Soak up the good life in the Geelong and Bellarine region.
On this edition of the best pubs and bars, we head out to the Bellarine.
Typically renowned for the award-winning wineries in the region, the Bellarine has a number of pubs and bars on offer.
Let’s explore:
Drysdale Hotel
Address: 8 Collins Street, Drysdale
Vibe: Family friendly pub
Outdoor area: Beer garden
Dedicated menu: Classic pub
The last stop before the winery region and the Port Phillip coastline, Drysdale Hotel is the go-to local watering hole, and for good reason. With a quality country pub menu and atmosphere friendly for kids, along with excellent service, Drysdale Hotel has continued to maintain its historic charm. It also helps that a bottle-o is conveniently attached and Thursday night trivia is always a good time!
View this post on Instagram
Queenscliff Brewhouse
Address: 2 Gellibrand Street, Queenscliff 3225
Vibe: Mix of relaxed Sunday arvo drinks and high energy Saturday nights
Outdoor area: Big outdoor beer garden
Dedicated menu: Generous menu of seafood options, classic pub and fresh recipes
Technically on the brewery side of the table, Queenscliff Brewhouse resides in a historically hotel/pub setting. With a generous selection of Queenscliff Brewhouse and Prickly Moses varieties on tap, tasting offerings and a cellar door, this spot is a rounded spot to suit all acquired tastes.
View this post on Instagram
Portarlington Grand Hotel
Address: 76 Newcombe Street, Portarlington
Vibe: Family-friendly, summery
Outdoor area: Lawn dining setup
Dedicated menu: Woodfire Pizza and local seafood-heavy
An Artium, a bistro, a lawn and a public front bar, Portarlington Grand Hotel has seating options galore! Located on the main drag of Portarlington, the Grand Hotel holds the title of the Jewel of the Bellarine Peninsula. Established in 1888, this building is equally as impressive as the fresh produce filled menu on offer.
View this post on Instagram
Blackman’s Brewery
Address: 82 The Terrace, Ocean Grove
Vibe: Summer beer and burger bar
Outdoor area: Beer Garden
Dedicated menu: Burgers
This independently-owned brew company known for their colourful, in flavour and appearance, beers has created another bright and bubbly venue to reflect their signature brand on Ocean Grove’s main strip in one of the town’s most historic buildings. With locations in Geelong and Torquay too, the Ocean Grove space includes a beer garden, rotating taps of their core range and seasonals alongside an epic burger menu to match.
View this post on Instagram
Address: 2/62 The Terrace, Ocean Grove
Vibe: Intimate wine bar experience
Outdoor area: Street dining
Dedicated menu: Wine, cheese and charcuterie
Previously Roberta’s Wine Bar & Deli, The Covenant Wine Bar sits at the west end of The Terrace, gifting locals a central spot for local wines, scrumptious cocktails, platters of specialty cheeses and cured meats, and delicious pizza’s in the beautiful seaside town of Ocean Grove.
Transformed by Rachael & Ty Simons, the name of the wine bar reflects Ocean Grove’s history in having a covenant from its Methodist past – “no part of the above land shall be used for the manufacture of sale of malted spirituous or vinous liquors”. To this day a covenant still exists on parts of ‘old’ Ocean Grove and businesses wanting to sell or serve alcohol have to apply to have it lifted.
View this post on Instagram
The OG Bar
Address: 63 The Terrace, Ocean Grove
Vibe: Inviting, buoyant homage to live music
Outdoor area: Outdoor terrace
Dedicated menu: Cocktails + Pizza
If you’re looking for a great bar with live music and breathtaking views, this is the one for you. While the location and the almost museum-like collection of original guitars and records signed by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Kurt Cobain, The Traveling Wilburys, Rolling Stones, Elton John, Queen, U2, and Pink Floyd is enough to get you there, the mouthwatering cocktails and local live musos are enough to make you stay.
View this post on Instagram
Saints and Sailors
Address: 36 Newcombe Street, Portarlington
Vibe: Vibrant
Outdoor area: Beer garden
Dedicated menu: Seafood southern style + street cuisine
Saint and Sailors lean into their love for music through both decor and a stacked live music program. Bringing vibrance to the calm coastal nightlife of Portarlington, Saint and Sailors has a huge regular crowd due to their bold street food, cozy outdoor firepit area and talented musical acts every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
View this post on Instagram
Noble Rot Wine Bar
Address: 51 Point Lonsdale Road, Point Lonsdale
Vibe: Quiet, charming
Outdoor area: Street dining
Dedicated menu: Refined pairing menu
Tucked into the elbow of the Bellarine is a charming wine bar, Noble Rot. Boasting an impressive and extensive wine list, a delicately curated pairing menu of fresh food, and a stunning sea breeze view, Noble Rot is a gorgeous seaside bar with a focus on attention to detail.
View this post on Instagram
Little Mussel Cafe
Address: 230-250 Queenscliff Road, Portarlington
Vibe: Relaxed
Outdoor area: Outdoor deck dining
Dedicated menu: Mussel and Seafood heavy
As the name suggests, Little Mussel Cafe, are the mussel specialists. Both a cafe with lunch and dining options, Little Mussel Cafe makes the list as they do a killer cocktail! You can book for drink only sessions featuring an excellent selection of beer, cider and local wines, but you can’t go past trying their seafood menu and their mussel namesake specialty.
View this post on Instagram
Circa 1902
Address: 59 Hesse Street, Queenscliff
Vibe: Relaxed and warm
Outdoor area: Outdoor and balcony dining
Dedicated menu: Seafood-heavy
Dubbed the ‘Best Alfresco Restaurant’ in the heart of Queenscliff, Circa 1902 is a local favourite for a quiet Sunday meal. With a focus on showcasing the freshest local seafood from the bay area, Circa 1902 is a perfect dining option when visiting the Borough.
View this post on Instagram
Ocean Grove Hotel
Address: 175 Bonnyvale Road, Ocean Grove
Vibe: Family-friendly, contemporary pub
Outdoor area: Beer garden and outdoor dining
Dedicated menu: Classic Pub + fine cuisine
Set within 150m from the beach, The Ocean Grove Hotel has slowly become the ideal place for locals and holidaymakers alike to visit to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the open beer gardens, sports bar and kids’ play area for the children as well as the delicious menu. If a more casual dining experience is what you are looking for then the front bar, fully equipped with its 4 large flat-screen TVs and pool table, is the place for you. Live sport airs daily on Foxtel plus a full bar menu is available with cold beers on tap. Plus, there’s also a healthy roster of live music.
View this post on Instagram
St Leonards Hotel
Address: 496 The Esplanade, St Leonards
Vibe: Family friendly, coastal relaxed
Outdoor area: Outdoor dining and beer garden
Dedicated menu: Classic Pub
You can’t miss St Leonards Hotel with its seaside location. Once a feature location on the popular TV series, Seachange, St Leonards Hotel offers the best views of Port Phillip Bay whilst serving up a classic pub menu of favourites. Not much not to love about this iconic pub.
View this post on Instagram
Vue Grand
Address: 46-48 Hesse Street, Queenscliff
Vibe: Family-friendly relaxed
Outdoor area: Courtyard dining
Dedicated menu: Pub classics
Typically known as a wedding location due to its opulent Granding Dining Room, Vue Grand in Queenscliff doubles as a classic restaurant and bar space and maintains a reasonably priced menu.
While the Grand Dining Room is currently closed, The Vue Grand Hotel’s Vue Street Bar has a relaxed atmosphere for you to just sit back and watch the world go by. Enjoy local Bellarine wines and cider alongside a menu of pub favourites.
View this post on Instagram
The Whiskery
Address: 2 Scotchmans Rd, Drysdale
Vibe: Rustic, relaxed summer afternoon
Outdoor area: Ourdoor deck and lawn area
Dedicated menu: Gin cocktails, pizza and cheese and produce platters
Nestled on the Bellarine Peninsula, The Whiskery is the perfect place to yarn over beautiful local gin as you sink into the couches and chairs on the lawn, revelling in the warmth of the fireplace in the colder months. If you’re not big on Gin, marvel through the long list of local wines, craft beers and ciders to enjoy or soft options for the drivers!
Ready to go into Geelong? Check out the best pubs and bars in Geelong here.
