These top-notch venues will enhance your escape to the country.

Whether you’re a blow-in or born-and-bred in Bowral, here is the ultimate guide to the best Bowral pubs and bars in the Southern Highlands for good pub grub and a cold beer.

In short

If you only visit one pub in Bowral make it the Burrawang Hotel, affectionately known as the Wang. The pub has been lovingly restored with chef local Alex Pritchard (of Iceberg’s Dining Room & Bar) leading the gastropub’s culinary direction.

1. Briars Inn

Best for: Families or groups of friends

The sprawling landmark Georgian-style building, established in 1845, serves lunch and dinner seven days a week.  As well as making the most of its countryside location in the Southern Highlands, the inn is well-regarded for its pub fare. The pub bistro, in beautiful Burradoo, just minutes from Bowral, offers crowd-pleasing staples such as slow-braised lamb shoulder, beef cheek pie and spanner crab capellini. In addition to the onsite playground, children are catered to in the section aimed at Little Ones. Order woodfired pizza to go so you can stroll back to your suite at the revitalised Briars Country Lodge, which is part of the same property.

What to order: Free-range roast chicken. You are in the Southern Highlands after all.

Address: 653 Moss Vale Road, Burradoo

2. Throsby Bar

Best for: Couples who want to canoodle in a corner.

The historic Throsby Bar is housed within Briars Inn yet deserves its own dedicated reverie. The stylish Bowral bar is full of couples corkscrewing off into corners with cheese and wine and glass-half-full levels of optimism. There are beers on tap, local spirits and a selection of wines served by bartenders who will boost up the bass to add to the good vibes if the occasion calls for it. Located in the original part of Briars Inn, the pub bar is dark and moody – all charcoals, sage greens, navy tones and warm woods – and a timeless place to gather. Need to organise a venue for your best mate’s birthday? Book Betsy’s which seats 12 to 14 people and dates back to the 1800s.

What to order: A glass of sauvignon blanc from Sondara Estate, one of the best wineries in the Southern Highlands, to pair with a platter of cheese, chocolate and charcuterie.

Address: 653 Moss Vale Road, Burradoo

3. Aspinall’s Whisky Bar & Lounge

Best for: A wee dram with your richly Bowral benefactor.

I didn’t need to stray very far from my suite at the Berida Hotel when enjoying a weekend escape in Bowral. A gentle dawdle from onsite restaurant Bistro Sociale saw me safely ensconced within Aspinall’s Whisky Lounge. The Bowral bar is a nod to Dr Jessie Aspinall, the first female-appointed junior resident doctor at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in 1906. Bond with Bowral locals over a rare single malt or sit by the bay window, framed by blooms and greenery. The lounge was built by the doctor and her husband Ambrose Freeman in 1925 and reflects the storied hotel’s 1920s heritage. ‘Slàinte Mhaith’ is a Gaelic phrase that means ‘good health’ and it’s emblazoned on the drinks menu, which includes recommendations from the bar.

What to order: The Belgrove Rye Whisky aged in an ex-Tasmanian pinot cask.

Address: 6 David Street, Bowral

4. Burrawang Village Hotel (re-opening Nov 2025)

Best for: This revived countryside pub is worth planning a holiday around for its fine-dining flair.

Ask a local to point you to the best pub in the Southern Highlands and they’ll nod in the direction of Burrawang Village Hotel. The new owners of the recently revitalised pub – known as The Wang – have been farming cattle here for generations. And their faithful restoration of the Wang has reestablished it as one of the most welcoming country pubs in the Southern Highlands. The new culinary direction of the pub has been led by two-hatted chef Alex Prichard, of Icebergs Dining Room & Bar, who is passionate about celebrating local growers and producers. Meanwhile, the drinks list has been devised to include classic cocktails, top drops that roam the globe and a concise list of craft beers on tap.

What to order:  Trust the chef and get adventurous with something that is outside your ‘country’ comfort zone.

Address: 10 Burrawang Village, Burrawang

5. Imperial Hotel

Best for: Treating the family to a pub feed or watching the footy with mates.

The Imperial Hotel is one of the classic old-school Bowral pubs worth seeking out if you’re after an inexpensive night out with the family. Head to the laid-back bistro to enjoy proper pub classics that won’t break the bank like bangers and mash or fish and chips. The Bowral pub is unpretentious and family friendly, so there’ll be no judgment if Little Orlando has a meltdown while waiting for his spaghetti and meatballs. Do a few laps of the nearby Corbett Gardens before carb-loading on woodfired pizzas. Those looking to cheer on their favourite sporting team will be well served in the space near the big bar, which has a pool table and serve-and-pay-yourself set-up.

What to order: The quattro carne topped with salami, pepperoni, meatballs and chorizo.

Address: Bong Bong & Bundaroo Streets, Bowral

6. The Bowral Golf Club

Best for: A lazy nine holes followed by lunch.

The golf course at Bowral Golf Club is considered one of the best courses in the country for its challenging fairways and crayon-green lawns. And the classic old Bowral club bistro has been feeding and watering folk from around these parts for more than a century. The newly revitalised club is now operating under the Hastings brand, offering the kind of reliable fare you need after you’ve chased the little white ball around for the best part of the day. You’ll find baby boomers who have cashed in the kids’ inheritance eating their way through the bistro staples over a couple of cold ones.

What to order: Beer-battered prawns, bacon and egg rolls and prawn gyozas.

Address: Kangaloon Rd & David St, Bowral

7. Scottish Arms Bar & Bistro, Bowral

Best for: A midweek dinner or whisky night with your mates visiting from Scotland.

The Scottish Arms Bar and Bistro celebrates the region’s Scottish roots, which run deep in the landscape. Scots arrived in Bowral in 1878 to work at an oil shale enterprise set up in nearby Joadja Creek. Keeping that history alive is the annual Scottish festival Brigadoon, which attracts 20,000 tartan-clad visitors to nearby Bundanoon. Inside the pub, sepia-toned photographs and heirlooms line the walls, weaving a rich migrant story of resilience and community. The bar at the Scottish Arms offers an excellent range of Scotch whiskeys and local craft beers, while the menu has more Mod Oz accents. Schnitzel lovers can choose from scintillating iterations such as: the Angel of Death’ with habanero chilli sauce; or the ‘Scottish Bell’, featuring bacon, tomato and mozzarella cheese. The service is friendly and unpretentious.

What to order: Traditional beef Guinness pot pie, roast lamb rump or fried chicken wings with a local pale ale.

Address: 69 Boardman Road, East Bowral.

8. Royal Hotel Bowral

Best for: Casual gatherings with the extended family.

The Royal Hotel has been a meeting point in the local community since it replaced one of the original Bowral pubs, the 1862 Wingecarribee Inn, in 1890. This classic old dame, located on a corner block in the main strip of Bowral, is where families congregate for fuss-free dining. It also serves a raft of beers on tap and is the kind of atmospheric public house that welcomes weary travellers. Expect comforting and hearty fare like tender pork ribs glazed in a coffee BBQ sauce and served with chips, slaw and house-made pickles. The menu at The Royal Hotel Bowral also includes popular pan-Asian favourites such as crispy pork belly and Thai beef salad.

What to order: A Young Henry’s schooner with a beer-battered fish burger or Black Angus sirloin.

Address: 255 Bong Bong St, Bowral.

9. Mittagong Hotel

Best for: A relaxed lunch or cocktail night with local characters.

The Mittagong Hotel’s recent makeover has brought the pub’s heritage charm back to life. The Mittagong pub has stood proudly on Mittagong Main Street since 1890. And its painstaking renovation has revived it as both a boutique place to stay and proper country pub. The pub makes an excellent base for exploring Bowral and beyond and makes a bucolic weekend within easy reach of Sydney. Sit in the sun-splashed courtyard for Hawaiian pizzas with the family. Or settle into the bougie bistro for more sophisticated fare like beetroot-cured kingfish or crispy-skinned barramundi with carrot hummus. The social atmosphere at ‘the top pub’ makes it a great place to cluster around schooners with mates.

What to order: Your choice from more than a dozen cocktails followed by a grilled pork chop with potato gratin, roasted apple, green beans and tarragon jus.

Address: 89-91 Main St, Mittagong.

10. Robertson Public House & Kitchen

Best for: A long lunch or weekend escape in the hills of Robertson, patchworked with fields and farms.

Robertson Public House feels every bit the quintessential country stopover, rich in colour and quirks. The pub just 25 minutes from Bowral dates back to 1887, which in itself amps up the ambience. Adding to the country pub idyll is a wraparound verandah, antique furniture and open fireplace. The Robbo Pub has a great selection of local beers on tap including a pale ale locally brewed by the Highlander Beer & Brewing Company. The menu at the alehouse heroes hyperlocal ingredients. Take a table in the sunny beer garden to enjoy pub classics like steak and seafood. Live music nights and a community feel makes the atmosphere welcoming and relaxed.

What to order: Maugers Farm rib eye, on the bone, pasture-raised and paired with a local drop such as the Cherry Tree Hill cabernet merlot.

Address: 89 Hoddle Street, Robertson.

11. Moss Vale Hotel

Best for: A lively evening in a true Southern Highlands landmark.

Moss Vale Hotel has been a community hub since 1866. And its high ceilings, timber bar and expansive beer garden lend it a classic country-pub atmosphere. The pub dubbed ‘The Pinky’ was also known as the Terminal Pub after the local railway station opened in 1867. These days, the pub next to the landmark clocktower provides a menu of pub favourites such as grain-fed steaks, woodfired pizzas and daily blackboard specials. Get to grips with a towering burger on ‘Tuesday Two Hands’. Or dive into the teriyaki chicken poke bowl, which includes a tangle of greenery. Want to mingle with Moss Vale locals? The pub hosts live music and trivia nights where you can get to know the regulars.

What to order: Grain-fed Scotch fillet with peppercorn sauce, chips and salad with a Bendooley Estate Shiraz.

Address: 340 Argyle Street, Moss Vale.

12. Surveyor General Inn, Berrima

Best for: History lovers and couples seeking to cosy up beside a fireplace in winter.

The Surveyor General Inn in Berrima claims the title of Australia’s oldest continuously licensed inn. The Berrima pub was built from sandstone hand-hewn by convict labour and retains its colonial character. Bistro 1834 is named after the year the pub was founded. The inn’s low ceilings, stone walls, historical artefacts and fireplace make it one of the most atmospheric venues in the region, especially in winter. Get involved in the meat raffle or listen to some local musos play an acoustic set. Whether you’re after a salt-of-the-earth spot for a schooner and a schnittie or a lively bar with country flair, this pub near Bowral offers something for everyone.

What to order: The General Burger which features a handmade wagyu beef pattie layered with sauce, cheese, tomato, lettuce, pickles and balsamic onion mayo. It comes with chips and goes down nicely with an icy cold beer from Southern Highlands Brewing Co.

Address: 26 Old Hume Highway, Berrima.