10 Best Pubs to Grab a Drink in Darwin

After a day exploring Darwin’s best markets or wandering along its happening waterfront, you’ll have worked up quite the thirst. Darwin is home to some great pubs, some which encapsulate the classic Aussie “watering hole” experience and some that explore a modern take.

The best pubs in Darwin provide a memorable setting to enjoy time with your traveling crew, all the while sampling the local tipple and fantastic, fresh cuisine.

1. The Precinct Tavern

• Address: 7 Kitchener Drive, Darwin City
• Favorite menu item: Crispy Skin Humpty Doo Barramundi
• Price point: $$

Our pick for the best pub in Darwin? Well, we can’t go past The Precinct Tavern. A few steps from the Wave Lagoon, along the vibrant Darwin waterfront, the Tavern has all you need in a modern pub.

As the name suggests, this isn’t a singular spot. Rather, guests will uncover a sprawling complex with three bars serving classic bistro portions of your go-to favourites alongside 46 beers on tap.



With such an epic location, the Precinct Tavern doesn’t shy away from providing outdoor space either. Across its three bars, you’ll find shaded seating with waterfront views, great for enjoying a sunset drink with friends and family.

2. Six Tanks Brew Pub

• Address: 4/69 Mitchell St, Darwin City
• Favorite menu item: Garlic Prawns Linguini
• Price point: $$

In the Top End there are few respites from the tropical temperature. Once you’ve seen some of the best beaches in the city, stay refreshed with an icy cold craft beer from Six Tanks Brew Pub.

The contemporary microbrewery lies in the center of Darwin CBD. The pub makes for the perfect change of pace away from the classics and towards unique and surprising hand-crafted flavours.

With over 25 taps to choose from, you can enjoy their creations or sample some celebrated craft beers from across Australia and the world. But it won’t just be hops and wheat that fill your belly, their kitchen serves up some of the best pub food in Darwin.

3. Charlie’s of Darwin

• Address: Austin Lane, Darwin City
• Favorite menu item: NT Crocodile Dumplings
• Price point: $$

With a hidden entry on graffiti-laden Austin Lane, Charlie’s of Darwin is what happens when a pub meets a speakeasy. The traditional pub atmosphere assimilates with the vibe of a boutique cocktail bar, a great example of Darwin’s impressive culinary and cultural diversity.

Stepping away from the bougie bar, you’ll see more of the pub essence. There is a retractable roof that helps you weather the stormy wet season, find relief in the afternoon hours, and bask in the life-affirming joy of golden hour in Darwin.



Charlie’s of Darwin is a great spot to take a night off from the brews and enjoy refined cocktails. These include celebrated local and high-end gins that pair wonderfully with Charlie’s elevated pub menu.

4. Lola’s Pergola

• Address: 48 Marina Blvd, Larrakeyah
• Favorite menu item: The Katherine Traveller
• Price point: $$

Overlooking Cullen Bay, Lola’s Pergola has gone all in on a colourful, friendly atmosphere. Here, you’ll find outdoor seating fixed with stripped umbrellas overlooking the marina. However, inside, with carousel horses, prismatic colours, and festival vibes, Lola’s Pergola really shines.

It’s one of the most unique and best bars in Darwin that brings the laughs, big smiles, and great times with friends and family. But don’t worry, it’s not just a facade. Lola’s combines their lengthy beer and cocktail menu with the right kind of eats for the location.



So load up on the entrees and kick start (or toast to) your Darwin adventure with the helping hand of their bottled sangria.

5. Hotel Darwin

• Address: 39 Mitchell St, Darwin City
• Favorite menu item: NT Mud Crab
• Price point: $$

Along the city’s main drag, Hotel Darwin is the local, for locals. The boisterous pub atmosphere reaches its crescendo at five o’clock, with the Great Northern flowing as much as the day’s stories.

In addition to its great location and consistent atmosphere, it’s a preeminent sports bar allowing you to catch the game whether it’s here in Australia or abroad. The large TVs are set inside and within eye shot of the sprawling patio so you can take in another sunset while keeping track of the scores.



Like any good pub, you can expect the portions to be generous, especially in October. Throughout the month, there are competitions pitting pubgoers against enormous burgers and steaks.

6. The Deck

• Address: 22 Mitchell St, Darwin City NT 0800
• Favorite menu item: Malaysian Curry Laksa
• Price point: $$

Travellers wandering along the happening Mitchell Street in the evening hours will hear the vibes at The Deck boiling over long before you see it. Famous for its Sunday sessions, the Deck has a youthful aura that brings all the fun to its sprawling outdoor beer garden.

Although the Deck lights up on Sundays, there’s plenty of reason to visit on any other day. This is headlined by their $6 happy hours, including sangria and schooner specials. Of course, you’ll also want to tuck into their menu that features scrumptious oversized laksa.



As you enjoy your meal overlooking Parliament House, you may also be joined by some live music.

7. The Trader Bar

• Address: 3 Harriet Pl, Darwin City
• Favorite menu item: Mortazza Focaccia
• Price point: $$

Steps from Gardens Road, which leads to the Darwin Botanical Garden, the Trader Bar embraces the natural elements. Within its swanky, modern interior and its beautiful patio lies a swarm of greenery with large lounges and eclectic decor.

The Trader Bar provides a modern take on the pub experience. Yes, there’s beer and food, but the focus is on the lengthy wine list, niche gins, and zesty cocktails. It aids in providing a relaxed, sociable vibe with plenty of room for larger groups to enjoy their time together.

Come the weekend, The Trader Bar will have its own set of beats stemming from the DJ set.

8. One Mile Brewery

• Address: 8/111 Coonawarra Rd, Winnellie
• Favorite menu item: Inferno Pizza
• Price point: $

As you experience the best pubs and restaurants in Darwin, you’ll inevitably come across the creations of One Mile Brewery. Geared towards fresh and easy-to-drink pints, One Mile brews suit the Darwin climate and aren’t shy on flavour.

Importantly, to go with their fantastic beers, the brewery itself is a great place to hang out. Between the airport and Charles Darwin National Park, One Mile Brewery has a spacious sheltered area in an edgy industrial setting. With a solid menu, it’s a spot for all occasions.

9. Shenannigans

• Address: 1/69 Mitchell St, Darwin City
• Favorite menu item: Bangers & Mash (of course!)
• Price point: $$

No guide to the best watering holes in Darwin would be complete without a classic Irish Pub. In the Top End, Shenannigans is the place to go for hearty ales and warm eats amid heavily varnished furniture.

It’s an unmistakable vibe you can sense the moment you walk through its doors. With regular live music and weekly karaoke (it’s time to warm up the vocal cords), Shenannigans is always a boisterous time. But it’s serious about its food, too, with all your pub classics set alongside traditional Irish fare. Pair that with a Guinness and you’ll be feeling the luck of the Irish.

10. Humpty Doo Hotel

• Address: 610 Arnhem Hwy, Humpty Doo
• Favorite menu item: The Trio Sliders (Croc, Barramundi, and Buffalo)
• Price point: $$

Just outside of Darwin, Humpty Doo Hotel lies on the Arnhem Highway, and what lies inside is well worth the half-hour drive. The perfect pitstop on either side of your Kakadu and Adelaide River adventures, Humpty Doo epitomises the classic outback watering hole.

Like a scene out of Crocodile Dundee, stepping into Humpty Doo brings the spirit and culture of the Top End to one place. As your eyes dance between the walled buffalo horns and front bar horses, you’ll barely have time to peruse the menu that celebrates Northern Territory cuisine.

With a pint of beer in your right hand, the desert dust saunters under the panel doors. It’s the perfect scene to enjoy Humpty Doo’s mouthwatering sliders, salads with ample beetroot (a pub must!) and the weekend’s live music.