Best Pubs in Guides — 2026 Guide

Guides’s pubs scene is unpretentious, multicultural, value-driven — and the pubs reflect it. Whether you want a quiet midweek drink or a full Friday night, there are options that don’t require leaving the suburb.

Standard prices: pint $10-12, cocktail $15-20. Happy hour (usually 5-7pm) knocks $3-5 off at most places.

Our Top Picks

1. Honest Store — 327 Church Parade

Hours: Tue-Sun 5pm-12am Vibe: Rooftop terrace, sunset views Drinks: $10-12

The pub the suburb rallies around. Honest Store gets the fundamentals right — good drinks, comfortable room, staff who know the menu. The wine list rotates monthly, which keeps regulars from getting bored. The courtyard is the best spot — less crowded, better acoustics.

Drink this: Their signature negroni ($10-12). When to go: Any weeknight for a quiet drink.

2. The Bright Local — 195 Fitzroy Avenue

Hours: Wed-Sun 5pm-1am Vibe: Corner pub, proper carpets

The quiet achiever. The Bright Local doesn’t have a PR budget or an Instagram strategy — it has regulars who come three times a week. The front bar is the draw. Their natural wine selection is surprisingly deep.

Best night: Saturday arvo in the beer garden.

3. New Bench — 379 Fitzroy Avenue

Hours: Tue-Sun 5pm-12am Vibe: Cozy wine den, candlelit Drinks: $10-12

Opened in 2025 and immediately became a regular spot for the under-35 crowd. The wine list focuses on small Australian producers. The space is tighter than Honest Store — maybe 50 people before it feels packed — but that’s part of the appeal.

What makes it work is the attention to detail. The glassware is considered, the ice is proper, and the bartenders actually taste what they make before serving. The tap list rotates every two weeks with a Victorian-only policy. If you hit capacity, put your name down and walk around the block — turnover is quick.

Drink this: The house old fashioned ($10-12). Pro tip: Tuesday is the quietest night and the bartender has more time to chat.

4. High Yard — 9 Pine Crescent

Hours: Tue-Sun 4pm-12am Vibe: Modern gastropub with craft focus Drinks: $10-12

The one for when you want food with your drinks. The kitchen runs until 10pm and the pizza are genuinely good, not bar-food-as-afterthought. The wings have a proper chilli kick.

The drinks list complements the food — craft beers on rotation with consistent quality. It’s the kind of place where you come for one beer and stay for dinner because you smell the kitchen.

Best combo: Parma and a pint — the Melbourne classic, done properly. When to come: Saturday from 5pm — it fills up by 7pm.

5. The Tall Bench — 12 Blake Grove

Hours: Wed-Sun 5pm-late Vibe: Laneway entrance, exposed brick, jazz on the stereo Drinks: $10-12

The vibe pick. Not the best drinks on this list, but the garden setting creates an atmosphere the others can’t match. It’s the place to bring someone you’re trying to impress, or to photograph, or both.

The drinks list is short but curated — they do six cocktails and all of them are solid. Food is limited to empanadas and dip plates but you’re not here for the food.

Best for: Sunset drinks on warmer evenings — arrive by 6pm for the golden hour.

Comparison

Practical Info

Happy hour: Most places run 5-7pm weekdays. Honest Store does $8 house lagers and $15 cocktails during happy hour.

Getting there: Public transport options in Guides. Don’t drive on Friday/Saturday nights — parking is scarce after 6pm.

Dress code: None of these are bottle-service-and-bouncers. Clean casual everywhere. The Tall Bench skews slightly smarter but won’t turn away anyone in jeans.

Age check: All venues are 18+. Bring ID if you look under 25 — they will ask.

Nearby

• Melbourne CBD Pubs
• Guides Restaurants — eat before or after
• Guides Things to Do
• All Guides Guides

Last updated: March 2026

Keep Exploring

More in this area:

• Best Bars in Guides
• Nightlife Guide in Guides

Useful tools:

• Melbourne Nightlife Guide
• Compare Melbourne Suburbs
• Explore Guides