Bars & Pubs

Go behind the scenes of LA's biggest icons to explore the other side of the city of angels.

While Melbourne might be best known for its laneway bar culture, in Los Angeles some of the coolest hangouts are hidden sky high.

Snacks begin with a refreshing hit of Sydney Rock Oysters, drenched with Roku Gin and tonic granita.

Discover the best bars in Hobart for 2024, from cozy whisky lounges to vibrant cocktail spots and speakeasies. Sip on Tasmania's finest spirits and enjoy the ultimate night out in this charming city.

Bali's food scene has exploded in recent years, becoming a top destination for culinary enthusiasts. Discover the best restaurants to book in Bali, as selected by our travel editor, updated for September 2024.

Experience the ultimate 24-hour staycation in Perth at The Westin. 

Thirsty Thursdays just got a whole lot tastier with a slew of freaking delicious cocktails on offer this month—even better, we’ve got the inside scoop on how you can score a tipple on the house.

 From fresh to fried for the gods. Whatever you're in the mood for, Fiji's got you.

Time for a cheeky trip filled with sunshine, salty skin and some of the most divine clifftop and beachside bars.

It should be no surprise that Adelaide, Australia’s wine capital, is home to some of our country’s most outstanding bars. 

We've all experienced the inundation of Instagram content from Melburnians at Totti's when visiting Sydney, the table filled with plates of antipasti with negronis and spritz scattered throughout and of course, that show-stopping wood-fired flatbread front and center. 

London is a veritable revolving door of imaginative restaurateurs with deep pockets.

"The pub is the heart of England."

Melbourne prides itself on its diverse culinary scene, offering endless dining options spanning cuisines from around the globe—it's a classic case of being spoiled for choice, and something that can't be overlooked when visiting other cities.

Whether you’re planning a chic retreat with your bestie or a swoon-worthy rendezvous with your someone special, The Westin Perth is your go-to destination for the ultimate staycation this season. 

Whether you’re the kind of couple to enjoy the finer things in life or looking to make it a double date, we’ve curated a few date ideas guaranteed to impress—with some help from The Star.

Fire up the group chat, here’s your action-packed hit list of everything you need to do at The Star.

Situated past the windy bends of the Great Ocean Road is Lorne, a tree-clad enclave and coastal town characterised by its thriving surf culture, shopping prospects, multicultural culinary scene and parks that edge onto the white-sand beach. With its easy access to the Otways and close proximity to the adored Erskine Falls, Lorne attracts a throng of Great Ocean Road locals as well as Melbourne city dwellers.

If you’re after for a stay that’s as eclectic and exciting as the city you’re in, Hotel Indigo’s latest instalment in Brisbane’s North Quay is the perfect basecamp for exploring the best of the city. 

The Jackson, Sydney’s most luxurious superyacht, is bringing an abundance of opportunities to rally up your pals and dive head first into the good life on the water this summer. 

Pristine immaculate coastline, endless lingering sunshine and bountiful local produce—Townsville has become a marvel of North Queensland for good reason, with a string of decadent new openings around the charming town awaiting exploration.

In a city that’s buzzing with bars, boutiques, galleries, theatres and high-end restaurants, you need a high-end hotel to match. Enter Hotel Indigo, Melbourne’s new laneway hotel smack bang in the middle of the action on the iconic Flinders Lane. 

If your at-home Christmas celebrations resemble that chaotic scene from The Bear, hit up these restaurants and let the experts do the entertaining.

With Sydney’s balmy summer evenings and many a night of revelry on the horizon, it’s time to clear your calendar and line up some dancing, dining and drinking after dark at The Star. Here’s our top picks from The Star’s extensive summer line up of events guaranteed to put a smile on your dial. 

Co-founder of Ballarat’s very own Red Duck Brewery and Distillery, Vanessa Wilson-Browne shares the best places to eat and drink in the region.

The culinary legend shares where to go for a no-fuss feed, the spots his kids would love to visit, and hidden gems for flaky pastries and cardamon buns.

If you’re craving la dolce vita but couldn’t afford Euro summer this year, we’re bringing the sunshine your way instead. We’ve teamed up with Peroni to bring you a slice of the good life from the best Amalfi-inspired spots all over the Mornington Peninsula.

To ensure you don’t miss even a second of bartender Christmas, this is your go-to roundup of venues to hit during Negroni Week.

We want to help you live the dream in WA, so we asked the passionate locals who call it home to share all their must-visit experiences across this stunning state. Dive into our guides to the best places to play, eat and stay, steeped with local knowledge and all the tools you need to plan the trip of a lifetime.

From the finest Japanese sashimi to seafood feasts that will live rent-free in your mind forever, book a table at these unmissable RWS restaurants. 

Prepare to sip your way through a DIY wine tour at our top Mount Tamborine winery  picks. 

Depending on your palate, no doubt developed from the usual suspects like IPAs, session ales, and pilsners, there are plenty of entry points to the Aussie wheat ale where you can start, and once you’re finished we’ve got no doubt that at least several will become your next go-to brew.

See Whats On In Your State This Summer

With a nightclub, rooftop pool, Mexican eats and plenty of tequila, MESA is ticking all our Bali boxes and then some.

Summer is here, which already gives you a solid reason to head out for a frosty one in the sunshine. With Australia’s reopening in full force, however, navigating the country’s sheer amount of new openings can be intimidating. 

The only thing better than a refreshing Canadian Club is a a free, refreshing Canadian Club.

Crack one open whenever you damn well please, these are the best non-alcoholic and low beers begging to be placed in that stubby holder of yours.

This month, the gang at AVC have launched The Pass, a fabulous new loyalty app which will earn you big points and perks at over 190+ restaurants, pubs and bars so you can enjoy the best of what our country’s hospitality scene has to offer. Better still, you’ll get $10 credit to use on your first order for free when you download the app, along with a heap of birthday gifts and exclusive offers all waiting  for you. How good is that?

Nestled in the beating heart of Surfers Paradise, we’ve found the perfect place for the ultimate fun day out. Think: epic games, live sport and a total foodie nirvana. So where can you find this awesome spot? Perched on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Cavill Mall, boasting a 100-metre frontage opposite the world-famous Surfers Paradise Beach, is Paradise Centre. Home to over 90 stores, an alfresco dining precinct and a buzzing entertainment hub, gather your crew and make tracks here stat.

Wine pairing? Completed it mate. These days, it’s all about the spirit. 

If your ideal night out involves a margarita in hand, we’ve got news for you.

This summer, we're feeling extra appreciative of the people in our lives after a pretty rough 2021. And for many of us, that might mean showing our special someone love through presents. But getting the right gift for someone is never an easy task—chocolates and flowers are just not cutting it this year. 

It might have been (another) year of bottled cocktails and home-delivered booze, but in between lockdowns, the hospitality industry in Australia and New Zealand delivered the goods with some seriously stunning spots to sip a margarita or three.

Nothing spreads festive cheer quite like free beer. 

The past two years have been a real trip. Extended and snap lockdowns have left us lusting after late nights shouting at our mates over live music, the unmistakable ambient sound of cocktail shakers, and those walks home from the bar with a kebab in hand and pitstop at the local tattoo parlour.

Our love for sausage rolls runs deep. That golden-brown crust, heart-melting meaty centre and perfect flavour combo really gets our hearts racing. It’s the most iconic Aussie snack. 

Nine of Hobart's best bars will be playing host to nine exceptional Tasmanian winemakers as they bring their cellar doors to the city for the Urban Wine Walk.

Nine of Adelaide's best bars are picking up their shakers to whip up a signature cocktail for you to sip through on a self-guided cocktail trail.

 If you're already an advocate for the spirit, we're with you and if not, prepare to be converted. 

If you and your mates like to keep your plates full and drinks flowing, then we’ve found the ultimate feast perfect for your next gathering. The legendary team at The Bavarian has done it again, this time bringing us Bavarian Fest. A value-packed three course menu with two hours of bottomless beers and cocktails for only $69 per person, a total steal for your crew.

If you’re out of creative gift ideas off the back of Christmas, The Cannabis Company is here to save the day with their cannabis-infused gin.

It might have been the year of home-delivered booze and bottled cocktails sipped in sweats and socks—but in spite of it all, a resilient hospitality industry in both Australia and New Zealand brought the goods with some seriously stunning new venues in 2020.

From true blue taverns in the farthest-reaching corners of Australia to the tried and tested favourites of our major cities, we’ve teamed up with the best ready to drink Bourbon & Cola in the biz, Easyrider, to give you the inside scoop on which famous pubs are well and truly worth a visit. 

Veteran label Yalumba has been making bold and nuanced reds since 1849—and now, you can join their wine club completely free of charge.

Where the smog is limited but the schooners and chiko rolls are plenty.

Because good vibes are important right now, the legends at Jimmy Brings have just dropped a brand new competition which could see your house party, dinner party, home cocktail or boozy Netflix vibes earn the kudos they deserve.

Australia’s original on-demand drinks delivery service, Jimmy Brings, just announced they’re offering free delivery all weekend. Winning.

With the introduction of vodka 'seltzers' to the Australian drinks market of late with the likes of Actual, Quincy, and Splash now on the market locally, it was only a matter of time before the US' biggest brand—White Claw—landed on our shores.

Take a peep at the must-sip list of the stellar bar openings across Australia and New Zealand in 2019.

Whether you’re looking for a classy establishment for date night or a lively spot to dance the night away, here’s our guide to the best bars in Queenstown.

It feels a little strange to be talking about smoke as a food trend given that it has been integral to cooking since day dot. From the time that fire was harnessed as a device for cooking, we’ve been cooking with smoke.

2018 has been a big year, thanks in part to all the new bars that have popped up across Australia and New Zealand. We’ve done the hard work for you and put together the ultimate must-sip list. Here are our top new bar openings of the year.

Byron’s Beach Hotel is making a statement with the aid of a Sydney design legend. 

Will travel for good coffee.

BrewDog has taken things to a whole new scale and instead of just opening up any old bar has opened the world’s first craft beer hotel, DogHouse!

If you needed another excuse to escape winter and head to Bali, Tropicola is it. The brand new beach club from the guys behind Seminyak's iconic Motel Mexicola will be sitting pretty on Seminyak Beach by August 2018—giving Mount Agung plenty of time to settle down so we can actually get there!

We asked the hard questions and you answered—who does the best burger, coffee, breakfast and everything in between on the Gold Coast! It’s like chosing between your children, but you did it! We’ve trawled through all your votes for your fave hot spots in the Gold Coast and without further ado, here they are:

Guys, let’s get one thing clear: we’re suckers for a good margarita. Safe to assume you are too, given you’re reading this article, probably messaging your crew with the news that it’s most definitely almost marg o’clock. How did we know? We may or may not be doing that as we write this article.

If you needed another excuse to escape winter and head to Bali, Tropicola is it. The brand new beach club from the guys behind Seminyak's iconic Motel Mexicola will be sitting pretty on Seminyak Beach by August 2018—giving Mount Agung plenty of time to settle down so we can actually get there.

If you needed another excuse to escape winter and head to Bali, Tropicola is it. The brand new beach club from the guys behind Seminyak's iconic Motel Mexicola will be sitting pretty on Seminyak Beach by August 2018—giving Mount Agung plenty of time to settle down so we can actually get there!

Surely gin without alcohol is like Kanye without the Kim.

Ohhhh, winter. You’re so close we can feel it (literally).

Bet you can’t scroll through your Insta feed without seeing a perfectly styled apartment featuring a giant Monstera, Pilea or Fiddle Leaf Fig (so 2014). Our thumbs get greener every year and 2018 is set to see trends move on from your average garden variety greenery. Here’s what we’re digging...

The Gaarden pop-up will also be hosting two super-cute green thumb-based workshops for some garden goodness of a different kind!

Brandon Stanton will be in Sydney for one day only.

Drinks are better by the beach.

Your summer sesh just got a little bit fancy!

If there was ever a phrase that makes us do a little dance in our seats, it’s “long lunch”. Those two little words are packed with meaning: you just know whatever happens, there’s going to be epic food, great company, a lingering, relaxed vibe, and (obvs) plenty of delicious summer drinks. 

PSA: watermelon and grapefruit rosé slushies are a thing.

Last week we had the privilege or ordering and trying a beer called Golden Stout Time, a beer that promised to have tones that hark back to the Golden Gaytime you enjoyed as a child, and the Golden Gaytime Sanga or Unicorn that you’ve probably enjoyed this month.

Move over glamping and ice hotels, ‘cause this could be the most quintessentially Gold Coast concept ever invented.

It’s not every day you can sip a cocktail in a dry ice spa... at a bar. Unless you live in Melbourne, that is.

Why do we need igloos in a city without ice? It’s a mystery.

Break out the winter woollies and make a beeline up the highway for this season's coolest pop-up bar.

It’s time we all face the facts—winter is coming whether we like it or not. Yes, the cooler weather makes the will to have a social life just that little more difficult to maintain, but thank god for whisky. What would we do without this warm-you-up-from-the-inside-out liquid?

Negronis are having a moment right now and it’s no wonder why—they’re freakin’ delicious. Aromatic, sweet and bitter, negronis are made with the perfect blend of gin, vermouth rosso and bitter aperitif.

Pass the cocktail pls. We're about to show you how to kill it in Palm Springs. This Cali desert oasis is actual heaven. 

Direct from NYC.

When it comes to sun-drinking there are three golden rules—1. Your drink must be lower in alcohol so you can go the distance, 2. It must be refreshing enough to cool you down and keep you cool, and 3. It has to be the perfect accompaniment to summer share food. And the drink that checks all of these boxes is the aperitif.

From cereal killer cocktails made with Fruit Loop milk, vodka and Aperol to homemade cocoa pops and sticky date pudding espresso martinis, it seems 2016 was a year for cereal and dessert cocktails in Australia and New Zealand! But we also had loads of goodies from the French, Asian, Italian, Lebanese and American persuasions, as well as some top notch beer.

There’s no doubt that Italians are the kings of cheese. Here are four reasons why.

Whether it's ciders at a mate's BBQ, a Sunday session at your favourite drinking spot, or a festive silly-season get-together, now's the time to share a moment in the sun with your mates. 

First it was puppies, then it was gelato, now UberEATS are creeping it real this Halloween and have buddied up with M&M’s so that the people of Australia can trick or treat themselves. What a time to be alive!

Every year, horse racing brings together an eclectic range of our state’s most colourful people. Keep your eye out for these bloody idiots.

The end of October is nigh which means Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is almost upon us and this year we’re celebrating in the best way we know how—with Mexican eats, tequila cocktails, DJs and face painting of course. Day of the Dead is a Mexican ritual dedicated to honouring our nearest and dearest departed with feasts, dancing, sugar skulls and art. That sounds pretty good to us!

When the mercury begins to rise this summer, so too will the popularity of canned beer.

Oktoberfest 2016 in Sydney is the real deal.

Spring is nearly here and we’ve been on the hunt for the ultimate cocktail to match our mood, as the weather gets warmer. We’re huge fans of all things sour – the freshness about it that you just can’t beat. We recently stumbled upon the Disaronno Sour – the ultimate mixture of flavours. Here are our top six reasons it’s the cocktail you need to try.

Chicken wings are one of life’s greatest joys. Whether you like them crispy, deep fried, dripping in sauce or so hot you break in to a sweat while you’re eating, there’s one thing we can all agree on: chicken wings are the actual best. If you were to poll the public on their favourite meal we’re pretty sure “wings and beer” would be right up there.

There are so many things that are oh-so great about winter in the beauty and style stakes… From cosy coats to cool-weather layers, dark lip shades and matching nails. Pair with cosying up next to open fires, Netflix binges and eating all of the food and you’re basically set for the season.

It’s not quite the tourist trap it used to be.

Come for Vivid Sydney, then stay for everything else Sydney has to offer.

The best, sauciest, most soul-satisfying ribs are just under your nose.

Coordinate dressing is a must this season and we’re crushing hard on the mix and match options currently available.

At The Urban List we’re all about makeup being fun. Thanks to these seriously adorbs offerings from a host of Korean brands makeup can be just that: super flippin’ fun. 

Happy Australia Day! Here at the Urban List we believe that is it important to recognise the national custodians of this land as well as celebrating the rich and diverse culture of our great country. So, we've teamed up with Stokehouse City chef, Ollie Hansford, who has created a recipe for us to share that showcases our country's natural bounty.

​Happy Straya' day team! We thought we'd really set you up for a day of excellent festivities and the ultimate Aussie party activity - a drinking game! Get stuck in*, celebrate and be thankful for the public holiday.

As FebFast approaches, over here at The Urban List we thought it was high time to start talking about alcohol. This month we've seen the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans released, which brings into question the old adage that a healthy diet is void of alcohol. However, at the same time across the pond in the UK, we've been hearing that the long-held assumption that a glass of red wine is good for you is actually not true at all. 

Unless your last name is Kardashian, or you mastered the art of the flat lay early on, getting all the #instalove ain’t easy. From blurry selfies and cat photos to a ‘gram that shit or it didn’t happen’ approach, Instagram has morphed into a seriously popular social media platform.

Get downloading and prepare to clock 2016—with a helping technological hand. 

From pizza to Pad Thai, ceviche to curry, Dubai is nothing short of a paradise for foodies. You’ll no doubt munch your way through the city’s diverse (and delicious) culinary offerings, but there’s one cuisine that deserves more attention than the others—Middle Eastern.

Wouldn’t life be grand if you could jet off every time you felt a Francophilic whim for the wines, cheeses, clothes and culture of France: the fabled land of baguettes and Breton stripes?

When you’re staring down the barrel of a hangover from hell, don’t, under any circumstances, reach for the take out menu—you won’t find anything good for your bod there.

Irish cuisine conjures up images of cosy pubs, warming pies, and heady pints of Guinness—it’s the ultimate comfort food, and sure to cure any hunger pain, no matter how intense.

In the spirit of spreading a little holiday cheer, we’ve ranked all your alcohol options in order of healthiness. Mainly because no one actually likes the taste of a vodka soda.

Pintxos, tapas, raciones, charcuterie, sangria, vino; whatever it is, if it’s about food, drink and the good times, you can guarantee, the Spanish have it locked down.

Melbourne's craft beer scene is on the up and up, and it's largely thanks to one small brewery in Melbourtne's bustling Brunswick East, making serious waves in the international beer market: Temple Brewery.

We caught up with Group Content Director for The Urban List, Kim Barnard over one busy weekend in Melbourne town as she educates us on the etiquette of track-side meat pies, getting fatter at Fatto, and the best Rueben, ever.

From some of Australia’s best restaurants and bars that don’t require a reservation, to booking a hotel on a whim (we love Booking.com’s new Booking Now app for this!), The Urban List editors in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have put together the ultimate itineraries in and around our fair cities to help you be spontaneous wherever you go.

Each month one member of The Urban List team will be sharing their current obsessions, and—shock—not all of it’s edible! This month, Urban List Content Director, Kim Barnard shares her new favourite everythings: from the best burger, to her new Apple watch, here’s what on her radar.