A guide to the best bars and pubs in Wollongong

Discover our pick of the best bars and pubs in Wollongong.

Much of Wollongong’s charm lies in the friendliness of the locals, many of whom can be found gathering at Wollongong bars and Wollongong pubs. Pull up a stool to conduct a survey on why the city’s glass is always half full. What you’ll likely discover is that the best bars and pubs in Wollongong have an ease and attitude all their own. Here’s the lowdown on Wollongong’s best bars

1. Howlin’ Wolf Bar

The Howlin’ Wolf Bar broke new ground when it opened its doors in 2017. The Wollongong bar, which has an amber-lit ambience, boasts the Illawarra’s largest collection of whisky and craft beer. All up there are 260 different whiskies to try as well as 18 gins, 13 rums, 50 craft beers and expertly made cocktails. Slink into the Howlo for beers, whisky,  burgers and beats alongside flanno-clad patrons who might be modern-day bushrangers but are more likely barbers.

Address: 103/53-61 Crown St, Wollongong

2. Yves

The Wollongong metropolitan area extends as far as as Shellharbour and Kiama local government areas and can we get a woot-woot for that? That’s ‘cos it means we can include Yves in Kiama, the waterfront bar and bistro overlooking Kiama Harbour and the Pacific Ocean.

Embrace the stylised salty hair aesthetic and enjoy the casual drinking and dining culture in Kiama where you can resist the urge to order a main course and focus on bar bites. I’m looking at you lamb meatballs.

Address: The Sebel Kiama, 31 Shoalhaven Street, Kiama

3. Bar Cabrón

This Mexican diner and tequila bar is both a sophisticated space to take your new squeeze or get together with the girls for $12 margaritas. Clock the artwork by The Space Cowboy on Instagram as a vibe check ahead of your visit to Bar Cabrón.

The bar serves an exceptional range of tequila alongside contemporary Mexican food such as corn ribs, pigs’ head tostadas and papas fritas. The bar captures Wollongong’s understated grungy soul. It’s not aiming for subtlety. And we’ve got a thirst for it.

Address: 2/ 88 Kembla Street, Wollongong

4. Humber Bar

The old Hillman Humber building, which is over 80 years old, underwent a sleeker-than-sleek revamp in 2014 to become an inner-city sanctuary for a craft beer or cocktail. The three-level Humber Bar features a ground-floor eatery, cocktail lounge and rooftop bar strung with fairy lights, which is where the bar’s stylish clientele gravitates to. Book in for a bottomless brunch with rotating options such as Korean fried chicken and chicken fajitas with sparkling wine and Young Henrys Tinnies. Mosey down to the middle-level Art Deco cocktail bar to mingle with other singles.

Address: 226 Crown Street, Wollongong

5. Night Parrot Wine Bar

Like the bird itself, the Night Parrot Wine Bar pops with bright, vivid colours. Use your most raucous voice to order an Old Fashioned and then use your feet to grasp onto a stool until you’re served. This sophisticated bar, located in the heart of Wollongong, serves a range of Asian-inspired street food. Order ‘smaller’ plates such as kingfish sashimi, crab san choy bao, and spicy chicken wings to share or hog the pog with a ‘bigger’ option like braised wagyu brisket. The Korean popcorn chicken will also give you something to squawk about.

Address: 69 Crown St, Wollongong

6. The Black Cockatoo

Bounce from the Night Parrot to The Black Cockatoo to get a read on who the cool kids are in the Gong. This hidden hang is tucked away behind a hole-in-the-wall cult bakery in the heart of Wollongong. Look the part in a pair of jeans with bright red panels on the tail (like a black cockatoo) when you suggest a place to meet your date. Ready your beak for a few Tromba Tequilas and a bowl of crispy pork crackling.

Address: 88 Kembla St, Wollongong

7. The Prince

You’ll find skilled and friendly bar staff and DJs at The Prince, which is part of the same Good Times Only Group, whose hefty portfolio includes Howlin’ Wolf Bar and Dagwood. It’s worth visiting The Prince to read the menu alone which is divided into sections such as Smashable Classics, Beers from the Tap, and Fermented Grape Juice. Happy hour is positively jubilant here: wander down the laneway and take a seat under the wall mural by Kaff-eine and order salt and pepper squid and a jug of Hairyman pop ale. The chicken schnitzel with chips, salad and gravy is one of the best in the Gong.

Address: Globe Lane, Wollongong

8. Headlands Distilling Co. 

The grain-to-glass philosophy is core to Headlands Distilling Co’s products, which are available to sample at the distillery from 4pm-7pm on Fridays or from noon-4pm on Sundays. The four young blokes behind Wollongong’s first distillery kicked off the concept in 2014 and since then have produced hand-crafted whisky, vodka and barrel-aged gin. The affable young entrepreneurs conduct free tours of the distillery and tastings of their high-quality spirits, which include the world’s first Illawarra plum cask whisky.

Address: 12/6-8 Ralph Black Drive, North Wollongong 

9. Juniper

Thinking about drowning your sorrows after a messy break-up? Don’t expect the bartenders at Wollongong’s first dedicated gin bar to encourage such self-indulgent behaviour. While it’s true the Juniper staff keep everyone’s glasses nicely topped up, the only advice they offer you is which of their 58-strong list of boutique gins you should try. And who knows? After a few Four Pillars and gin martinis, you might even find your next crush at this sophisticated neon-lit bar where good vibes, casual bar food, and the humble G+T collide.

Address: 121 Keira St, Wollongong

10. His Boy Elroy

Don your best flat cap and cardigan, pop in your going-out nose ring and do your best to rock the I-just-got-off-the-couch look before you wobble down the way to His Boy Elroy in Wollongong where you can vacuum down a few Illawarra Brewing Company IPAs with laid-back locals. The narrow space dedicated to burgers and beverages is full of Wollongong cool cats who remain unconcerned about their daily calorie intake. Enter the larger-than-life Fat Boy or Dirty Bird Deluxe.

Address: 121 Keira St, Wollongong

11. Moomin Bar and Kitchen

This character-filled Czech pub looks like it might have been furnished from a squat house in Prague. And we mean that in a good way. You can’t manufacture this kind of charm: think cosy Nanna-style lounges, framed embroidery, butter-yellow walls, ‘70s-style lampshades and ceilings a-tangle with a mix of Chinese lanterns, party lights and bunting. Moo Minn opens at noon each day for tipsy tapas, which includes a rotating list of small plates such as crispy cauliflower, arancini, Slovak-loaded fries and spring rolls.

Address: 68 Crown St, Wollongong

12. Pepe’s on the Beach

You’ll probably bump into that guy you met splayed out on the hot sand in his skunnos, skin the colour of caramel, if you head to Pepe’s on the Beach on a Sunday, when scantily clad locals gather together to sway, cocktails in hand to the music.

Curl up like a croissant in the hanging chair with beach views while enjoying Cali-inspired snacks such as crab and prawn tostadas and jalapeno poppers. Happy hour is held every Monday to Friday between 3pm and 6pm.

Address:  2-14 Cliff Road Wollongong

13. South Sailor

South Sailor has achieved a lot of attention since it opened in Thirroul. In fact, it’s fair to say it’s somewhat of a sensation. The neighbourhood fish bar is a jewel box of a place with tropical flower displays and botanical wallpaper that exudes “I’m in Costa Rica on vacation” vibes. Although the diners here usually doll up, there’s always a bit of “beach hair don’t care” ‘tude going on, too. Order a few cocktails, which look like they’ve been over-adjusted on Photoshop, and a seafood paella that seems tailor-made for this vibey village by the sea.

Address: 216-218 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul

14. Georgia Rose

It’s likely your bartender will sport a bowl cut and Lime Cordiale will be on the playlist at this dreamy Shellharbour bar, which features festoon lighting, striking murals, hanging greenery and water views.

Georgia Rose is a cafe by day and cocktail bar by night barnacled to the vibrant marina precinct. Time your visit to coincide with the signature Sunday session or sign up for an art-inspired workshop.

Address: 1/9 Marina Dr, Shell Cove

The best pubs in Wollongong

15. Five Barrel Brewing

Five Barrel Brewing is a top spot to crack open a few cans with brewer Phillip O’Shea who took his love of home brewing and turned it into his business. The core range includes a golden ale, pale ale and ESB (extra special bitter) as well as a few single-keg batches that are only available in the taproom.

The brewery is open throughout the week for tours and tastings and the kitchen is open Thursday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Address: 318 Keira St, Wollongong

16. North Gong Hotel

North Gong Hotel has some of the Gong’s best old-school bar bites such as chips and gravy and chicken wings which are best devoured in the sunny beer garden that overlooks the iconic Illawarra escarpment. The pub in north Gong has a great range of tap beer available from its three bars as well as a family-friendly bistro. The expansive sunny garden is the kind of spot every pub wishes for and is perfect for people-watching during one of its infamous Sunday sessions. Sports fans should head to Teddy’s for a toddy.

Address: 3 Flinders St, Wollongong

17. Headlands Austinmer Beach

If you’re a fan of Instagram stars The Inspired Unemployed you’ve likely seen the lads camped out at Headlands Austinmer Beach with their entourage. That’s like another way of saying this place is hot property. Put your trust in the young capable staff who are an integral part of the experience here and can nudge you toward the brasserie and bar, or beer garden, depending on your mood. Had one too many slushie cocktails? Book a self-contained luxury apartment for the night.

Address: Cnr Headland Ave & Yuruga St, Austinmer

18. The Imperial at Clifton

Ready, steady, revamp. The Imperial at Clifton, 500 metres from the iconic Seacliff Bridge, has undergone a serious facelift. The heritage-listed building is one of the Greater Gong’s new super-swish clifftop hubs and we’re here for it. The menu is a magnet for road trippers who have been fantasising about beer-battered fish and chips since they pointed their car toward the South Coast from Cronulla. The ultimate weekend pit stop.

19. The Scarborough Hotel

The Scarborough Hotel is another one of the star attractions set between the sea and escarpment in the Illawarra.  It’s a destination pub and a prime spot for a day trip from Sydney as it’s just a short walk from Scarborough Station.

Deploy the new Instagram font to let your friends know to #seeyouatthescarborough. Despite its middle-of-the-road location on Lawrence Hargrave Drive, there’s nothing mid or meh about those mad sea views. Nab an outside table to enjoy a snapper and prawn pie and a tinnie or two.

Address: 383 Lawrence Hargrave Drive

20. Resin Brewing

It’s pretty much always party time at Resin Brewing, where lumberjack chic and skullets are the dress code. The brewpub holds a lot of surprises from its fine selection of brews in every shade of amber to the pedigree of the artists that headline the Sunday sessions (think Ash Grunwald and Ben Lee).

Despite being housed in the once-derelict 1887 Bulli Railway Guesthouse, this is a brewpub that has moved with the times. The contemporary menu has scoured the globe for inspiration with everything from Egyptian falafels to Nepalese chicken sekuwa and house-made fishcakes on offer. Hop to it.

Address: 8 Station St, Bulli

21. The Illawarra Hotel

The Gong is about as grungey as a coastal Aussie town gets. But you don’t need to worry about doing some kind of grim time warp at the Illawarra Hotel. Although it feels like a bit of a secret, the locals won’t give you the 1000-yard stare when you wander in. Instead, they will likely doff their trucker hat in your direction. Despite having a refresh, the hotel built in 1938 is now well established as a family-friendly pub that has retained a lot of its Art Deco charm. Pay a visit to Hilda’s Bar, a mini museum dedicated to former owner Hilda Gertrude Condon, one of the only female-run hotels in NSW at the time.

Address: 160-164 Keira St, Wollongong

22. Smith St Distillery

Distil the modern-day Gong in a glass and you’ll get the Smith St Distillery. The distillery door is a haven for those who like to guzzle a Rosé Gin Spritz or swill its Signature Vodka with soda. Award-winning distiller Jared Smith is the brains behind the outfit which he co-founded with publicans Ryan and Nikki Aitchison (of the Illawarra Hotel). As well as being a bastion of good living and fun times, Smith St Distillery adheres to very stringent eco initiatives such as collecting organic waste from local hospitality venues to fuel their farmed botanicals and giving fresh produce back to local venues to form a circular food system.

Address: Unit 98/100 Smith St, Wollongong

23. Steamers Bar and Grill

All I want, and all I need, all I crave is a good pub feed. Start humming the chorus to Pub Feed by The Chats using Google’s ‘hum to search’ function and you might just influence the algorithm enough to drop a pin on the map and take you to Steamers Bar and Grill. It’s one of the best pubs in Wollongong and a top place to eat too. The contemporary venue has pub classics such as pasta cloaked in a velvety lamb ragù, tempura fish and chips, and a good ol’ surf ’n’ turf.

Address: 1 Marine Drive Wollongong

24. The Taphouse at the Groundz Precinct

The Taphouse at the Groundz Precinct has enough on offer to keep the fussiest member of your family happy and well fed. The Dapto Showground precinct is divided up into different spaces such as the Poultry Shed for swilling whisky and The Taphouse outdoor bar where you can eat and drink until you’re ready to tap out.

The large green space morphs into a venue for live music, with a roster of food trucks, and an outdoor area with more than 350 seats.

Address: 89-99 Princes Highway, Dapto

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