If you’re craving some good ol’ fashioned chicken schnitty and a schooner of ice-cold beer, we’ve got you sorted with these top Townsville pubs and bars.

With a well-rounded selection of pubs, breweries and bars around the city, it’s safe to say that a great watering hole in Townsville is easy to come by. Whether your choice of tipple is an iconic XXXX, a locally brewed craft beer or an artfully made cocktail, these drinking dens will quench your thirst, served with some of the best views and food in Townsville, too.

1. Seaview Hotel

One of the best positions in Townsville to enjoy a sundowner, the Seaview Hotel is perched on The Strand with views of the sparkling Coral Sea. It reopened in early 2022 after an extensive renovation that saw the historic 1929 pub given a fresh facade, contemporary interiors, a new sports bar, and a spacious beer garden with plenty of shady spots to relax. Enjoy pub favourites (pizzas, burgers, steak, schnitzel) as well as some wholesome salads and vegetarian options, with the soundtrack of live music at the weekends.

What’s on? Live music Friday to Sunday

Address: 56 The Strand, Townsville City

2. Molly Malone’s Irish Pub

Smack-bang in the CBD near the Museum of Tropical Queensland, Molly Malone dubs itself ‘Townsville’s favourite Irish Pub’. It’s not hard to see why: it’s everything you expect from an Irish pub – cosy interiors with dark-panelled wood, Irish stout on tap and plenty of craic to be had. Order a beef and Guinness pie, a crumbed steak or a kilo of chicken wings to share and enjoy the regular entertainment, including open mic comedy and live Irish music.

What’s on? Live music every Friday and Saturday, open mic comedy every second Thursday, Irish jam sessions in the courtyard on the second Saturday of each month, and trivia every Thursday.

Address: 87/95 Flinders St, Townsville City

3. Townsville Brewery

Swapping postage for a pale ale, the former Townsville General Post Office, a historic 1886 building complete with a clocktower, became the Townsville Brewing Co in 2001. Choose a frothy from its core range, which includes the fruity Be More Pacific Ale, Legends Ultra Crisp Lager, or sample one of the limited edition tap beers. The onsite Brewpub is a lively space to down a few and enjoy pub classics, while the more elevated Restaurant 1889 has a modern Australian menu that is a nod to the building’s post office history.

What’s on? Trivia every Wednesday

Address: 252 Flinders St, Townsville City

4. Commonwealth Hotel

Not much has changed at ‘The Commy’, a pub built in 1901 for people to come and enjoy cold beers, a hot meal and a place to lay their heads for the night. Except for perhaps the menu, which now features jackfruit tacos, truffle and forest mushroom pâté and casarecce ragu, alongside its classics. Relax on the upstairs balcony or nab a table in the outdoor beer garden so the kids can run around the grassed area and playground (what more could a parent ask for?). There’s also a cafe for dine-in and takeaway coffee and breakfast.

What’s on? Kids eat free every Wednesday, live music from Friday to Sunday

Address: 46 Allen St, South Townsville

5. Heritage Exchange

This hip bolthole feels more like an intimate bar than a pub; styled with dim lighting, exposed brick walls, leather furniture and bow-tied bar staff. Housed in the former Exchange Hotel established in 1881, Heritage Exchange‘s refurbished space also includes an eclectic Rum Garden that’s ideal for balmy nights of revelry under festoon lighting. The food menu features pizzas and charcuterie, but the whiskey menu is where it’s at, an extensive selection featuring everything from Islay to Speyside and Japanese, American and Australian whiskies – it will take your tastebuds on a world tour.

What’s on? Trivia on Tuesdays, Latin dancing on Thursdays, live music on Saturdays and Sundays.

Address: 151 Flinders St, Townsville

6. Australian Hotel

Serving beers since 1888, The Australian Hotel was one of the first pubs in Townsville. The family-owned pub is located south of the CBD and has a classic pub menu with weekly specials such as Tuesday Steak Day and Pot and Parmie Wednesdays. With 18 beers on tap, you’ll find something to wet your whistle while you take in the North Queensland sun in the beer garden courtyard out back or under an umbrella on the streetfront.

What’s on? Check their Facebook page for live music announcements.

Address: 11 Palmers St, South Townsville

7. Tiny Mountain Brewery

Named for the city’s peak that is but a few feet short of a mountain, Tiny Mountain Brewery celebrates all that is local to Townsville. It has eight beers in its core range, including Italian Lager that celebrates North Queensland’s rich immigrant heritage, Ginger Beer (made with local Buderim ginger) and a tropical-tasting Hazy IPA. Keep hunger pangs at bay with bites such as wood-fired pizza, fried chicken and house-made arancini. If you’re into your hops in a big way, you’ll soon be able to take a brewery tour and learn more about what goes into your pot. If you’re best mate has four legs, they’re welcome to join you in the outdoor areas.

What’s on? Check the Facebook page for upcoming events.

Address: 20 Palmer St, South Townsville

8. West End Hotel

This state heritage-listed pub has been welcoming locals and travellers alike since it opened its doors in 1885, making it the city’s oldest-operating pub. Overlooking the Townsville Showgrounds, the corner West End Hotel still retains much of its old-world features, such as its original balcony. The bistro has an extensive menu featuring much-loved pub grub such as steak and ribs, garlic prawns, salt and pepper calamari and a whole parmi section.

Address: 89/91 Ingham Rd, Townsville City

9. The Taphouse

Located in the bustling City Lane dining and retail precinct, The Taphouse serves up a rotating selection of craft beers on tap from Australia’s best independent craft brewers.

There are always bottled and canned beer in the fridge, too, alongside cider and wine, and a delicious cocktail menu (spicy margs, dark ‘n’ stormy and espresso martini make the cut).

When it comes to food, the menu is a selection of small, medium and big plates to share (think fish tacos, pork belly, brisket or a butcher’s block share board), as well as salads, burgers and a kid’s menu.

What’s on? Check their Facebook page for live music announcements.

Address: City Lane, 383 Flinders St, Townsville City

10. North Shore Tavern

If there’s a game happening that you just can’t miss, head to North Shore Tavern to cheer along as you watch on the largest screen in Townsville. The bistro will fuel a session of sporting passion as you tuck into classics of schnitzel, crumbed steak, pizza and, come Sunday, a roast with all the trimmings. You’ll find quenching beers on tap, as well as craft brews and a cocktail list with the usual and refreshing suspects.

What’s On? Every Tuesday night, there’s trivia, poker games on Wednesday night and on Sunday afternoon there’s Country Blues Sessions.

Address: 37 Main St, Burdell

11. Copper Bar & Grill

The drinks are serious at this stylish bar with a cocktail menu that has a dedicated gin section and your choice of a margarita or espresso martini three ways. There’s also some delicious and inventive concoctions mixed in with the classics, such as Woo Woo made with vodka, pineapple, lime and cranberry juice and peach schnapps, or go for the tropical-sounding Reef Juice. While you can come to partake in the grill side of things at Copper, you can also side-step the ribs and just hit the drinks list. Walk-ins are heartily welcomed.

Address: 8/10 Palmer St, South Townsville

12. Maggie Island Brewery

No trip to Townsville can be considered complete without a short ferry hop to Magnetic Island. While there, make your way to Maggie Island Brewery to sip on hops inspired by this natural beauty. Tucked into Picnic Bay, the nano brewery has a range of site-brewed preservative-free beers, from Maggie’s Mid (a refreshing low-alc option) to the sessionable Holiday XPA and the velvet-feel, coffee-flavoured Rob Roy Stout. Pair your visit with some drinking-adjacent food options, such as Amaroo at the Brewery food van that serves up Latin tapas. Or order a pizza from the island’s Mamma Roma to be delivered to you at the brewery.

What’s On? There’s live music from local artists every Sunday.

Address: 9 Esplanade, Picnic Bay

13. Ardo Rooftop

Special moments and sundowners deserve space at this lofty bar perched atop Townsville’s newest five-star hotel. You needn’t be a guest here to ascend for the Coral Sea and Castle Hill vistas, and the finely mixed drinks, where the classics sit a long a list of creative cocktails, such as a Mystic Sip made with Hayman’s Sloe Gin, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Massenez Lemongrass Liqueur and fresh fruit. There’s also the nectar-sweet Mango Dreamer with Bundaberg Small Batch Silver Rum, Malibu Coconut Rum, mango and lime among plenty of other tempting concoctions. Of course, bubbles, wines and beers are also available for the swilling in the tropical heat. But here, the breeze cools as much as the ambience.

Address: Ardo Hotel, 67 Sir Leslie Thiess Dr, Townsville City

14. Osk Bar

Cocktail art reaches new levels of embellishment at this moodily lit and stylish bar. With beautifully presented signature drinks, such as the Blue Horizons made with gin, tequila and a citrus sea foam, and the rum-based Mutiny in Paradise, you’re going to find a new obsession here. If mixed drinks aren’t your chosen poison, there’s also a concise list of wines and beers.

What’s On? The first Tuesday of the month plays host to Cocktail Comedy with a rotating roster of local comedians. You can also book a cocktail masterclass or tasting session.

Address: 1/46 Gregory St, North Ward

15. Hooch & Fellow

As the 16th best bar in Queensland, you can certainly expect a well-finessed drinks list at Hooch & Fellow. Sidle up to the pressed-tin bar in this cosy, exposed brick venue for all your drinking desires with a menu that roams from classics to cleverly assembled cocktails. An espresso martini comes with a much-appreciated Tim Tam pegged to the rim, while the banana daquiri is a cold and creamy tropical delight.

Address: 181 Flinders St, Townsville City

Originally written by Megan Arkinstall with updates by Lara Picone

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