When it starts to get a little chilly in Victoria I always think about packing my bag and heading up the country for a pint and a good old fashioned pub feed.
If I’m lucky, pulling up stumps for the night and going back to those pints as well and catching up with old friends, or making new ones.
We’re pretty lucky in Victoria, we definitely have some of Australia’s best country pubs. Big, grand old dames, or ramshackle, quirky little numbers with plenty of nooks and crannies.
Victoria’s Best Country pubs are tough to nail down. Is it the vibe, is it solid gigs, where does food fit into the equation? What about a bangin’ wine list, because that certainly exists too.
Well, good thing for you I’ve slipped on my Blundstones, got out there and checked out this, what I’m calling comprehensive and well-pruned, list of Victoria’s Best Country Pubs and crunched the numbers on just how long the drive is too.
In no particular order, these are Victoria’s Best Country Pubs for 2025:
Tanswell’s Commercial Hotel
50 Ford Street, Beechworth
Distance from Melbourne: 3.5 hours
Image: Tanswell's Commercial Hotel | Wikipedia
Chances are if you’ve been to one country pub in Victoria, it’s the Tanswells. She dates back to 1873, and was built by former convict turned business man Thomas Tanswell and the rest is history. Best known for its raucous gigs (honestly, the acts that play here are unreal) and festivals and proximity to Bridge Road Brewers next door you couldn’t pick a better spot for a weekend away out of the city. Upstairs there’s rooms starting from around $100 and you don’t even have to leave with a cracking kitchen serving everything from big juicy t-bones to finessed gnocchi and even some game if you’re there in the right season. Bonus points for their local wine with some beautiful High Country drops.
"You have to go up for a gig, truly, I'm talking like Glass Beams, Private Function, The Black Sorrows, it's an awesome mix of who's who in Aussie music and a bangin' time," Urban List Melbourne Editor Navarone Farrell says.
Blackwoods Hotel
1 Golden Point Road, Blackwood
Distance from Melbourne: 90 minutes
Image: The Blackwood Hotel | Supplied
How far would you drive for some Sizzler-style cheese toast? 'Cos we're happy to spend an hour heading up to the Blackwood Hotel for a little slice of nostalgia and a frosty pint to match. Nestled just at the start of the historic mining town Blackwood, enjoy a drive up through the town's imposing namesake forest before arriving. In the 2016 census there were less than 100 residents in town, so you know this is the real deal. The pub (Victoria's oldest continuously licensed weatherboard hotel if you're a history buff) dates back to 1868. The bespoke renovations have given it a bright and airy outlook while retaining those key historic features, like Cobb & Co signage and original wallpaper.
Urban List Melbourne Editor Navarone Farrell says, "Go for the vibes and to unwind and stay for lunch, the Blackwood is so comfy you'll feel like its an extension of your living room, like a lot of the locals do (which is how you know it's good)."
Fish Creek Hotel
1 Old Waratah Road, Fish Creek
Distance from Melbourne: 2.5 hours
Image: The Fish Creek Hotel | Visit Victoria
Colloquially known as The Fishy, The Fish Creek Hotel is a regular stop-off for punters on their way to Wilsons Prom. But I’m telling you it’s a destination in its own right. This Art Deco stunner dates back to 1939 and has had a bit of a zhush in recent years. Our favourite bit is the namesake fish hanging on to the side of the pub, it’s a cracker. Inside it’s got all the trappings of what you’d expect from a country pub, but the menu is what we’re stopping off for. Get some Korean Fried Popcorn Chicken up you to cure the road trip blues, or French Dip Beef Sliders, or a whole rack of Pork Back Ribs. If you’ve had a few too many you can even grab a room upstairs for a cheeky $100. Best time of year to go is definitely over summer and New Year’s Eve the town has an excellent carnival on.
Royal Mail Hotel
98 Parker Street, Dunkeld
Distance from Melbourne: 4 hours
The Royal Mail Hotel experience is a bucket-list situation. Situated in Dunkeld, under the shadow of Gariward (that's one of the striking Southern Grampians mountains) which add to the sense of wonder, an adventure up here is going to take up your whole weekend. Start your visit at the Parker Street Project, a casual-ish diner that uses seasonal local produce to craft your fave pub classics (think a completely OTT chicken parma). There's accommodation built into the pub and there's off-site cabins as well that are *stunning*. The following day, add a slice of sophistication to your country excursion and dine at Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel which oozes class, and is one of Victoria's best restaurants.
Urban List Melbourne Editor Navarone Farrell says, "You have to check out the cellar over the road which has more than 25,000 bottles, and take a kitchen garden tour. The experiences are usually included in your booking but they are absolute musts to enjoy everything that Dunkeld and the Royal Mail Hotel has to offer."
Lorne Hotel
176 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne
Distance from Melbourne: 2 hours
The Lorne Hotel is pretty iconic. Whether you have fond memories of posting up pre or post Falls Festival, or it's just that Easter fave you go back to every year, there's no denying the Lorne Hotel is one of Victoria's best country pubs. Hang out on the expansive terrance and soak up the views while you knock back a couple of brews from the many Great Ocean Road breweries.
Next time you’re heading down the coast, be sure to bookmark this one. Also, if you need somewhere to stay while you're on the Great Ocean Road, here's our picks.
The Metung Hotel
64 Kurnai Avenue, Metung
Distance from Melbourne: 4 hours
Image: The Metung Hotel | Visit Victoria
We know we've chatted waterfront views before but truly, it doesn't get much better than this. The Metung Hotel in Metung offers stunning views over Bancroft Bay, with cracking coastal pub fare to match. This waterfront gem is reminiscent of those childhood pubs your folks would take you to on family holidays, with little touches like locally sourced seafood and its nautical charm.
Urban List Melbourne Editor Navarone Farrell says, "While you're up that way make sure you visit the counterpart to the Peninsula Hot Springs, the Metung Hot Springs, it's even more stunning than the original, if that's possible."
The Portsea Hotel
3746 Point Nepean Road, Portsea
Distance from Melbourne: 1hr 45 mins
Is it a country pub if it's on the coast? We're counting it anyway simply because The Portsea Hotel hotel is a must visit. Built in 1876, the historic venue has had a recent glow-up and is stunning, inside and out. Safe to say the selection of Peninsula-focused seafood and wines to match is a drawcard but its their lush Amalfi Coast-inspired beer garden that really delivers, with its menu to match. Our pick is heading down on a Sunday for a roast and to watch the boats peacefully bob in the water opposite.
The Wandi Pub
580 Morses Creek Road, Wandiligong
Distance from Melbourne: 4 hours
The history of The Wandi Pub is rich and well known, having been around since 1864. But it wasn’t until 2015 when Publicans Tim Heuchan and Paddy Subacius took over and transformed it back to its original glory. This place has it all, live music, enormous beer, wine and cocktail menu, classic pub fare and even a brunch menu. Yep, expect the full swathe, you can hang out and catch some country music, enjoy the rustic charm and even make a weekend of it with more High Country things to do this way.
The Avoca Hotel
115 High Street, Avoca
Distance from Melbourne: 2 hrs 30 mins
Image: The Avoca Hotel | Visit Victoria
Yep, she's a charmer. Located in Avoca, The Avoca Hotel is a gem of a pub in the Central Highlands, just near the Pyrenees and a little north of Ballarat. Think rustic timber beams, open fireplaces, and a sprawling beer garden under ancient trees. TThis award-winning establishment plays host to an impressive array of dining options including your classic pub style menu, and a more special dining room menu. Naturally, beverage options are excellent, featuring local wines (did you know the Pyreness is a crackine wine region?) and beers and cocktails. Be sure to save this one for the next road trip.
Aireys Pub
45 Great Ocean Road, Aireys Inlet
Distance from Melbourne: 2 hours
Image: Aireys Pub | Visit Victoria
Put simply, you cannot visit the Great Ocean Road without visiting Aireys Pub. Owners Tim Wood and Phil Johnson saved the iconic establishment back in 2011, with the help of locals, and gave the 1904 pub a new lease on life. The historic building, open fireplaces, and quirky decor set the scene for relaxed dining and top-notch local brews. The menu leans into surf-and-turf goodness—think grass-fed steaks, fresh catch of the day, and crispy woodfired pizzas. With live music, a sunny beer garden, and a short stroll to the iconic Split Point Lighthouse, it’s the perfect blend of laid-back charm and road-trip nostalgia. Stop in, settle in, and let the coastal vibes take over. With an in-house microbrewery producing award winning beer, Aireys Pub has been continuously popular with locals and visitors all year round.
P.S. If you haven't already, check out these top spots to stay when you're down the Great Ocean Road.
Ocean View Hotel Kilcunda
3531-3533 Bass Highway, Kilcunda
Distance from Melbourne: 2hours
The view from the Ocean View Hotel is nothing short of extraordinary. Rolling hills overlooking the ocean, this South Gippsland establishment is a fantastic option next time you’re in the area. Known as “The Killy Pub”, the food options are delicious and diverse. The menu is packed with crowd-pleasers—think fish and chips, juicy burgers, and perfectly poured local beers. Whether you’re tackling the Bass Coast Walk or just cruising the scenic route, this is the spot for a pit stop with a view. Laid-back, friendly, and undeniably coastal, it’s the kind of pub that makes you want to stay all afternoon.
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