Top 10 country pubs in South Australia worthy of a stop for an ice-cold beer or meal
On the road in regional SA and in need of an ice-cold beer and a hearty meal? Here’s the full guide to the state’s best pubs by a country mile.
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Country pubs are often referred to as the heart of small country towns. They’re the meeting place for locals where deals are done and celebrations are held.
They also offer up ice-cold beers, hearty schnitzels and in some cases, award-winning meals.
So why not stop at one on your next road trip?
Regional South Australia has plenty of excellent offerings when it comes to pubs, from William Creek in the far north, to Robe in the South-East.
And while there’s too many to list them all, here’s a few to get you started.
McLaren Vale Hotel
208 Main Rd, McLaren Vale
The popular watering hotel revealed a $2m renovation earlier this year, tripling its size of the al fresco deck that looks over Tintara Winery’s trees and garden. A 20m marble bar and reinstated original fireplaces, offers visitors a traditional feel with contemporary fixtures.
Former Melbourne chef Paul Wilson is in charge of the kitchen, which recently received praise from The Advertiser’s own Simon Wilkinson. Owned by the Palmer Hospitality Group, the pub was also last year named the best overall country hotel by the AHA SA.
Watervale Hotel
37 Main North Rd, Watervale
Found only 1.5 hours from Adelaide in the Clare Valley wine region, is the world’s best restaurant for 2023. The Watervale Hotel received the gong for best culinary experience in LUXlife Magazine’s Travel and Tourism Awards. The hotel underwent major renovations and reopened in 2020 and has consistently received awards for its restaurant. The food is produced from the owners’ own organic and biodynamic farm. At the kitchen helm is executive chef and hotel owner Nicola Palmer.
Dalrymple Hotel
4 Anzac Parade, Stansbury
A popular spot on the Yorke Peninsula offering pub grub and modern Australian cuisine. Think prawn and ginger dumplings, lobster slider, beef tartare and seared tuna. The restaurant has been named the best casual dining in regional SA by the AHA SA awards for the past three years. It was also recommended to The Advertiser by regional South Aussies as a favourite watering hole.
Greenock Hotel
2 Murray St, Greenock
If you’re after quality pub grub, look no further. The food being served from this kitchen and the hotel’s country charm is why it continues to receive judges commendation for best country bistro dining in the AHA SA awards. The pub also partners with community figureheads every couple of months to create the ‘community pie’. The collaboration between chefs and the ‘pie partner’ ensures something unique is created every time. Previous pie partners included Ian Hongdell, from Torbrek Vintners and Troy Kalleske from Kalleske Wines. The hotel was also recommended by The Advertiser readers as one of the best regional South Aussie pubs.
Hotel Renmark
Murray Ave, Renmark
A popular hotel in its own right, a relatively new restaurant in one of its bistro areas is also making it a destination pub. Temperance opens on weekends, led by executive chef Hugh Hazelwood, the farm to table offerings highlight the Riverland’s best produce. It was rated highly by The Advertiser’s own Simon Wilkinson. The 127-year-old hotel has been renovated and offers accommodation, a sports bar, live music, function spaces and gaming. It was also recommended by The Advertiser readers as one of the best regional South Aussie pubs.
Bridgeport Hotel
2 Bridge St, Murray Bridge
It took two years to redevelop and $45m but now the Bridgeport Hotel is encouraging people to stop and spend more time in the region. The five-storey building has 100 rooms, five bars, a restaurant, conference rooms, infinity pool and gaming. It’s also source of long-term employment in the region, with an estimated 150 jobs created. It was awarded the best overall regional hotel of the year at the AHA national awards for excellence in 2021.
Overland Corner Hotel
205 Old Coach Rd, Overland Corner
The publican is famously known for having a video conference with Prince William, following the 2022 River Murray flood. But it’s not all this 1856 historic hotel is known for. With the region’s best beer, wine and spirits on offer, owners Brad and Nicole Flowers fly a flag for Riverland produce. South Australia’s own Wade Fletcher and Tayt Syme named it as the best pub to have a beer – after visiting 200 hotels in SA. “It just had a great feel to it,” Wade said.
Settle in for a drink, meal or even visit the Overland Corner music festival, Sounds in the Quarry, on November 9.
Berri Hotel
Riverview Drive, Berri
Taking full advantage of its river views, the community-owned hotel offers a picturesque dining experience. The hotel has added 30 short-stay villas to its accommodation offerings, as part of a $7.5m investment supported by the federal and state government grants.
It took home the title for the best community service and support at last year’s AHA SA awards, thanks to its sponsorship and support of 15 community events, 16 sporting clubs, a school breakfast program and annual sponsorship for a Year 12 student.
The Caledonian Inn
Victoria St, Robe
Known among the locals as ‘The Cally’ this pub comes alive over the summer months when tourists flock to the beer garden for live music, beers and seafood. But the historic hotel is equally as nice in the winter months, where you can sit by the open fires with a red wine in hand. Built in 1858, the hotel has a proud history as a meeting place for townsfolk, pastoralists and ships’ crews after they docked at the local port. The pub offers refurbished single and double rooms upstairs and four cottages nestled between the pub and foreshore.
William Creek Hotel
Oodnadatta Track, William Creek
If you’re lucky enough to travel this far north, this hotel is likely to lure you in with ice-cold beer and a friendly chat. Located on the Oodnadatta track, it’s the watering hole and stopping point for people visiting Lake Eyre and Anna Creek Painted Hills. Owned self-appointed mayor Trevor Wright – one of the only permanent long-term residents of the town 650km north of Adelaide – the pub has a charm like no other. It has 52 rooms and runs on solar power, vital during those 40C plus degree days.
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Originally published as Top 10 country pubs in South Australia worthy of a stop for an ice-cold beer or meal
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