Pubs, bars, clubs and wineries; where to get a drink in the Murray River region
Jay Dillon
Touring the Murray River region is one of Victoria’s great adventures, but it sure is thirsty work!
After all that walking along the river gums, kayaking the river shoreline or exploring the endless range of gift shops, providores, galleries and museums you are surely going to be in need of a drink!
Here’s our list of top places to wet the whistle, find some great food and take a well-deserved break.
Woomargama Hotel
Just off the Hume Highway, about 30min north of Albury sits the Woomargama Hotel. This classic country pub is as popular with the locals as it is with travellers looking for a proper bistro feed off the highway. Keep an eye on their social media feed for specials like locals’ night on Tuesdays and Sunday pizza specials.
It’s well worth staying a night or two to explore the nearby Woomargama National Park and Tabletop Mountain with endless hiking trails, waterfalls and fishing. Accommodation at the hotel itself includes well-kept rooms, motel units, and camping options.
Table Top Hotel
Formerly known as the Ettamogah Pub, the distinctive design of this hotel on the side of the Hume Highway is based on a popular cartoon by Ken Maynard that was once a regular feature of the Australasian Post magazine.
Today, it is known as the Table Top Hotel and is a fantastic drop-in for a family feed of pizza, burgers and pub classics like chicken parma.
For those wanting to break up a long drive up the Hume, the hotel also offers free unpowered caravan and tent sites.
Thirsty Devil
The Thirsty Devil is a microbrewery and taproom located in the heart of Albury. The brewery was founded in 2013 by three friends who shared a passion for craft beer. The brewery has quickly become a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, with a dog-friendly beer garden and a kids play area.
The range of beers is excellent and includes a full-flavoured mid-strength beer for the designated driver. Pizzas can be ordered from Bonetti’s Pizzeria and brewery tours can be booked from the website.
Corowa Distilling
For years the Corowa flour mill sat empty and unloved after operations ceased in the 1970s. That was until a couple of locals took it over with dreams of distilling their own whisky and creating a tourism destination to breathe new life into the township.
Visitors can take a tour of the whisky-making process with head distiller Beau Schilg, finishing with a tasting of their award-winning whiskies.
The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch with a focus on seasonal dishes and you would be crazy to leave without some Belgian chocolate treats from the in-house chocolatier!
American Hotel
Affectionately known by locals as ‘The Yank’, this hotel set right in the middle of Echuca always has something happening. It’s a beautiful space, paying homage to the history of the region through the use of recycled timber from the old Echuca wharf.
The rooftop bar and lounge serves up classic pub meals with a contemporary twist. There’s a large sports bar to gather to watch the footy, and room to continue on the night with a regular schedule of live music. From spring to autumn Harry O’s Barbecue is cooking premium meats on the bbq smoker & rotisserie.
Club Mulwala
Visitors and locals of Mulwala and neighbouring Yarrawonga are spoilt to have the resort style offering of Club Mulwala. The club features a regular schedule of national acts in the auditorium and includes a 4-star resort and world-class spa centre.
Boasting three restaurants with distinct food offerings, the club has plenty of variety to offer the hungry visitor. Diggers Restaurant is a casual cafe-style restaurant serving pub classics for breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Stone Grill is a definite must visit, where quality local cuts of meat are served sizzling on a hot stone at the table. Oriental Pearl is a classic cantonese restaurant which is famous for it’s well-priced banquets.
Criterion Hotel
The Criterion captures one of the best views of Lake Mulwala and people come from far and wide to sit out on the sunny deck to enjoy a cold beer or refreshing cocktail.
The menu has been designed to capture the same casual vibe, with a full range of pizzas and other classic pub dishes like chicken or eggplant parma. We recommend the generously sized ploughman’s plate that easily satisfies two for a lunchtime feast.
Storyteller
There are many reasons to head north to Deniliquin, not least of which is this gorgeous speakeasy, run by a large moustached man that goes by ‘The Baron’.
Take a seat on the antique velvet lounges by the fire or else sit up at the bar where you would have to try hard not to make any new friends. There’s also regular performances on the small stage such as Jazz Piano and Spoken Word.
The drinks list is comprehensive, with the finest of gins and some outstanding whisky from around Australia and the world. Or else ask The Baron to whip you up a signature cocktail to put a spring in your step.
Gunbower Hotel
Ask anyone in the region where to get a good pub feed and you will hear the Gunbower Hotel come up again and again.
Richard McGillivray has run the pub for as long as anyone can remember and his steaks are legendary in these parts. That’s what happens when you not only cook the steaks but the meat comes off your own cattle farm just up the road.
The interior was always rough and ready, however during the Covid lockdowns Richard and partner Susi spent the downtime doing a beautiful renovation to the 82-year old pub.
Barham Vines
The first vines for this small-batch winery were planted by two brothers in 2012, with Shiraz, Cabernet and Tempranillo varieties thriving in the warmer climate.
Peter and Colin and their partners Kelly and Sharon have created a warm and friendly cellar door experience amongst the natural bushland setting and massive river red gums.
Guests can book ahead for a picnic hamper consisting of Barham Vines wine and a selection of cheeses and antipasto. On weekends, the owners fire up the wood-fired oven for tasty pizzas that will feed the whole family.
Peachy’s Bar
It’s the sort of place everyone wishes was in their town. A casual diner, serving fantastic food and drinks, with staff creating a friendly-fun atmosphere.
Lovers of Mexican should start with jalapeno poppers, followed by pork tacos washed down with kaffir and lime margarita. Burger fans have plenty of choices and vegetarian options include grilled cauliflower with a grain salad, topped with a tangy pomegranate yoghurt dressing.
This funky little diner in the heart of Swan Hill fills up quickly for lunch and dinner, so be sure to book ahead.
Sunraysia Cellar Door
The Murray Darling wine region is the second-largest grape-growing region in Australia and progressively includes smaller boutique wineries in the mix too.
It’s a massive region, straddling the north-west of Victoria and the south-east of NSW, so luckily there’s Sunraysia Cellar Door to give wine lovers a far more accessible tour of the region.
Come in for a wine tasting from more than 20 regional producers with the knowledgable staff and take home a bottle or a case for personal use or to share with friends. There’s also a huge range of other local produce like olive oils, nuts, dried fruits and gifting options.
Mildura Brewery
Like most things gastronomical in Mildura, the old Astor Theatre in Mildura was converted into a microbrewery by chef Stefano di Pieri and partner Donata Carrazza.
The brewery draws a regular crowd throughout the day, who come for a pint of the regular brews like a moderately bitter pale ale, a crisp clean blond ale or for the more adventurous, a mango & passionfruit sour.
The menu is everything you would hope for in a gastro-brewery with generous sized burgers, quality steaks and vegetarian crowd-pleasers like a mushroom and spinach tortellini.
