Best Australian pubs for overnight stays
Community watering holes have lifted their game to create guestrooms that take an overnight stay to the next level.
A pub can be the beating heart of a community; a meeting place for locals to gather after work and on weekends to wet their whistle and get the goss on the neighbourhood. They can also hold huge appeal for visitors wanting to “live local”, even just for one night. And in the accommodation stakes, many such establishments have lifted their game, creating restful quarters where plush furnishings, art and designer lighting take a sleepover to the next level. They’re not just a bed for the night; they’re an indulgence. Read on for inspiration for your next getaway.
THE BOATHOUSE HOTEL, PATONGA, NSW
In 2018, the village pub in the tiny NSW central coast settlement of Patonga, about 90 minutes by road north from Sydney, underwent a light, bright transformation by The Boathouse Group. The design template, echoing the chic maritime feel of the operator’s Palm Beach, Shelly Beach and Rose Bay properties, is all about nautical stripes, cushioned cane and beachy motifs, and an emphasis on seafood dishes. With a bushy backdrop of Brisbane Water National Park, boat-filled bay out front and pelicans perched on the pier, it’s a snug spot for a meal, drink or, better still, an overnight stay. There’s a pair of apartments above the hotel proper, with one and two bedrooms respectively, which can be interconnected for a family sojourn. Each has a kitchenette and balcony with water views, while the three-bedroom option, on a side wing, has a party-pad sense of space. Patonga Cottage next door sleeps 10 and has a garden pool and fire pit. From $350 a night midweek for two in one-bedroom Apartment Two.
theboathousehotelpatonga.com.au
SUSAN KUROSAWA
ROYAL MAIL HOTEL, DUNKELD, VIC
There’s no other pub anywhere near the Royal Mail Hotel, 260km west of Melbourne, and there’s no pub like it anywhere in Australia. For 150 years, it was purely a local, but since it was rebuilt in 2000 the Royal Mail has gained worldwide attention for its dazzling food under two acclaimed chefs and the 28,000-bottle cellar that supports it. Current chef Robin Wickens’s eponymous restaurant is virtually self-sufficient, drawing on the hotel’s beef and lamb herds (dry-aged) and its fabled kitchen garden, supplemented by mostly local providers and served as a tasting menu from $250 a person, plus various wine matches. For a la carte dining, there’s the more casual indoor/outdoor Parker Street Project. Hotel guests get preferential bookings at Wickens, so stay at one of the modern deluxe suites with glorious Grampians views or the nearby Mt Sturgeon homestead and cottage options. Suites from $225 a night; cottages from $265.
JEREMY BOURKE
THE CRAFERS HOTEL, ADELAIDE HILLS, SA
Nestled high in the Adelaide Hills and one of the oldest pubs in South Australia, the Crafers was once a small, ragtag watering hole frequented by hard living tiersmen (or loggers) and the odd bushranger or two. In the 21st century the hotel is better known for its ooh-la-la French restaurant and epic 10,000-strong wine list. A wine “library” stuffed with famous labels collected by the hotel’s owners in Europe, and overseen by a resident sommelier, has plenty of dedicated oenophiles making the trek up from Adelaide (an easy 20-minute drive). For those working their way through the Big Book of Wine, so hefty it has its own table, there are seven handsome guestrooms upstairs. With high ceilings, underfloor heating and smart bathrooms stocked with Aesop unguents, each room is different; those at the front feature French doors opening on to a pretty balcony. The hotel is especially lovely in winter with log fires blazing in the bar and the sun streaming into the conservatory-style bistro where steak frites is the order of the day. From $270 a night.
CHRISTINE MCCABE
THE SIR GEORGE, JUGIONG, NSW
Take a rambling, country pub on the Murrumbidgee and create a stylish retreat that honours heritage values but promises luxury accommodation, top-notch dining and an exquisite bakery (try the sourdough donut). That was the vision of mother-daughter design duo Liz Prater and Kate Hufton, who set out seven years ago to make The Sir George (just recently sold) a drawcard for Jugiong (pop. 222), Gundagai’s little sister strategically located just off the Hume Highway four hours from Sydney, six from Melbourne and 90 minutes from Canberra. The hotel offers three guestrooms in re-shod Cobb & Co stables with exposed stone walls, oak floors and dreamy king beds. There are also eight minimalist-design Barns, built on the footprint of old wooden stables. Settle in for a local drop (maybe a Chalkers Crossing riesling from the Hilltops region) in the two-storey pub (1852) or its landscaped beer garden. From $455.
GRAHAM ERBACHER
HOLA AT THE IMPERIAL HOTEL, EUMUNDI, QLD
HOLA is the super-smart new boutique hotel that has made the idyllic village of Eumundi (famed for its markets) even more of a Sunshine Coast hinterland destination. The ethos underpinning the hotel, the name of which is an acronym for House of Local Art, is to celebrate local artists. All up, there are 45 individual paintings, more than 100 ceramic pieces and 12 sculptures dotted around the property. Each of the 15 boho-chic rooms was given tactile appeal by CLO Studios with lovely linens, textured cotton throws, fringed light fittings and upcycled timbers. The eco-conscious hotel also uses solar power, harvests rain water and uses refillable Leif products. After a day cocooned in your room, head to the adjacent Imperial Hotel (home of Eumundi Distillers and Eumundi Brewery) to enjoy dinner against a joyous jumble of colour, music and art. From $200 a night.
CARLA GROSSETTI
CRAIG’S ROYAL HOTEL, BALLARAT, VIC
One of Australia’s few surviving grand 19th-century hotels, this place of high-Victorian towers, chandeliers and ornate plasterwork reflects the regional city of Ballarat’s gold rush-era wealth. Built in 1862, Craig’s has been substantially renovated over the years. Well-preserved period details are on show, whether you’re in the Corner Bar for a pint and slightly fancy pub fare or savouring Sunday high tea in the swish dining room. There’s also The Atrium restaurant’s pared-back elegance. Heyday guests included Prince Alfred, Mark Twain and Nellie Melba. The 41 rooms have essential modern comforts and conveniences, but what sets them apart is a heritage focus that means no two are the same. The three Royal suites are particularly nostalgic, with antique furniture, swagged and lace curtains, and balconies – plus spa tubs in marble-trimmed bathrooms. From $200 a night including hot breakfast.
PATRICIA MAUNDER
HEADLANDS HOTEL, AUSTINMER, NSW
I’ve checked into Headies at Austi in the Gong. Translation: I’ve skipped the big smoke for what feels like laidback resort life atop Brickyard Point, a headland punctuating Wollongong’s glorious northern beaches. A derelict pub by the same name was knocked down a few years back to make way for this 55-room low-slung establishment with 180-degree views over both Little Austi and Sharkey’s beaches. From my oceanview, one-bedroom apartment where the kitchen’s mirrored splashback cleverly reflects toweringNorfolk pines, I delight in a parade of dogs frolicking in the water. The pub is huge yet the fabulous outdoor pool feels cosy and staff are attentive, guiding me to a north-facing space to enjoy my fish and chips with a beer from Five Barrel Brewing. It’s such an extraordinary viewpoint that I return for breakfast (granola, coconut yogurt, peanut butter and artfully sliced berries), served with a side of sun-splashed escarpment. From $165 a night.
KATRINA LOBLEY
ROSEVEARS HOTEL, ROSEVEARS, TASMANIA
Riverboats have been calling at this stretch of the Tamar River since the 1830s, and the opening of what became the Rosevears Hotel in 1854 only increased its appeal as the place to stop for a meal and a drink. Located 20 minutes from Launceston, this classic Australian pub overlooks the water and offers chic, modern accommodation. The kitchen serves generously proportioned meals focusing on local produce such as Flinders Island scallops and steaks from nearby Conmurra Farm. Twenty-six guestrooms, all with king-size beds and balconies, enjoy uninterrupted views, and a recently restored historic cottage is available for small groups. The Rosevears is well placed for guests to explore the Tamar Valley’s many wineries, including Josef Chromy Wines (and its on-site fine-dining restaurant) and the intimate and relaxed Holm Oak Vineyard. Take a detour off the main roads and discover numerous growers, producers and makers specialising in cheeses, cider, beer, walnuts, truffles and more. From $175 a night.
ALIX CLARK
THE BEACHCOMBER HOTEL & RESORT, TOUKLEY, NSW
The once rough-and-tumble Beachcomber Hotel has been transformed and it’s the talk of Toukley on NSW’s Central Coast. Situated on the waterfront between Tuggerah and Budgewoi lakes, the sprawling property includes 85 rooms, seven bars, a brewery, restaurant, bistro and swimming pool. Affectionately known as The Beachie, its location gives it the feel of a beach club. Roll from doing laps in the lakeside pool to enjoying a New World Pale Ale on the deck, which is festooned with fairy lights that loop all the way down to the hotel’s private pier. The property was given its coastal-cool overhaul by Oscars Hotels and it has jumpstarted the town. Filled with framed vintage prints, cane furniture and neon signs, the vibe is as unpretentious as the community, which remains loyal to the Beachie’s charms. From $219 a night.
beachcomberhotelandresort.com.au
CARLA GROSSETTI
THE MELBOURNE HOTEL, PERTH
The federation-style Melbourne Hotel, in the heart of the CBD, was built in 1897 and is one of the city’s oldest pubs. After major renovations between 2015 and 2018, it reopened with heritage components meticulously restored, juxtaposed against a sleek addition that cleverly wraps around the rear of the hotel and incorporates a glass ceiling. On ground level, the De Baun & Co bar retains a traditional pub feel. Other venues include the funky Keisuke Japanese ramen diner, the Shanghai-inspired restaurant Grand Orient, and the rooftop Aurora bar with its micro-gin distillery. The central position suits tourists and business travellers who eschew cookie-cutter hotels, offering 73 guestrooms with modern but understated decor and generous marble bathrooms. Twenty-two are in the heritage wing, some with French doors that open on to the verandah, giving guests an old-fashioned opportunity to meet. From $170 a night.
CAROLYN BEASLEY
BERRIMA VAULT HOUSE, SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS, NSW
From the Residence of Berrima Vault House look across to a stately Regency-style courthouse and the main street of what prides itself as the mainland’s best-preserved Georgian village. Other views are of the pastoral surrounds of these smart digs, which occupy the top floor of the heritage-listed Taylor’s Crown Inn, built by convicts in 1844, now a members’ club but with accommodation and dining open to all. The Residence is enticingly comfy and, as a single letting, offers two double bedrooms, one with adjoining dressing area, a smaller bedroom, living and dining area with inviting drinks trolley, and a fully equipped kitchen. It’s ideal for two couples. Flowers bloom in art on the walls and an eccentric collection of books graces occasional tables. Downstairs, chef Tommy Prosser (who worked at the Roux brothers’ Waterside Inn in Britain) prepares a menu of traditional fare with modern Aussie elements. From $500 a night mid-week; $650 a night weekends, minimum two nights.
GRAHAM ERBACHER
FARMER’S HOME HOTEL, NORTHAM, WA
In the country town of Northam, 100km northeast of Perth, the Farmer’s Home Hotel, dating from 1866, has been lovingly restored to well beyond its former glory. The hotel’s previous owners include famous characters from WA’s early European settlement, including George Throssell, who served as premier, Alexander Forrest, a Kimberley explorer and mayor of Perth, and Septimus Burt, an attorney-general. Today, the hotel is owned by cafe chain Dome, and the coffee side of things is open into the evenings. For a tipple, try the Temperance Bar and admire a cartoon mural titled The Drunkard’s Progress, recalling the prohibition movement that shaped the town in the late 19th century. Upstairs, 16 light-filled guestrooms offer classy, country-heritage accommodation. A previously removed veranda has been reconstructed, and some chambers have direct access, while one features an original stained-glass window. Woollen rugs complement original Baltic pine floors, and custom-made furniture includes king-sized beds and midcentury-inspired chairs. From $250 a night.
CAROLYN BEASLEY
THE PRINCE HOTEL, ST KILDA, MELBOURNE
Renowned for its bandroom, this inner-Melbourne pub’s other spaces have evolved over the decades, most notably in the late 1990s when the rough-and-tumble bars were crowned with boutique accommodation and a restaurant among Australia’s finest. The Prince changed again a few years ago. The front bar is now a gastropub, the restaurant is more casual, and the 38 guestrooms have had an unfussy, contemporary makeover that evokes the oceanfront location. Subdued natural light, and a colour palette suggesting sunbleached Miami Beach, lend an air of relaxation to these spaces. The top categories have balconies overlooking one of St Kilda’s main drags and across to the sea, enhancing the sense of being just removed from this beachy-meets-bohemian milieu. All rooms feature custom, handmade furniture, photography commissioned from local artists, and toiletries by Melbourne’s Grown Alchemist. From $195 a night.
PATRICIA MAUNDER
TATHRA HOTEL, SOUTH COAST, NSW
The loveliest part of the Tathra Hotel’s heritage accommodation isn’t the decor, although its tranquil neutral tones and door signs that pay tribute to nearby areas such as Kangarutha and Mimosa, are delightful. It’s the wraparound wooden veranda, hemmed by a Victorian-era lace balustrade. Sit here and gaze across the headland over your morning coffee. More views are to come; work is nearly completed on 10 oceanfront rooms but in the meantime the two heritage suites and two heritage guestrooms are the prize picks. After the nightmare bushfires of 2019 claimed scores of homes in the town, this welcoming pub – which is proudly anti-gambling – became a pivotal meeting spot for locals, and remains a lynchpin of the community. It hosts regular live music and even has its own craft brewery, Humpback, that sits in the old pokies room. The grub’s good, too, everything from curry and poke bowls to the classic Sunday roast. Heritage rooms from $215 a night.
ALEXANDRA CARLTON
PREMIER MILL HOTEL, KATANNING, WA
For a unique posh pub, it’s hard to surpass the Premier Mill Hotel in Katanning, 300km southeast of Perth. Built in 1891 as a flour mill, it later incorporated a winery, a soft drink and cordial business, and an electricity station. Recently owned by the local shire, it proved too costly to maintain and was sold to developers for one dollar, with heritage redevelopment approval. The resultant 22-guestroom hotel is unlike any other. Visitors and locals can socialise in the casual restaurant, or head downstairs to the original wheat storage pit, now the Cordial Bar. The Great Southern wine region is well represented, and in a nod to the past, so are homemade cordials. Rooms retain original features such as wooden staircases, grain chutes, flywheels, gantry arms and pulleys. Perhaps the most charismatic of all are within the 100-year-old grain silo, made from rough jarrah. Despite the rustic decorations, this is a boutique luxury property, with high-definition TVs, king-sized beds, fluffy towels and luxe bathrooms with Aesop amenities. From $265 a night.
CAROLYN BEASLEY
THE CALEDONIAN HOTEL, ROBE
So charming is the historic lobster fishing port of Robe it might have been plopped on South Australia’s Limestone Coast from Cornwall or Cape Cod. Little stone houses nestle around the blue waters of Guichen Bay and the town is far enough from Adelaide (and Melbourne) to have remained unspoilt by coastal development. There are, however, cafes, a couple of cellar doors, coffee roaster, craft brewery and patisserie. Predating them all, and the accepted heart of the town, is the Cally, an atmospheric old stone pub crammed every night of the week with locals and visitors alike. Accommodation includes a handful of rooms upstairs (including a budget option) but better yet are the four self-contained cottages tucked between the historic inn and the town beach. Splash, a larger three-bedroom beach house, is on the sand’s edge and replete with beachfront lawn and a Gilligan’s Island-style outdoor bar. Cottages from $220 a night.
CHRISTINE MCCABE
THE JUNCTION HOTEL, NEWCASTLE, NSW
There’s a touch of Versace, perhaps even Liberace, in the nine individual accommodation options at this popular meeting spot five minutes from the Steel City’s CBD. Slick ebony tiles, animal print, strip lighting, faux alligator textiles, glass-encased ensuites, velvety bed heads and replica Philippe Starck chairs all combine to deliver an unexpectedly glam look. Downstairs, the central courtyard with its hanging gardens is the place to dine, and The Junction touts its culinary credentials proudly. Yes, the ubiquitous chicken schnitzel is on the menu but other choices include Javanese seafood curry and charred broccolini and heirloom carrot salad. The owners describe it as “ a gastropub that’s a little bit special”, and they’re not wrong. From $189 a night.
PENNY HUNTER