Best Pubs in Collingwood — Corner Locals and Beer Gardens (2026)
Collingwood’s pub scene runs on corner hotels that have been serving the suburb since before the warehouses were converted into apartments. The bones are Victorian-era, the tap lists have upgraded to craft, and the beer gardens fill every afternoon the sun cooperates. Smith Street has the famous names, but Johnston Street and the backstreets — Langridge, Wellington, Gipps — are where the locals actually drink on a Tuesday night. These are proper pubs, not bars pretending to have pub energy.
Here are the ones that still feel like actual pubs.
1. The Gasometer Hotel — The Smith Street Institution
The Gasometer at 484 Smith Street is Collingwood’s most recognised pub. Named after the enormous gasometer that once dominated the local skyline, it sits on the main strip and does everything a good pub should: cold beer on tap (including rotating craft options), a back room that hosts live music and comedy, a beer garden that catches the afternoon sun, and a front bar where regulars claim the same stools every week. The parma is well-executed. The pool table in the back room has started more conversations than any app in the inner north.
The Gaso runs live music and comedy most weeknights — check their Instagram for the schedule. Cover charges for weekend gigs are usually $10–20, and the quality of acts consistently punches above the price.
Address: 484 Smith Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Hours: Mon–Thu 11am–11pm, Fri–Sat 11am–1am, Sun 11am–10pm Best for: Live music, the beer garden, a reliable parma What to order: A pot of the local craft tap ($7–9) and the chicken parma ($22)
2. The Grace Darling Hotel — The Backstreet Beauty
The Grace Darling sits on Smith Street’s quieter northern end, past the main strip’s noise, and operates as both a proper pub and a live music venue. The front bar is a classic local: dark wood, a decent tap list, and a room that fills with neighbourhood regulars on weeknights. The back room hosts bands and DJs — the sound is good, the room is intimate, and the booking schedule covers everything from indie rock to experimental. The beer garden is compact but well-positioned for afternoon sun.
The food menu is pub-standard done properly — burgers, schnitzel, and a few dishes that suggest the kitchen has ambitions beyond the deep fryer.
Address: 114 Smith Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Hours: Mon–Thu 12pm–11pm, Fri–Sat 12pm–1am, Sun 12pm–10pm Best for: Live music, quiet weeknight pints, the front bar atmosphere What to order: A pot of Carlton ($7) and whatever’s on the specials board
3. Stomping Ground Brewery — The Beer Hall
Stomping Ground on Gipps Street isn’t a traditional corner pub, but it functions as Collingwood’s communal drinking room. The converted warehouse has 30-plus beers on tap — mostly their own brews plus guest taps from Victorian breweries — a beer garden that fits 200 people, and a food menu that runs from pizza to pub classics. Table service keeps things moving, and the space is large enough that you rarely feel crushed even on a packed Saturday. Dogs are welcome in the garden.
Gipps Street has become Collingwood’s secondary drinking strip, with Le Bon Ton and a few other spots within stumbling distance.
Address: 100 Gipps Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Hours: Mon–Thu 11:30am–11pm, Fri–Sat 11:30am–12am, Sun 11:30am–10pm Best for: Craft beer, large groups, sunny afternoons in the beer garden What to order: The Gipps Street Pale Ale on tap ($9) and a pizza
4. The Marquis of Lorne — The Heritage Pub
The Marquis of Lorne on George Street is one of Collingwood’s best-preserved Victorian pubs. The ornate facade is one of the most photographed pub exteriors in the inner north, and the interior matches: pressed tin ceilings, dark wood, stained glass, and the kind of warmth that no modern fit-out can replicate. The beer list covers the essentials plus rotating craft options, the wine list is surprisingly good, and the pub food does exactly what it should. The courtyard out back is leafy and quiet — a proper contrast to Smith Street’s noise.
George Street runs parallel to Smith Street, which means the Marquis gets neighbourhood locals rather than strip traffic. That’s part of its appeal.
Address: 411 George Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065 (on the Collingwood border) Hours: Mon–Thu 11am–11pm, Fri–Sat 11am–1am, Sun 12pm–10pm Best for: Heritage atmosphere, a quiet pot in the courtyard, Sunday afternoon sessions What to order: A pot of Carlton Draft ($7) and the beer-battered fish and chips ($20)
5. The Carringbush Hotel — The Langridge Street Local
The Carringbush on Langridge Street is the pub that Collingwood locals point to when asked where they actually drink. The room is generous — high ceilings, big windows, and natural pockets that separate quiet-pint territory from group-session territory. The craft beer list is solid without being preachy, the wine list works, and the pub food does updated classics without losing the plot. The courtyard catches evening sun in autumn and spring.
Langridge Street runs parallel to Smith Street but two blocks east, which means quieter streets, easier parking, and a more residential feel.
Address: 228 Langridge Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Hours: Mon–Thu 11am–11pm, Fri–Sat 11am–1am, Sun 12pm–10pm Best for: A genuine local, weeknight drinks, the courtyard What to order: A rotating craft tap ($9–12) and the Carringbush burger ($20)
6. The Rochester Hotel — The Upper Smith Street Quiet One
The Rochester sits on the upper (northern) end of Smith Street, past the main restaurant strip, in the stretch where foot traffic thins out and the crowd shifts to neighbourhood regulars. The room is comfortable without being fancy, the beer list covers the essentials, and the parma has its own loyal following. The publican remembers your order after two visits. The courtyard works well in warmer months. It’s the kind of pub that doesn’t shout about itself, which is exactly why the people who know it keep coming back.
The upper end of Smith Street (north of Peel Street) is significantly calmer than the Johnston Street junction. If you want a pub experience without the Friday night crush, this is the section.
Address: 202 Smith Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Hours: Mon–Thu 11am–11pm, Fri–Sat 11am–1am, Sun 12pm–10pm Best for: A quiet pot, the parma, pub atmosphere without crowds What to order: A pot of whatever’s local ($7) and the chicken parma ($21)
FAQ
What’s the best pub in Collingwood for live music? The Gasometer on Smith Street books the most consistent schedule — comedy, indie, punk, jazz across the week. The Grace Darling also has a solid live-music back room with more intimate shows.
Which Collingwood pub has the best beer garden? Stomping Ground on Gipps Street, by sheer size — it fits 200 people and rarely feels full. For something smaller and leafier, the Marquis of Lorne’s courtyard on George Street is hard to beat.
Are Collingwood pubs cheaper than CBD pubs? Yes. Expect pots for $7–9 (craft) and parmas for $20–24. CBD equivalents are typically $10–14 and $28–32.
What’s a good pub crawl route? Start at the Rochester (upper Smith Street), walk south to the Gasometer (mid Smith Street), cut east to the Carringbush (Langridge Street), then south to Stomping Ground (Gipps Street). Total walking time: about 20 minutes across all four stops.
How does Collingwood compare to Fitzroy for pubs? Fitzroy has more options on Brunswick Street and Gertrude Street. Collingwood’s pubs tend to be slightly rougher around the edges in a good way — more working-class heritage, less gastro polish. The Fitzroy pubs guide covers the other side.
Our Verdict
Collingwood’s pub scene holds up because the bones are real. The Gasometer and the Grace Darling carry the live-music tradition on Smith Street. Stomping Ground gave the suburb a beer hall on Gipps Street. The Carringbush and the Rochester serve the locals who want a quiet pot without the main-strip crowds. And the Marquis of Lorne proves that a 150-year-old pub can still be the best room on its block. For the cocktail and wine-bar side of Collingwood drinking, see our best bars guide. The Collingwood suburb guide has the full picture.
Know a spot we missed? Email [email protected].
Explore More of Collingwood
- Collingwood History
- Collingwood Late Night Eats
- Collingwood Things To Do This Weekend
- Collingwood Cheap Eats
- Collingwood Rent Guide
- Collingwood Date Night Guide
- Collingwood New Openings
- Collingwood Things To Do
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