Pubs are a great part of Australian culture, egalitarian spaces where tradies and CEOs drink side-by-side and everyone feels at home. And this is especially true outside the cities in the best country pubs in NSW.
In the old days there was a public bar for the blokes and a ladies’ lounge for the gals, with no cross-pollination. Today’s public bars welcome anyone who enjoys gaming and sports and ladies’ lounges have largely been replaced by bistros for families and those after a quieter meal. While pub bistros in general are upping their game, here are some of the best country pubs in NSW that I think are well worth travelling for.
The Rockley Pub Rockley
Drive over the Blue Mountains to the tiny village of Rockley for a warm welcome at Matt Moran’s country pub! Pub classics, such as great local steaks, sit alongside the likes of roast pumpkin, salsa verde & pepitas (see video below), plus comforting desserts and excellent local wines. Chat to locals in the front bar or grab a drink and game of pool with friends in the Courthouse Room, then head upstairs to a comfy bed for the night.
The Royal Richmond Hotel Richmond
Karen and Peter Wynne have turned this historic pub at the foot of the Blue Mountains into a great destination for locals and Sydney day-trippers, with a strong focus on fabulous local produce and the talented Todd Garratt (ex-Fish Butchery and Wine Library) taking care of F&B. The dry-aged steaks are superb and the carved ham and smoked pineapple pizza has changed my mind about pineapple on pizza!
The Argyle Inn Taralga
I love the mismatched silver and china in the charming old dining room of Hugh Wennerbom’s country pub. The excellent value 3-course sharing menu is great too. A selection of appetisers to start – maybe terrine, gravlax, vegetable antipasti – mains featuring local produce change every service, as do desserts like chocolate semifreddo with blackberries. Book early to snag one of the eight guest rooms upstairs!
Willow Tree Inn Willow Tree
The dry-aged beef at Graze Restaurant, in the Hanna family’s Hunter Valley pub, is from their nearby farm. Wood, dark leather and mirrors set the scene with great steak tartare and cold cuts. Steak and chips follow with a United Nations of sauces, from nam jim and chimichurri to more trad Café de Paris or pepper. Chocolatey marshmallowy s’mores are a must for dessert. I love the olde worlde charm of Cottage 24 across the road too!
The Catho Pub Catherine Hill Bay
Much more casual than the others, but still worth a mention and a detour on your way north from Sydney, is this rustic pub in the historic old mining village of Catherine Hill Bay. Take a walk along the wide, pristine beach before lunch, then join locals on the covered back terrace or shady front veranda for a cold one and classic pub fare of burgers, schnitzels and the like.
Updated 03 Mar 2025
