Milton has earned its stripes as one of the best regional towns in Australia for eating and drinking. And The Milton Hotel has a lot to do with that, drawing everyone from local families to those visiting the NSW South Coast town for the weekend. Locals have immeasurable pride in their local pub, which is set inside a beautifully restored heritage building. Onsite taphouse, the House of Dangerous Ales, is also a lure. Expect elevated fare such as fish fingers with miso mayo and a barbecue pork chop with celeriac, togarashi and honey-apple jus. 74 Princes Hwy, Milton; themiltonhotel.com

Just 90 minutes from Sydney, the Beachcomber Hotel and Resort – known to locals as The Beachie – claims prime position on the banks of Budgewoi Lake in Toukley, on the Central Coast. Easy access to the water is one of many reasons to book a stay at the Hamptons-inspired retreat, which is lined with palm trees, bent into the wind. Head to the Bistro at The Beachie for pub classics like prawn and lobster tacos. And stay the night so you can enjoy a few cocktails by the pool and brekkie at the Pelican Bar. 200 Main Rd, Toukley; beachcomberhotelandresort.com.au

Established in 1876, The Victoria Hotel remains one of the best pubs in Bathurst for a beer and a feed. The historic pub in the heart of the Central West is a restaurant, hotel and live music venue all in one. Admire works by local artists that line the walls. Listen to live music. And follow up a few creative cocktails with some classic pours. Hungry walkers who spent the morning hiking the soft hills will appreciate country classics like venison slow cooked in red wine. Upstairs, freshly renovated rooms will get you excited about a stay. 3 Keppel St, Bathurst; thevictoriabathurst.com.au

Housed in a century-old former wool store where locals continue to spin yarns, Mudgee Brewing Company is both a celebration of Central NSW’s local brewing history and a community stomping ground. Opened in 2007, it brews house beers such as the Mudgee Mud stout (a nod to the town’s 19th century brewing past). Live music sets the vibe Fridays and Sundays while wannabee stand-up comics brave brutal open mic nights midweek. The pizzas are another reason to stop at this regional NSW pub. 4 Church St, Mudgee; mudgeebrewing.com.au

The Rockley Pub was reborn in 2022 under chef Matt Moran. Of all the country pubs to count on, it’s up there with the best of them. The village local is a destination for dining thanks to the elevated fare using ingredients sourced from the Moran family farm. The Rockley is a pub where the idea of a ‘session’ could be about dancing and swigging to Beers & Beats until sundown. Or taking out the Thursday pool comp. Take your foot off the accelerator to share mains, sup cocktails and swap stories. 2 Budden St, Rockley; therockleypub.com.au

Great care was taken to restore The Sir George, which was established in 1852 in Jugiong, just under four hours’ drive from Sydney’s CBD. The pub, which features original timber floors, exposed 19th century beams and stone walls, is a popular pit stop for its sourdough bakery, pub and beer garden. Walk up an appetite along the Tucker Box Recreational Trail before heading into the pub for pork cotoletta with tomato fondue. The town on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River is also one of the cosiest regional towns to visit in winter. 320 Riverside Dr, Jugiong; sirgeorge.com.au

Established in 1845, Briars Inn makes a strong case for one of the best pubs in regional NSW. Built as a coaching inn, it has evolved carefully with renovations that preserved its heritage bones while expanding its footprint into a full-scale food and hospitality precinct. Today, the inn balances country charm with a contemporary bistro, wood-fired pizzas, a generous beer garden and historic Throsby’s Bar for a proper tipple. The property also has accommodation, making it easy to turn a pub stop into a Highlands fling. 645-653 Moss Vale Rd, Burradoo; briars.com.au

Market Street’s lively Woolpack Hotel is part pub, part social hub that thrives on the hustle and bustle of weekly happenings like happy hour. Onsite Gage Dining & Co is the go-to for classic pub grub such as schnitzels, pastas and burgers. Try to find out who the top dog in the rural hierarchy is and buy them a beer to unlock some insider secrets while you listen to live music in the leafy beer garden. Full of character, the Woolly is all about good old-fashioned country hospitality. 67 Market St, Mudgee; woolpackhotelmudgee.com.au

Snap a selfie with the six-metre-tall Big Bogan before checking into The Nyngan. Once Larry Galvin’s Commercial Hotel, the corner pub built in 1883 has been thoughtfully restored by a fifth-generation local into a 12-room boutique stay with queen beds, Australian-made amenities and Little Italy Coffee Roasters coffee. If you’re road-tripping to Dubbo, stop off at the polished pub for a loaded parmi that will be an absolute highlight of the journey. 104-106 Nymagee St, Nyngan; thenynganhotel.com.au

Mudgee’s classic country pub, the Ori, has a serious cult following. Ori Kitchen draws a crowd for its grass-fed steaks, pizzas, and indulgent desserts, while the gin bar downstairs boasts 13 varieties, including local favourites like Baker Williams. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights animates this timber and tin tabernacle to beer and good times. Established in 1876, the pub remains a place where flat-capped locals and road trippers share a pint and a pub meal together. Expect some tall stories. 6 Lewis St, Mudgee; orientalhotel.com.au

Neatly perched on the clifftops, The Scarborough Hotel has been an Illawarra landmark since 1886. The Scarby remains a beacon for road trippers ricocheting around the coastline who pull up here in their Birkenstocks and socks to froth on the beer garden – the Yard – while drinking in the incredible panoramic ocean views. Head here on your way back from the beach for delicious burgers, seafood and craft beers you can sup on while enjoying tracks from local surf rock acts. 383 Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Scarborough; thescarboroughhotel.com.au

The Imperial at Clifton turns up the clifftop drama on the NSW South Coast. Locals and day-trippers from Sydney are easily seduced by the 19th-century timber venue for its sweeping ocean views, with front terraces and fireplaces adding to the appeal. All-day dining celebrates local produce, while a free shuttle from Helensburgh and Thirroul make visiting here a breeze. Download the ShipTraffic app so you can namedrop the ships gliding north and south at this historic NSW pub reborn for modern times. 315 Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Clifton; theimperialclifton.com.au

Headlands Austinmer Beach is, as the name suggests, perched atop a headland at the southern end of Austinmer Beach where you can see the waves crashing on the shore in both directions. Stomp up to the modern pub after a surf for a few bevvies in the bustling beer garden where the ocean adds to the calming aesthetic. The pub has a roster of DJs and live music and is a civilised spot for a multi-generational gathering. A courtesy bus runs between Bulli and Scarborough every Tuesday to Sunday from 3pm. Headland Ave & Yuruga St, Austinmer; headlandshotel.com.au

The Pacific Hotel has been Yamba’s seaside stronghold since 1934. Boasting 180-degree ocean views, direct beach access and Ocean Suites, it’s the kind of place you book when you want to flex your local knowledge. Check the gig guide to see local acts like Little Big Fish and the Sam Buckley Band who attract a core crew of grizzled local surfers for a brew with a view. Expect pub classics like buffalo wings and fish and chips – the perfect post-surf fuel paired with a locally brewed bevvie. 16 Pilot St, Yamba; pacifichotelyamba.com.au

Hotel Brunswick is at the heart of this Northern Rivers town. Home to the Three Blue Ducks since 2024, it’s where locals go to demolish a few tinnies in the shady beer garden. Head chef Loki Lynch has created a menu at ‘The Bruns’ that features pizzas and pub classics like schnitzels for Sunday Bruns-day sessions. Located where the river meets the surf, the destination pub is one of the best boozers close to the beach for live music with a line-up of emerging local acts, touring Aussie artists and international DJs. 4 Mullumbimbi St, Brunswick Heads; hotelbrunswick.com.au