Barwon Club Hotel
Geelong's home of live music for over 160 years. Two stages — The Bandroom and The Barn — hosting touring international acts, local bands, trivia nights and DJ sets. Monday Parmi Night at $22 is a local institution.
Valley Inn Hotel
Sports bar with alfresco area, Carlton Draught Tank Beer (copper tanks, delivered weekly) and a chef-designed bistro menu. Free off-street parking. Open daily from 10am.
Little Creatures Brewery Geelong
Craft beer and seasonal dining in Geelong's iconic historic Valley Worsted Mills wool mill. The Canteen serves a seasonal menu in an atmospheric heritage setting with brewery tours available.
Elephant & Castle Hotel
CBD institution since 1891 with one of Geelong's best beer gardens. Steak nights Wednesday & Friday from $25, Parmi Night Thursday $24, Jackpot Trivia, Sunday Roast $30, and free live bands every weekend.
National Hotel
Three levels of heritage pub in the heart of Geelong CBD — public bar, open fireplace dining room, and rooftop terrace with retractable roof and skyline views. Live music & DJ nights Friday–Saturday.
Eureka Hotel
Heritage hotel in the CBD since 1912 with a celebrated beer garden, craft tap selection and live music on weekends. Function spaces for events up to 200 guests.
Malt Shovel Taphouse
Craft beer taphouse with 20+ taps, beer garden and live entertainment in the heart of the CBD. One of the best craft beer selections in Geelong with a rotating taps list.
Sir Charles Darling Hotel
Victorian heritage pub named after the 1863 Governor. Specialty pub nights for parmis, steaks, seafood and burgers. Refurbished dining room, beer garden and function rooms.
The Commo Hotel
Long-standing CBD local with a sizeable beer garden, bistro, sports bar with TAB and regular live music. A pub of the people with a relaxed atmosphere and good value meals.
Sir Charles Hotham Hotel
Four-generation family-run pub on the corner of Brougham and Mercer Streets — generous bistro meals, gluten-free options and a true neighbourhood atmosphere. Tue–Sat from 11am.
Centra
Corner CBD local on Yarra and Myers Streets — traditional pub bistro, gaming machines, sports screens and live music events. One of Geelong's longer-standing neighbourhood hotels, open 7 days.
Geelong Waterfront
2 venuesSailors' Rest
Multi-level foreshore venue with a rooftop bar overlooking Corio Bay — beer garden, second-floor lounge with DJs every weekend, and a menu built around locally sourced seafood. Open 7 days from 8:30am.
Edge Geelong
Panoramic Corio Bay views, hand-crafted cocktails, all-day dining and live DJs every weekend on Eastern Beach Rd. Open 7 days, Sunday brunch from 8am.
The Cremorne Hotel
Three-room pub at the river end of Pakington St — bistro dining, beer garden with TAB & Fox Sports, and boutique beers from local and international breweries.
Sawyers Arms Tavern
One of Geelong's oldest pubs ('Clats') — open fireplaces, two dining rooms, and a Chef's Hat restaurant upstairs. Eileen's next door is one of Geelong's best steak restaurants.
Gold Diggers Arms Hotel
Heritage pub since 1854 on Skene Street in Newtown — live music, beer garden, TAB, function rooms and a solid bistro that attracts locals from across the suburb.
Lord of the Isles Tavern
Geelong's beloved "Lordies" — community pillar for decades. Bistro open 7 days for lunch and dinner, Foxtel, TAB, Nightlife Music and function facilities. Open from 8am daily.
Great Western Hotel
Neighbourhood pub on Aberdeen Street with a spacious beer garden, bistro, TAB and regular live music events. Popular with Newtown and Geelong West residents for casual dining and evening drinks.
The Telegraph Hotel
Award-winning gastro pub with a rooftop terrace and modern Australian menu. Craft beer, wine and function spaces on the iconic Pakington St strip.
Petrel Hotel
One of Geelong's oldest pubs — a proper neighbourhood local with a beer garden, bistro with an open fireplace and full TAB. Revitalised kitchen, same Pak St character.
Queen of the West
700sqm all-weather beer garden with a wood-fired pizza oven and 12 taps. Live music on weekends, restaurant and functions. Heritage pub, recently renovated.
Murphys Geelong
Live music, trivia nights and happy hour Tue–Fri 4–6pm on Aberdeen Street. Function spaces for 150+, one of the best beer gardens in the suburb with free parking out back.
Barwon Heads
2 venuesBarwon Heads Hotel
Coastal pub with $24 parmi Wednesdays, $28 steak Thursdays, cocktail lounge, sports bar and summer live music. Accommodation available — a great base for exploring the Bellarine Peninsula.
Tommy Gunns
Modern bistro and wine bar in a weatherboard cottage. French-inspired seasonal menu across three spaces: courtyard, main bar and dining room. Happy hour Fri & Sat 4–6pm. Closed Mon & Tue.
Belmont
2 venuesBelmont Hotel
1920s art-deco pub with rooftop beer garden, live music & DJs every weekend. Monthly trivia night ($15 parmis, free entry). Functions to 120 guests.
The Grovedale Hotel
Est. 1859 — three spaces: Pioneer Kitchen bistro, The Juke open-air garden bar with live music Fri & Sat, and The Members End sports bar with Foxtel.
Ocean Grove
2 venuesOcean Grove Hotel
The Bellarine's favourite local — sprawling beer garden, family bistro, Surfside Bar, kids' play area and 12 beers on tap. Mon–Tue from 3pm, Wed–Sun from noon.
The Mex
Ocean Grove's iconic Tex-Mex cantina — 30+ years, live music every Fri & Sat from 6:30pm, summer beer garden. Open from 5pm daily.
Torquay
2 venuesTorquay Hotel
Heart of the Surf Coast — full bistro 7 days, sports bar with TAB, live music, pokies, alfresco dining and accommodation. Open from 10am daily.
Blackman's Brewery
Torquay's original craft brewery — beer straight from serving tanks, wood-fired pizza and a summer beer garden 500m from the surf. Open Wed–Sun from 12pm.
The Esplanade Hotel Queenscliff
Queenscliff's community local since 1879. Bistro, sports bar, beer garden and Harry's on the Balcony bar. Open 7 days. 35 minutes from Geelong CBD on the Bellarine Peninsula.
Vue Grand Hotel
Heritage-listed Victorian hotel built in 1881. Fine dining restaurant, The Billiard Room bar and 23 boutique rooms. Open Thu–Sun. The right address for a special dinner on the Bellarine Peninsula.
The Queenscliff Hotel
Heritage gem built 1887 with luxury suites, exceptional dining and a planned Bathhouse wellness retreat with steam rooms and plunge pools. The Bellarine's finest hotel experience.
Corio & Norlane
2 venuesGateway Hotel Corio
Large community pub on the Princes Highway serving northern Geelong. Bistro, sports bar with TAB, kids' playground, function rooms and ample parking — a convenient local for the Corio community.
The Norlane Hotel
Unmissable Princes Highway landmark with a tribute to cycling great Sir Hubert 'Oppy' Opperman. All-day bistro from 11:30am, TAB from 9am and Entertainment Lounge open into the early hours.
Surf Coast & Great Ocean Road
4 venuesKlein's Anglesea Hotel
Social heart of the Anglesea surf community — family bistro, beer garden and live music on weekends. Perfect base for a Great Ocean Road getaway.
Lorne Hotel
Great Ocean Road institution on Mountjoy Parade with ocean views, buzzing bistro, live music and accommodation. The hub of Lorne's social scene from Christmas through Easter.
Winchelsea Hotel
Classic country pub on the Great Ocean Road route between Geelong and Colac. Cold beer, hearty bistro meals and bottle shop — the honest regional pub travellers and locals appreciate.
Mount Moriac Hotel
Friendly country pub on the Princes Highway between Geelong and Colac. Good value bistro meals, traditional front bar and outdoor seating — a welcome stop on the Great Ocean Road corridor.
Bellarine Peninsula
2 venuesSt Leonards Hotel
Made famous by TV's SeaChange — Bellarine Peninsula icon with spectacular Port Phillip Bay views, award-winning beer garden, seafood menu and motel accommodation right on the water.
White Eagle House
Sprawling community venue with large bistro, TAB, sports bar, pool tables and function rooms. Steak Night and Parmis of the World specialty nights. Free parking and family-friendly.
Regional Geelong
5 venuesWaurn Ponds Hotel
Community pub 10km from CBD with sports bar, TAB, kids playground, alfresco dining and the Ponds Café for takeaway coffee. Open 7 days from 11am.
Fyansford Hotel
Welcoming riverside community pub in the charming hamlet of Fyansford, just 5 minutes from the CBD. Bistro, spacious beer garden, TAB and live entertainment.
Batesford Hotel
Quality food and local drinks beside the Moorabool River, 10 minutes west of Geelong. The Moorabool Room function space has a private bar, stage, dance floor and open fireplace.
Bannockburn Railway Hotel
Family-friendly, locally owned hotel 24 minutes from the CBD. Renovated bar with pool table, TAB and Keno, spacious bistro with play room and two beer gardens.
Inverleigh Hotel
Historic bluestone pub trading since 1856 on the Hamilton Highway. Dog-friendly beer garden, cosy sporting memorabilia front bar, local craft beer and cider, 7-day bistro.
Wine & Cocktail Bars
See the guide →The Arborist
Rooftop bar and restaurant on Little Malop Street — open 7 days for lunch and dinner, with the rooftop opening Friday to Sunday from 3pm. Geelong's best elevated bar in the CBD.
The 18th Amendment Bar
Prohibition-era speakeasy with 600+ spirits and theatrical cocktails. One of the most distinctive bars in regional Victoria — Fri–Sat from 5pm on Geelong's cocktail strip.
Non Disclosure Bar
Intimate vintage cocktail bar — classic and contemporary cocktails until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. The late-night anchor of Geelong's Little Malop Street cocktail strip.
Tulip
Natural wine bar and contemporary dining on Pakington Street. Curated low-intervention wines with a seasonal small-plates menu — open Tue–Sat dinner and Fri–Sat lunch.
Meet Me At Mary's
Natural wine bar with Korean and Mediterranean share plates. Open Wed–Fri 5pm until midnight, Saturday from noon to midnight — one of Geelong West's most distinctive dining options.
Archive Wine Bar
Bar, bottle shop and deli with 300+ wines and 150 by the glass — one of the most serious wine lists in regional Victoria. Thu–Sun on High Street, Belmont.
The Covenant Wine Bar
Bellarine Peninsula wines, cocktails and pizza in the Ocean Grove town centre. A casual wine bar open Thursday through Sunday afternoons — the Bellarine's best wine stop.
