8 Venues To Explore The Inviting Orange Pub And Bar Scene

Country hospitality is on the pour at these top Orange watering holes.

The central NSW town of Orange is well aware that once visitors have spent the day traipsing through its rambling vines and sleek cellar doors, they’re eager to spend time unwinding fireside in an inviting pub, savouring their sips at a wine bar, or recounting their grape-derived discoveries in a sunny courtyard. Happily, the town is well-provisioned with plenty of establishments to close out the day, where the beer is cold, the food is beautifully made and the atmosphere is welcoming. Here’s our pick of the best places for a refreshing post-vineyard drink in Orange.

1. Hey Rosey

A place to cosy up to a good glass of vino, Hey Rosey is a petite wine bar that seats only 20 fellow sippers and serves small but significantly good eats from its non-kitchen.

friends gathering for drinks at Hey Rosey in Orange — Cosy up to a good glass of vino at Hey Rosey. (Image: Pip Farquharson (@photographybypip))

There are vinyl records and mid-century furnishings all adding to the eclectic cool of this spot that pours and plates everything up on the small counter right in front of you.

a group gathers for drinks at Hey Rosey in Orange — Enjoy the community vibe with friends. (Image: Pip Farquharson @photographybypip)

The wine list leans local and, if you can’t decide, owner Leigh Oliver will happily point you in the direction of a new favourite.

a group of people dining at Hey Rosey in Orange — The wine bar serves up an impressive feed from its non-kitchen. (Image: Pip Farquharson (@photographybypip))

2. Ferment the Orange Wine Centre

An Orange institution, Ferment is a one-stop introduction to the world of wine , beginning locally and expanding far beyond.

visitors enjoying food and wine tastings at Ferment the Orange Wine Centre — The beautiful heritage building is a one-stop shop for all your wine needs. (Image: Destination NSW)

It’s a shop, cellar door and wine bar all wrapped up in a beautiful heritage building in the centre of town, but you needn’t book a guided tasting to enjoy their offerings, simply find a table indoors or out, order a cheese plate and select a wine by the glass or bottle.

a woman holding a glass of wine at Ferment the Orange Wine Centre — Sample wines on offer with a wine tasting at Ferment. (Image: Destination NSW)

If you fell head over heels for a drop but neglected to buy enough while there, simply jump online to restock and have it delivered to your door.

a grazing board at Ferment the Orange Wine Centre — Complement your wine with a delectable cheese board. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Birdie Noshery and Drinking Est

Relaxed yet refined, Birdie Noshery and Drinking Est is a Euro-style wine diner that gives equal attention to food and drinks. From the ladies behind the former Lolli Redini, which broke hearts when it closed, this iteration is equally well-tended, just with a more laidback vibe that promises to be all things to all people. It’s spacious, cool and simplified, mixing cocktails and a superb wine list with an easy all-day menu that takes diners from breakfast through to dinner and beyond six days a week.

the entrance door at Birdie Noshery and Drinking Establishment, Orange — Have a tipple at Birdie Noshery and Drinking Establishment.

4. The Union Bank

Direct yourself to The Union Bank for a courtyard session cloistered within this historic 165-year-old bank.

the building exterior of The Union Bank pub in Orange — The Union Bank is housed within a Heritage-listed building.

The Schoolhouse Restaurant is occupied by diners with reservations, but if you’re here for a well-chosen drink or perfectly stirred cocktail walk-ins are a must, so head outdoors from noon to soak up the ambience and the crisp Orange air.

If you’re peckish, you can also order from a share-style menu and hang about a little longer.

the bar counter at The Union Bank pub in Orange — Book ahead to dine at the onsite restaurant or enjoy the courtyard.

5. The Carriers Arms Hotel

Formerly the Kelly’s Rugby Hotel, this Orange pub has pivoted in style with a sophisticated lick of paint, some interior revamping and a more refined drinks list and menu to go along with its new name: The Carriers Arms Hotel . It’s still the spot for good times in the centre of town to meet for a beer and to catch a game, but its appeal has been greatly escalated thanks to classic pub grub finessed with a contemporary update and the addition of Mary Jane’s, an onsite diner serving fried chicken and burgers.

6. Hotel Canobolas

The iconic Hotel Canobolas in Orange , with its grand brick façade, is a welcoming place for a pint, a bite and even a bed. A country hotel that’s been given a contemporary buff, here you’ll find a casual bistro, a woodfired pizzeria, an open courtyard and 45 neat-and-tidy rooms all in the centre of town.

the grand brick façade exterior of Hotel Canobolas in Orange — With its grand brick façade, Hotel Canobolas is hard to miss.

The bistro menu meanders from classic steaks and schnitzels to more Italian-inspired fare, such as king prawn spaghetti, burrata and salami plate, all of which can be paired with local, cool climate wines or a handful of drops plucked from the world beyond.

a spread of food plates on the table at Hotel Canobolas — Find classic steaks and schnitzels to more Italian-inspired fare on the menu.

7. The Ophir Hotel

If you’re on the hunt for a watering hole where the kids are as entertained as the adults, set your GPS to The Ophir Hotel and point your small charges in the direction of the excellent outdoor playground.

Ophir Hotel playground in Orange, NSW — The Ophir Hotel is great for adults and kids alike. (Image: Laura Cole Photography)

Position yourself in one of the outdoor cabanas to watch over them as you enjoy an uninterrupted glass of beautiful local wine or craft beer and peruse the menu of usual pub suspects interspersed with a few outlying dishes, such as Nepalese curry, vegan plate and seafood risotto. There’s also a generously proportioned bistro and, if the weather is less than perfect, the kids will be content playing inside with the selection of games and toys.

Chicken schnitzel, steak and pub food at The Ophir Hotel in Orange, NSW — Get your favourite pub fare.

8. The Metropolitan Hotel

While there’s a temptation to opt for the shiny and new, sometimes, all you really need is that good, old-fashioned country hospitality. The Metropolitan Hotel slides into the list for its unfussy, traditional country pub credentials. Right in the heart of town, this heritage hotel is largely unchanged, although a few updates here and there keep things fresh. It’s unpretentious, local and community-minded and you’ll always find a warm spot inside or at the all-weather Verandah Bistro.

For more ways to taste the region, read our guide to the top restaurants in Orange, start your day at the town’s best cafes and visit a brewery or distillery door.

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

a beach winter in nsw — From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

The Tweed

In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre , which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .

visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre — Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

dining room at Bistro Livi — Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

Blue Mountains

The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing — Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains — End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Southern Highlands

Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral — Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral — Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

Penrith

Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

kayakers on the nepean river in penrith — Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.

8 venues to explore the inviting Orange pub and bar scene