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  

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

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

Located just an hour north-west of Melbourne, the largely undiscovered Macedon Ranges quietly pours some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wines and serves up some of Victoria’s best food.

Mention the Macedon Ranges and most people will think of day spas and mineral springs around Daylesford, cosy weekends away in the countryside or the famous Hanging Rock (of enigmatic picnic fame). Or they won’t have heard of the Macedon Ranges at all.

But this cool-climate destination has been inconspicuously building a profile as a high-quality food and wine region and is beginning to draw serious attention from oenophiles and epicureans alike.

The rise of Macedon Ranges wine

liquid gold barrels at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — Barrels of liquid gold at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

With elevations ranging from 300 to 800 metres, Macedon Ranges vineyards are among the highest in the country. This altitude, combined with significant day/night temperature swings, makes for a slow ripening season, in turn nurturing wines that embody elegance and structure. Think crisp chardonnays, subtle yet complex pinot noirs and delicate sparkling wines, along with niche varietals, such as gamay and nebbiolo.

Despite the region’s natural advantages – which vary from estate to estate, as each site embodies unique terroir depending on its position in relation to the Great Dividing Range, soil make-up and altitude – the Macedon Ranges has remained something of an insider’s secret. Unlike Victoria’s Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula, you won’t find large tour buses here and there’s no mass marketing drawing crowds.

Many of the 40-odd wineries are family-run operations with modest yields, meaning the wineries maintain a personal touch (if you visit a cellar door, you’ll likely chat to the owner or winemaker themselves) and a tight sales circle that often doesn’t go far beyond said cellar door. And that’s part of the charm.

Though wines from the Macedon Ranges are just starting to gain more widespread recognition in Australia, the first vines were planted in the 1860s, with a handful of operators then setting up business in the 1970s and ’80s. The industry surged again in the 1990s and early 2000s with the entry of wineries, such as Mount Towrong, which has an Italian slant in both its wine and food offering, and Curly Flat, now one of the largest estates.

Meet the new generation of local winemakers

the Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. — The Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Then, within the last 15 years, a new crop of vignerons like Andrew Wood at Kyneton Ridge Estate, whose vineyard in 2024 was the first in the Macedon Ranges to be certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia; Geoff Plahn and Samantha Reid at Paramoor, who have an impressive cellar door with a roaring fire and studded leather couches in an old Clydesdale barn; and Ollie Rapson and Renata Morello at Lyons Will, who rapidly expanded a small vineyard to focus on top-shelf riesling, gamay, pinot noir and chardonnay, have taken ownership of local estates.

Going back to the early days, Llew Knight’s family was one of the pioneers of the 1970s, replacing sheep with vines at Granite Hills when the wool industry dwindled. Knight is proud of the fact that all their wines are made with grapes from their estate, including a light, peppery shiraz (some Macedon wineries purchase fruit from nearby warmer areas, such as Heathcote, particularly to make shiraz) and a European-style grüner veltliner. And, as many other wineries in the region do, he relies on natural acid for balance, rather than an additive, which is often required in warmer regions. “It’s all about understanding and respecting your climate to get the best out of your wines,” he says.

farm animals atKyneton Ridge Estate — Curious residents at Kyneton Ridge Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Throughout the Macedon Ranges, there’s a growing focus on sustainability and natural and low-intervention wines, with producers, such as Brian Martin at Hunter Gatherer making waves in regenerative viticulture. Martin previously worked in senior roles at Australia’s largest sparkling winemaking facility, and now applies that expertise and his own nous to natural, hands‑off, wild-fermented wines, including pét‑nat, riesling and pinot noir. “Wild fermentation brings more complexity,” he says. “Instead of introducing one species of yeast, you can have thousands and they add different characteristics to the wine.”

the vineyard at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The estate’s vineyard, where cool-climate grapes are grown. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Most producers also focus on nurturing their grapes in-field and prune and pick by hand, thus avoiding the introduction of impurities and the need to meddle too much in the winery. “The better the quality of the fruit, the less you have to interfere with the natural winemaking process,” says Wood.

Given the small yields, there’s also little room for error, meaning producers place immense focus on quality. “You’re never going to compete in the middle [in a small region] – you’ve got to aim for the top,” says Curly Flat owner Jeni Kolkka. “Big wineries try to do things as fast as possible, but we’re in no rush,” adds Troy Walsh, owner and winemaker at Attwoods. “We don’t use commercial yeasts; everything is hand-harvested and everything is bottled here, so we bottle only when we’re ready, not when a big truck arrives.” That’s why, when you do see a Macedon Ranges product on a restaurant wine list, it’s usually towards the pointy end.

Come for the wine, stay for the food

pouring sauce onto a dish at Lake HouseDaylesford — Dining at Lake House Daylesford is a treat. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

If wine is the quiet achiever of the Macedon Ranges, then food is its not-so-secret weapon. In fact, the area has more hatted restaurants than any other region in Victoria. A pioneer of the area’s gourmet food movement is region cheerleader Alla Wolf-Tasker, culinary icon and founder of Daylesford’s Lake House.

For more than three decades, Wolf-Tasker has championed local producers and helped define what regional fine dining can look like in Australia. Her influence is palpable, not just in the two-hatted Lake House kitchen, but in the broader ethos of the region’s dining scene, as a wave of high-quality restaurants have followed her lead to become true destination diners.

the Midnight Starling restaurant in Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The hatted Midnight Starling restaurant is located in Kyneton. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

It’s easy to eat well, whether at other hatted restaurants, such as Midnight Starling in the quaint town of Kyneton, or at the wineries themselves, like Le Bouchon at Attwoods, where Walsh is inspired by his time working in France in both his food offering and winemaking.

The beauty of dining and wine touring in the Macedon Ranges is that it feels intimate and unhurried. You’re likely to meet the winemaker, hear about the trials of the latest vintage firsthand, and taste wines that never make it to city shelves. And that’s worth getting out of the city for – even if it is just an hour down the road.

Delicate dishes on the menu at Midnight Starling. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

the accommodation at Cleveland Estate, Macedon Ranges — Stay at the Cleveland Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Soak up vineyard views from Cleveland Estate near Lancefield, embrace retro charm at Kyneton Springs Motel or indulge in lakeside luxury at the Lake House.

Eating there

Enjoy a four-course menu at the one-hatted Surly Goat in Hepburn Springs, Japanese-inspired fare at Kuzu in Woodend or unpretentious fine dining at Mount Monument, which also has a sculpture park.

Drinking there

wine tasting at PassingClouds Winery, Macedon Ranges — A tasting at Passing Clouds Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Settle in for a tasting at Boomtown in Castlemaine, sample local drops at the cosy Woodend Cellar & Bar or wine-hop around the many cellar doors, such as Passing Clouds.

the Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar signage — Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Playing there

a scenic river in Castlemaine — Idyllic scenes at Castlemaine. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Wander through the seasonal splendour of Forest Glade Gardens, hike to the summit of Hanging Rock, or stroll around the tranquil Sanatorium Lake.

purple flowers hanging from a tree — Purple flowers hanging from a tree. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

A guide to the best bars and pubs in Warrnambool