each day.

Sleep inside a Palm Springs postcard at Kar-Rama . A sleek boutique hotel complete with a butterfly shaped, sun-soaked pool. Here you’re staying right in the heart of Mildura but you’ll feel worlds away. Or if you really wish to connect with nature, a night glamping under the stars at Outback Almonds will have you spellbound.

When in Mildura it’s only right to stay on one of the Murray River’s iconic houseboats . Wake up each day to the calm waters of the Murray lapping outside your window. Enjoy days full of river swims, fishing and exploring. All boats are solar-powered and can be self-skippered or moored along the river.

A solar-powered houseboat on the Murray River in Mildura. — Stay and play on the Murray in a solar houseboat.

Start planning the perfect getaway at mildura.com .

A guide to the best bars and pubs in Warrnambool