Pubs, Bars and Nightlife in and around Geelong

Geelong has an ever-changing and thriving nightlife with a diverse selection of pubs, bars and clubs. Whether you are after a quiet drink with friends before trying one of our great restaurants or partying until dawn there is something for everyone.

Only a few years ago there was a lot of dreary old pubs, a several dodgy nightclubs and only a handful of popular nightspots like the Eureka, Preston and Queens Head. Well that has all changed, and like the transformation in the city, the entertainment scene has also changed with some of the best nightlife found outside of Melbourne.

Homehouse owned by paparazzi king Darren Lyons is top on the list of places to party until dawn, and Rush Nightclub underground in Moorabool Street is a favorite for all the latest DJ action.

Another popular spot for the younger crowd is Room 99, Thursday and Saturday nights queues stretch down Ryrie Street.

Geelong has some great bars, where you can relax, listen to some tunes and kick back with a refreshment or two. Beavs Bar on the corner of James and Little Malop is a favorite and so is Mr. Hyde a new cosmopolitan bar in the old bank building above Erik’s world famous Rheingold German Restaurant. The nearby Carlton Hotel has a lovely ambience and plenty of live background music and Tannin hidden away in Rock O’Cashel Lane off the Mall is also a nice little place for a relaxing beer. The Blue Martini upstairs in James Street is also becoming quite popular.

Recently many of the town’s best restaurants now have bars where you can enjoy a refreshment or two, Four Points Sheraton on the Waterfront, The Wharf Shed, City Quarter on Cunningham Pier and who can forget Rimini in Moorabool Street where Leo and his Mamma make everyone welcome for some homemade specalities and cold beer.

The Sporting Globe and The Bended Elbow are two hotels that have grown out of the redevelopment of older hotels. Millions of dollars have been spent on the older Preston Hotel / Ha’penny Bridge and ICON (formerly The Corio Hotel) to open these premises. The Eureka, once the hottest spot in Geelong has recently undergone a huge multi-million dollar renovations and see its name stripped back to its traditional “The Eureka” after being cheesely known as the “Eureka Sportz Saloon Cafe” for a number of years.

The Edge Geelong and City Quarter are new players in town, offering a great choice of beers, quality surrounds these bars have grown out what was once a car park and the former Smorgy’s function room respectively.

A favorite for the alternative band scene and very popular with Uni students is the Nash. The National Hotel also has a great “Inta-National” noodle bar which serves into the evening.

The Max just down from the Ford Discovery Centre is a trendy and popular place and has regular entertainment. Lambys underneath the National Wool Centre has been a huge crowd puller for years and is very popular Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Lamby’s team with some our big Geelong Football names have also just opened the Edge. A brand new bar big enough for 700 people on Geelong’s waterfront, is sure to be the newest hit in town.

Corio Street is also home to two of our more popular pubs, The Bush Inn, hidden behind GMHBA and the Scottish Chiefs behind the huge Westfield Big W complex. Both offer great meals, and are very popular as Friday after work spots.

A few traditional pubs are left, offering great service, ice cold beer and tasty cheap meals. The Sir Charles Hotham in Brougham street has a great friendly atmosphere, The Lord Nelson in Bellarine Street and Sir Charles Darling on the corner of Little Malop Street and Bellarine are the last of the true Aussie Pubs. A little more south, you will find the Valley Inn in Fyans Street a vibrant old time pub and the Barwon Club on just up from the Barwon River in Moorabool Street, which is very popular and features some great music. Just over the river the newly opened Belmont Hotel is quickly gaining a reputation for some of the town’s best pub meals and a great place to hang out.

For pokie lovers, Geelong has plenty, Jokers and The Phoenix in the city and The Lord of the Isles, in Newtown. Many of the larger pubs in the outer suburbs like The Peninsula, The Waurn Ponds, The Grovedale, The Gateway and The Sphinx also have huge gaming facilities. Many of the big sporting and community clubs also operate gaming venues.

On the city fringe there are some other favorites, including the Commun Na Feine on the corner of Bellarine and Myers Street is known for its fantastic and great value meals. The Elephant Castle in Kilgour Street which is home to the city’s biggest St Patricks Day Celebration and a favorite on Sunday afternoons. The Carrington up near St Mary’s Basilica, offering ice cold beer and a great menu.

A little out of town, Pakington Street offers some great pubs, Down the river end you will find the Cremone, great food, TAB and ice cold beer, A few hundred metres off the strip on La Trobe Terrace opposite Kardinia Park there’s the Caledonian and Sayers Arms all very popular on game day. Further Up Pakington Street there’s The Barking Dog, one of Geelong’s most popular pubs, Cloud Nine Bar, the more traditional Petrel and newly renovated Telegraph Hotel which is doing a roaring trade. A few streets back a few other popular pubs include the Saleyards, or Yards which serves arguably Geelong’s best chicken schnitzel and the Great Western along Shannon Avenue. For those looking for some Irish fun, Irish Murphys on Aberdeen Street is a popular haunt especially Friday and Saturday nights.