Pubs & Bars in Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie has a strong pub and bar scene for a regional town, with waterfront venues, a nationally awarded live music pub, an impressive whisky bar, and several heritage country pubs within 30 minutes of the CBD. Here's the local guide to where to drink.
Best Pubs and Bars in Port Macquarie: Quick Reference
Best waterfront bars: Florence Jones, The Beach House, Little Shack, Jimmy’s Bar
Best live music venue: Finnian's Tavern, Port Macquarie CBD
Best whisky bar: Jimmy's Bar and Lounge, The Westport Club
Best wine bar: Florence Jones Cheese & Wine, Clarence St
Best riverside bar with live music: The Beach House, or Panthers
Best Brewery: Moorebeer Brewing Co, Merrigal Road
Best Sports Bar: The Non-Thinkers Bar- Port City Bowling Club
Best destination pub (30 mins south): The Royal Hotel, Kew
Best country pub (20 mins): Beechwood Hotel, Beechwood
Best remote pub experience (1 hour): Long Flat Pub, Long Flat
Best Bar with an activity: X-Golf Port Macquarie
Best Pub for a family meal: Settlers Inn or Tacking Point Tavern
Scroll on for all the details!
Best Waterfront Bars in Port Macquarie:
Right on Town Green overlooking the Hastings River, The Beach House (‘the Beachy’), and Little Shack, are two of Port Mac's most loved venues for a reason. The food is good, the views are outstanding, and the golden-hour verandas are the best spots in town. The vibe: relaxed, coastal, welcoming, and on a weekend you’ll often get a DJ and/or live musos.
A five minute walk around to Town Wharf and you’ll find Florence Jones, a boutique wine bar with a truly impressive deli. Build your own next-level cheese and charcuterie board, or choose from the house menu. Eat/Drink in this charming riverside bar (perfect for sunset views), or take it away.
Head across the bridge to the Westport Club and you’ll find Jimmy’s Bar upstairs. With over 100 whiskeys to choose from in plush surrounds, plus an extensive wine, beer and cocktail list and those floor-to-ceiling river views. At the Marina, there’s Rocksalt, and at Sails, there’s the Hampton’s-style Boathouse Bar, also with lovely views.
Best Live Music Venue: Finnian's Irish Tavern
Finnian's Tavern has been named NSW's Best Live Music Venue by the AHA not once, but twice, and it's earned the title. The charcoal-grilled steaks are legendary, the Guinness is cold, and there are local and touring live acts regularly drawing people in from across the region. Great craic, excellent food, and a lively atmosphere. This place is a good time!
Best Riverside Bars with Live Music: The Beach House, & Panthers TAPP Bar
The Beach House needs no introduction and is hard to miss, taking pride of place on Town Green overlooking the river. Expect DJs on weekends, and the Sunday Sessions here are popular, with live musos and sundowners. Panthers Port Macquarie's TAPP Bar does woodfired pizzas, share plates and handcrafted cocktails with live music every weekend on the banks of the Hastings River. Industrial-chic fitout, waterfront setting, and the kind of long-arvo energy that's very hard to leave. Connected to the Kove Kitchen for anyone wanting a full dinner.
Best Brewery in Port Macquarie: Moorebeer Brewing Co
Seventeen taps, award-winning beers brewed right there on site, a cocktail menu that's taken off, live music, a food truck and an easy-going atmosphere. Moorebeer is in the industrial area of town, and is popular with the after work/weekend arvo local crowd. Dogs are welcome and the tasting paddle is the right way to start.
Best Destination Pub Near Port Macquarie: The Royal Hotel, Kew
Thirty minutes south in the village of Kew, The Royal Hotel has been serving cold beers since 1891. A full restoration has turned it into a destination pub with a family-friendly bistro, a lush beer garden, luxe country rooms upstairs, and live music on weekends. It's just minutes from the Camden Haven's best beaches, so it works as both a day trip and an overnight. 2 Ocean Drive, Kew NSW. royalhotelkew.com.au // (02) 6559 4099
Best Country Pubs: The Beechwood Hotel & The Long Flat Pub
Five minutes from Wauchope and recently voted Australia's best country pub. The Beechwood Hotel is friendly, unpretentious and genuinely lovely. They have a hitching rail for horses, which tells you something about the kind of place it is. Home of the famous annual Beechwood Billycart Classic. Then there’s the legendary Long Flat Pub. It’s a fair drive (about an hour along the Oxley Highway from Port Mac) but this place is worth it. A country beer garden overlooking river flats, riverside camping available through the pub, and cold beers that taste better for the drive. BYO tent fishing gear, and make a weekend of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pubs & Bars in Port Macquarie
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With so many good ones, it’s hard to choose just one! Both Little Shack, and The Beach House (The Beachy) on Town Green are the most popular bars in Port Macquarie, known for their Hastings River views and buzzing atmosphere. Jimmy's Bar and Lounge at The Westport Club is the best option for cocktails and whisky in a more elevated setting, Florence Jones Cheese & Wine for sunset views, boutique wines and incredible cheese and charcuterie. Birdrock Bar & Grill has next-level cocktails and a fab bar menu and The Beachfront Bar & Grill at Port City Bowling Club has a great fit-out and ocean views.
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Locals frequent Florence Jones, Little Shack, Moorebeer Brewing Co on Merrigal Road, Jimmy’s Bar, Stick Bar and Finnian's Tavern. Just out of town, Settlers Inn and Tacking Point Tavern are popular local joints.
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Yes, regularly. Finnian's Tavern is NSW's Best Live Music Venue (AHA Award) and hosts local and touring acts. The Beach House runs Sunset Sounds every Sunday from 3 to 6pm. Moorebeer Brewing Co and Panthers TAPP Bar also run regular live music throughout the week.
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The Royal Hotel in Kew, 30 minutes south of Port Mac, is a beautifully restored 1891 heritage pub with a great bistro, beer garden and live music. The Beechwood Hotel, 15 minutes away near Wauchope, is consistently regarded as one of Australia's best country pubs.
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The Royal Hotel in Kew has luxe country rooms upstairs and is a popular overnight option. The Long Flat Pub offers riverside camping on its grounds. Several venues in Port Macquarie's CBD also have accommodation attached.
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Yes, although not many after midnight. On Fri/Sat nights, the Port Macquarie Hotel (‘The Macca’) has DJs til late, as does Altitude Nightclub. Tacking Point Tavern and Settlers Inn have a 2am finish on Fri/Sat, and a couple of large clubs- Panthers & the Westport Club stay open past midnight with service in the gaming areas.
Locals Love
