Classy To Comfy: The 6 Best Pubs in Bowral 2024

A preference when it comes to choosing the finest places for a tipple is deeply personal, so we decided we’re not just going to pick one Bowral pub or bar. Here is our list of the top six pubs in and around Bowral for your drinking pleasure.

Ask a local to point you to the best Bowral pubs and their responses are also likely to differ. Whether you’re born-and-bred Bowral (or Baaahral darl, as the posh folk in these parts like to say), a Bowral blow-in, or planning a holiday in Bowral, here are the pubs and bars that are all things to all people in and around Bowral in the Southern Highlands.

1. Briars Inn

Best for: Families or groups of friends

While there are certainly a few new spots to put on your radar, there’s also something comforting about familiar family-friendly hotels such as Briars Inn, a landmark Georgian-style building that recently underwent a facelift. This charming old country inn, established in 1845, is now a posh pub open for business serving lunch and dinner seven days a week. While it’s considered one of the most charming pubs in the Southern Highlands, it’s also one of the best in the region for families and groups of friends.

Briars Inn is a charming old country inn. (Image: VUE Studio)

The bistro, located in beautiful Burradoo just minutes from Bowral, offers staples such as slow-braised lamb shoulder, twice-cooked pork belly and prawn amatriciana linguine. In addition to the on-site playground, children are catered to in the section aimed at Little Ones (think fish and chips and penne Napolitana). You can also order wood-fired pizza to go and enjoy in your suite next door at Briars Country Lodge, which has 31 accommodation suites and a wedding venue called ‘The Conservatory’.

The tables and chairs inside Briars inn in Bowral

Briars Inn has some delicious dishes on the menu. (Image: VUE Studio)

What to order: Beef cheek pie; you are in the Southern Highlands after all.

Address: 653 Moss Vale Road, Burradoo

2. Throsby Bar & Lounge

Best for: Couples who want to canoodle in a corner

Despite being part of Briars Inn, the recently restored historic Throsby Bar & Lounge deserves its own dedicated reverie. It’s stylish, contemporary, intimate and full of couples corkscrewing off into corners with cheese and wine and glass-half-full levels of optimism about the future. There are beers on tap, a well-stocked bar with local spirits and a selection of wine served by bartenders who are receptive to boosting the bass a bit to add to the good vibes.

Located in the original part of Briars Inn, Throsby Bar & Lounge is dark and moody – all charcoals, sage greens, navy tones and warm woods – and a timeless place to enjoy the region’s wines and a platter of cheese. Want a bit more privacy? Bunker down in the Bong Bong Room overlooking Bong Bong Common, which is furnished with church pews, or snag a reservation in Betsy’s Room which has a long high table and can date its beginnings back to the 1800s.

Throsby Bar & Lounge is stylish, contemporary, and intimate. (Image: VUE Studio)

What to order: Find a place by the fire to enjoy the semi-hard Pines Pearl produced in nearby Kiama and a glass of Cherry Hill Tree chardonnay, both produced locally.

Address: 653 Moss Vale Road, Burradoo

3. Aspinall’s Whisky Bar & Lounge

Best for: A wee dram with your richly Bowral benefactor

You can truly choose your own adventure when enjoying a weekend escape at the Berida Hotel. A gentle dawdle from Bistro Sociale will see you enveloped in rich velvet armchairs at Aspinall’s Whisky Lounge. You’ll feel smug about finding such a perfect little place if you nab a seat by the bay window overlooking a cascade of flowers and foliage. Aspinall’s has a great reputation for being cosy, and clubby, with some great whiskies on offer for everyone from hardened connoisseurs to devotees of single malt.

Relax in the rich velvet armchairs at Aspinall’s Whisky Lounge.

The Berida Hotel is one of Bowral’s most storied hotels and Aspinall’s reflects its 1920s heritage. The Bowral bar is also a nod to Dr Jessie Aspinall, the first female appointed junior resident officer at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in 1906. The lounge was built by the good doctor and husband Ambrose Freeman in 1925. ‘Slàinte Mhaith’ is the traditional Scottish and Irish toast that means ‘good health’ and it’s the title of the drinks menu, with recommendations from the bar.

Chandelier stairs and suit of armour at Aspinalls in Bowral

Aspinall’s reflects its 1920s heritage.

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

Address: 6 David Street, Bowral

4. 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 Bowral pubs worth seeking out if you’re after an inexpensive night out with the family. You can choose from proper pub classics, like fish and chips and burgers to enjoy in the bistro, a laid-back environment that won’t break the bank. The unpretentious Bowral pub is a little less formal than some of the other pubs en route from Sydney, so there’ll be no judgment if Little Johnny has a meltdown while waiting for his spaghetti and meatballs.

Do a few laps of the nearby Corbett Gardens – one of the best things to do in Bowral – before carb-loading on wood-fired pizzas out the back of the bistro. 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 that means you can avoid getting into an expensive shout with your tight-arse mate.

What to order: The pizza capriccio topped with mushrooms, olives, artichokes, smoked ham, mozzarella and basil.

Address: Bong Bong & Bundaroo Streets, Bowral

5. The Bowral Golf Club

Best for: A lazy nine holes followed by lunch

This classic old Bowral club bistro has been feeding and watering folk from around these parts for more than a century. It’s also considered one of the best courses in the country for its challenging fairways and crayon-green grass. It offers the kind of reliable fare you need after you’ve chased the little white ball around for the best part of the day.

The old-school sandwich bar at the Bowral Golf Club serves slabs of bread stuffed with popular fillings such as poached chicken with mayo, rare roast beef with horseradish cream. You’ll also find baby boomers who have cashed in the kids’ inheritance eating their way through the bistro staples such as beer-battered prawns, bacon and egg rolls and prawn gyozas and enjoying a few generous pours of the house wine.

Address: Kangaloon Rd & David St, Bowral

6. Royal Hotel Bowral

Best for: Special occasions 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 pointy corner block in the main strip of Bowral, is where families congregate for fuss-free dining.

It serves a host of beers on tap, and is the kind of atmospheric public house where hospitality is friendly and old-fashioned, with smiles and handshakes delivered along with the food. The food is comfortingly traditional with hickory barbecue sauce glazed pork ribs, crispy Asian pork belly, and premium Black Angus sirloin from the grill.

What to order: A Young Henry’s schooner with some beer-battered sea perch and some pork belly bites.

Address: 255 Bong Bong St, Bowral

The best Bowral accommodation ranges from weatherboard cottages to an Airbnb on the outskirts of town to all manner of elegant country estates.

The best places to stay in Bowral offer guests a great base to soak up all the region has to offer in terms of cafe culture, antique trawling, wine tasting, nature and history. Be it elegant manors, cottages or coach houses and other unique stays, a trip to the NSW Southern Highlands makes for the ideal country.

Bowral, the main hub of the Southern Highlands, was established as a fashionable summer retreat for Sydney’s gentry in the 1880s. Well over a century later, many of the great estates that were established now operate as unique hotel stays. Here’s our pick of the best places to stay in Bowral and beyond.

1. Black Barn Bowral

Best for: Fashionistas

the dining interior of Black Barn Bowral

The farmhouse was established as a charming countryside retreat.

Experience the seasons unfolding in style with a stay at this exclusive farmhouse renovated by designer Collette Dinnigan. Black Barn Bowral is decked out in Dinnigan’s inimitable style with a lot of upcycled materials and a warm and inviting vibe.

Fun fact: the floorboards are made from reclaimed Danish wood and the light fittings were sourced from Italy. Exposed beams and whitewashed walls are complemented by a carefully curated mix of occasional pieces tricked up with textures and subtle signature Dinnigan detail.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom farmhouse sleeps six and is just minutes away from Bowral. Prefer to stay in? The Black Barn features the finest Italian bed linen and Australian-made Leif amenities. Now everyone do a little happy dance that Dinnigan has shifted her focus to include interior design.

Address: Alderley Edge, 2 Orchard Rd, Bowral

2. Peppers Manor House

Best for: Wedding parties

The quintessential Southern Highlands country retreat experience can be found at Peppers Manor House.

Check into Peppers Manor House for the quintessential Southern Highlands country retreat experience. A 15-minute drive from Bowral in Sutton Forest, this elegant manor built in 1926 has been fashionably repurposed while retaining its heritage charm and old-world appeal. It has 43 rooms and suites plus a range of inviting common spaces you’ll want to linger in.

Make yourself at home next to the roaring open fireplace in the Great Hall over winter. Or station yourself beside the pool, cocktail in hand, over summer. The hotel is home to Katers Restaurant, which makes the most of local produce. While you’re there, you can also indulge in such gentile pursuits as billiards, badminton, croquet or perfect the fine art of drinking tea.

Address: 72 Kater Rd, Sutton Forest

3. Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral

Best for: Suits and ties in conference mode

the foyer at Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral

The entrance foyer exudes elegance and a sense of spaciousness.

History and location have helped shape Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral, which has an onsite golf course that is about 70 years old. The 18-hole course has long been one of the draws to Bowral’s largest hotel, which has been taken over by Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts and given a refresh. The luxury escape has 78 suites, a private indoor pool, a gym and a golf course. It’s also just a 10-minute meander to the boutiques and cafes that make Bowral such a magnet for Sydneysiders and Canberrans.

Food-focused travellers will be thrilled to hear that the Lotus Dining Group has taken up residence at the hotel. Give those Lazy Susans a workout under the weight of the signature xiao long bao (steamed pork soup dumplings), dan dan noodles and XO scallops on the shell. It’s one of the best places to eat, stay and play in Bowral.

Address: 7 Boronia St, Bowral

4. The Sebel Bowral Heritage Park

Best for: Active types

the ensuite bath at The Sebel Bowral Heritage Park

Each room is equipped with a bath.

The Sebel Bowral Heritage Park has been built around an original 1920s federation manor. And while it’s not considered new accommodation in the Southern Highlands, it’s certainly been reinvented. Shortlist this Bowral accommodation for the fact it offers easy access to a nearby golf course, horse riding tours, hiking trails and Bowral boutiques.

Don’t want to leave your studio suite hotel with a kitchenette and dining area? There are cycling trails onsite as well as an indoor pool and health club. While Bowral is popular with visitors year-round for its striking restaurant scene, and list of great things to do, it’s worth booking a stay to coincide with the annual Tulip Festival.

5. Maison de May

Best for: Babymooners or your first family holiday

the cottage exterior at MaIson de May, Bowral

This idyllic cottage offers the perfect cosy stay.

Someone flip the Dulux colour chart to Lilac Fluff. We have ourselves a violet undertone! Bowral has become a very desired locale for a weekend getaway from Sydney and Canberra. And this take on the whole dinky cottage experience has us forgetting all about roughing it in the great outdoors. Hell yeah we want to stay in the middle of nature but with our creature comforts, please/

As well as being near trails with riveting views, it’s a breeze to walk from the weatherboard cottage into Bowral. Just follow the curves of Cherry Tree Walk along the rivulet that runs from Maison de May into Bowral (pronounced Bahral dahling). In spring, the walk is awash in blossoms and people show up in their droves to Instagram them. The two-bedder (with portable cot) has a gas fireplace, wi-fi, chef’s kitchen and coffee machine.

Address: 17 Shepherd St, Bowral

6. Milton Park Country House Hotel

Best for: City slickers trying on a tree change for size.

Few NSW towns can rival the romance of Bowral in the Southern Highlands. Tiptoe through the tulips during the annual festival before bunkering down at the Milton Park Country House Hotel. Find a prime perch to watch the night settle over the landscape at dusk in bands of pink. Then head to Hordens Restaurant for mod Oz fare paired with exquisite Australian wines.

The hotel opens out onto manicured gardens filled with flowers and plants. There’s also a champagne high tea on offer overlooking the heritage-listed gardens.

7. Peppers Craigieburn Bowral

Best for: Golfing enthusiasts.

an elegant country estate at Peppers Craigieburn

Peppers Craigieburn offers a luxurious country experience.

Craigieburn is another elegant old country estate that’s part of the Peppers portfolio and just an easy five-minute drive from the centre of Bowral. It has 72 guestrooms across the arboreally named Elms and Morton wings. While some guestrooms have gorgeous French doors that open onto shaded balconies, others offer views of the golf course – which is a star attraction in its own right.

The nine-hole Craigieburn Hickory Golf Course is more than 100 years old and guests can look to resident golfing pros for help perfecting their swing. You can also try the hybrid game of foot golf, enjoy a round of tennis or play a game of billiards. And, when you’ve worked up an appetite, dine in Hickory’s Restaurant and Bar. Or arrange a laid-back picnic to be set up for you on the gracious grounds.

Address: Centennial Road, Bowral

8. Seidler House

Best for: Architecture buffs.

the Seidler House with panoramic bush views

Seidler House masters the art of indoor-outdoor living.

Seidler House is the most iconic private home built by the late Harry Seidler – Australia’s great modernist architect. Seidler House is built into rock face in the old Southern Highlands ghost town of Joadja, once a thriving mining town, 30 minutes’ drive west of Bowral.

Accommodating up to eight people, the sculptural accommodation masters the art of indoor-outdoor living. A member of the Contemporary Hotels portfolio, it has open-plan interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows affording dramatic views of the gorge below. There are also open fireplaces, expansive decks, gardens and a swimming pool.

Address: 612 Richards Ln, Joadja

9. The Old Bank Boutique Hotel

Best for: An escape to the country.

the interior of The Old Bank Boutique Hotel in Bowral

Stay in an old bank reimagined as a boutique hotel.

Stay in an old bank reimagined as a boutique hotel in the historic town of Mittagong, a few minutes’ drive from Bowral. The Old Bank Hotel, circa 1892, has six heritage-styled suites in the main building. Two come complete with balconies and each has an en suite, underfloor heating and individually designed woollen floor rugs. There are further digs in the shape of self-contained cottages and stables at the back of the property.

There’s plenty to explore on your doorstep in Mittagong by way of boutique stores and cafes. The Old Bank’s inviting chill-out spaces and dining room might just stop you in your tracks. This charming Bowral accommodation is filled to the brim with plump Chesterfield couches and armchairs, cosy fireplaces and eclectic rugs and furnishings.

Address: 83 Main Street, Mittagong

10. Links House Hotel

Best for: A weekend getaway for groups of foodies.

a close-up shot of the bed at Links House Hotel, Bowral

Links House was built in 1928 as a country guesthouse and was the first in Australia to have en suite bathrooms.

Links House was built in 1928 as a country guesthouse and was the first in Australia to have en suite bathrooms. In its latter-day incarnation as a small boutique hotel, it still offers the same relaxing experience today – albeit with updated facilities.

Links House, on the leafy fringes of town, has a range of rooms from king to family to pet-friendly and accessible suites. The styling is clean and contemporary, the decor by local designers and a stay at this Bowral hotel supremely comfortable. You’ll love the Australian-made mattresses with bamboo-made sheets. Guests at Links House can enjoy dinner at Ethos, one of the best restaurants in Bowral. The in-house eatery serves a seasonal menu and there are yoga sessions on Monday and Saturday mornings.

Address: 17 Links Road, Bowral

11. Little Black Cottage Studio, Mittagong

Best for: A romantic weekend away.

the entrance to the Little Black Cottage studio in Bowral

Retreat into a stylish studio with a dedicated workspace for digital nomads.

The Little Black Cottage Studio has character and charm in spades. The stylish studio is a standalone, retreat with garden views and lots of lovely nooks to relax in. The self-contained studio is part of a 114-year-old cottage property in a convenient location just a short walk from Mittagong Village and the train station.

The fact there are nature trails on the newly renovated studio’s doorstep makes the newly renovated Airbnb near Bowral one of the best places to stay in the Southern Highlands. There’s also a cute kitchenette, views of Mt Alexandria, a dedicated workspace for digital nomads and speedy wi-fi. The light and airy studio has a comfy sitting room and French doors that give way to a secluded courtyard with reclining sun chairs.

12. Bendooley Estate

Best for: Budding novelists or bookworms

Opt for a lush stay in the countryside. (Image: Destination NSW)

You’ve probably heard of the Book Barn. It’s Berkelouw’s iconic home located on the geographically blessed Bendooley Estate with its sweeping Southern Highlands views. Here, an atmospheric cafe and restaurant reside among shelves of tomes old, new, rare and antiquarian with a big stone fireplace to boot.

But did you know you can also stay onsite? There’s a clutch of accommodation available to book: four individually designed studio cottages, a two-bedroom Book Barn Cottage – originally the gatekeeper’s lodge of the 1839 Bendooley Homestead – and the three-bedroom May Gibbs Cottage, which channels a contemporary style via its bespoke wallpaper and artwork, heated handmade tiles and deep free-standing bathtubs.

Address: 3020 Old Hume Hwy, Berrima

13. The Coach House at The Rift Estate

Best for: Equestrian enthusiasts.

The Coach House at The Rift Estate with a fireplace

Settle into a charming country estate.

Check into The Coach House at The Rift Estate for a luxurious stay that blends heritage with modern country chic. The former stables of a grand Victorian Italianate mansion are set at the base of Mt Gibraltar in Bowral.

Accommodating 13 people across six bedrooms and four bathrooms, this is the ultimate spot for special celebrations with family or friends. It has a fully equipped chef’s kitchen, and an al fresco entertaining area with barbecue and cosy fireplaces. Bathrooms boast claw-foot baths and underfloor heating.

When you’re not exploring Bowral, spend your days playing bocce and croquet on the lawn and wandering gardens ripe with fruit and veggies, herbs and flowers against a backdrop of rambling countryside.

14. Berida Hotel

Best for: A pampering stay.

an open door in the bedroom at Berida Hotel, Bowral

Historic elegance meets modern luxury.

With 43 rooms, this ivy-clad boutique hotel was built as a generously proportioned home in 1925 and is just a short walking distance to Bowral’s main street. It has all the hallmarks of a great Bowral stay: luxe guestrooms with a heritage flavour, elegant gardens to wander, open fireplaces, a library to curl up in with a good book and a tennis court and games room. But Berida Hotel also ups the ante with an indoor heated pool, spa and sauna.

There is a wide range of traditional pampering treatments at Berida Day Spa as well as some state-of-the-art technology.

Address: 6 David St, Bowral

15. The Hidden Door Bowral Cottage

Best for: A romantic weekend away.

the lounge area at The Hidden Door Bowral Cottage

This cosy cottage offers the perfect country escape.

The Hidden Door Bowral Cottage right in the centre of Bowral will steal your heart before you even cross the threshold with its chocolate-box-cute facade.

A century old and beautifully updated, this delightful little weatherboard cottage has one main bedroom with a king bed and a smaller second bedroom with a queen bed – all dressed in sumptuous linen. Its sister property, The Hidden Door Bowral Villa, can be booked alongside the cottage to accommodate groups of up to eight and is just as cosy and beautifully appointed.

Address: 17 Bundaroo St, Bowral

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