Group-friendly venues: Where to throw your holiday party:
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Group-friendly venues: Where to throw your holiday party

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Posted 21 Nov 2024

By
Hilary Simmons

At Ricos Tacos in the Norfolk Hotel in Sydney

We round up some of the best places around the country to kick back with a bunch of mates and celebrate the silly season. 

‘Tis the season for hanging out with our mates, work colleagues and family. As we close out 2024 with a celebratory night (or three) on the town, no one wants to wait for a table or be told there’s standing-room only when they front up somewhere with a crowd. So, if you’re planning a holiday party or simply heading out with a few people in tow, it pays to be armed with the best venue ideas – and a booking, where possible, to avoid disappointment and help make life easier for the venues involved. 

The number-one thing a great group-friendly destination needs is space, and lots of it. Next, it needs a good mix of drinks to keep wine-lovers, beer-buffs, cocktail chasers and non-drinkers happy. Oh, and don’t forget quality bar snacks, a laidback atmosphere and – if possible – a place to kick back and relax in the sun.

The line-up below covers every state in our sunburnt country and features some of the best spots for group shenanigans we’ve found on our travels. Some venues are relative newcomers, others are beloved institutions, but all will keep you and your crew happy with A-grade drinks, excellent service and top-notch snacks. And if you happen to be heading interstate any time soon, be sure to bookmark this page, especially if you’re travelling with a bunch of mates.  

Check out our extensive list of group-friendly bars and restaurants across our capital cities, and gather your favourite people around to get merry, unwind and celebrate the year that was.

Jump To
01Melbourne
02Sydney
03Brisbane
04Perth
05Hobart and surrounds
06Darwin
Top group-friendly venues in Melbourne
Melbourne
Misfits
Clubhouse vibes, a roster of DJs, locally sourced drinks and a trio of experienced operators combine seamlessly at this stylishly relaxed new neighbourhood joint.
Melbourne
Moon Dog Wild West
A colossal, buck-wild beer hall, this Moon Dog outpost has, as its name suggests, a Western spirit, slinging ace eats and brilliant brews, with the action centred on a mechanical bull.
Melbourne
Molli
A very likeable, versatile new bar-bistro from the cafe king of Melbourne.
Melbourne
North Fitzroy Arms
A recent refurb has transformed this old pub into a destination for all comers, with a top chef and star sommelier lifting the offerings to now draw people from near and far.
Melbourne
Morris House
From basement comedy club to pumping rooftop bar, Morris House offers four levels of well-designed, well-considered good times set around crowd-pleasing menus of food and drinks.
Melbourne
Gum
We love the unpretentiousness, we love the air of excitement, and we love that this retro-inspired cocktail bar with hot tunes and rock ’n’ roll cocktails exceeds expectations.
Melbourne
Whitehart Bar
One of Melbourne’s most happening music bars, Whitehart seals the good-times deal with local craft-beer heroes and on-trend cocktails mixed with house-made syrups and native ingredients.
Melbourne
Patsy’s
A meat-free restaurant that pays as much attention to the quality of its drinks as it does to the excellence of its vegetables, Patsy’s is a good time even for die-hard carnivores.
Melbourne
Bomba Bar
A worthy favourite with the post-work drinks crowd, this rooftop bar has dazzling views and a sunny Spanish vibe, with great snacks to go with them.
Melbourne
Paradise Alley
A beacon of good times, fine wines and craft beer, warehouse bar Paradise Alley is all things to all-comers. It can be a louche laneway hangout or cosy lounge, dance hall or pool hall. (Almost) anything goes. 
Melbourne
The Recreation
This one-time local tavern in leafy Fitzroy North has come up in the world – it now delivers a food-and-wine package with a serious commitment to quality and a refreshing lack of pretension.
Top group-friendly venues in Sydney
Sydney
White Horse
This old inner-city pub is full of new tricks thanks to a no-holds-barred revamp by an all-star cast of hospo pros, now delivering thoughtful drinks and smart food at locals-friendly prices.
Sydney
Centro 86
Sydney’s reigning champions of tequila and mezcal strike again with a hyper-stylised, subterranean bar paying homage to the Margarita in the CBD’s bustling core.
Sydney
The Dry Dock
With a glorious wine list, a cracking range of tap beers and an acclaimed chef on the pans, the Dry Dock – fresh from a meticulous revamp – might just be Balmain’s best pub.
Sydney
Ricos Tacos
A revamped inner-city pub is now home to some of Sydney’s most sought-after tacos, with vibrant decor, cold beers and an arsenal of mezcal and tequila to match.
Sydney
Martinez
A powerhouse hospitality group is adding a much-needed dash of French Riviera glamour to a revitalised pocket of Sydney’s CBD with this sprawling restaurant and bar.
Sydney
El Primo Sanchez
Tequila and mezcal take centre stage at this swanky cocktail bar and diner by some of the city’s sharpest operators who look to Mexico for inspiration and run with it in style.
Sydney
Nick & Nora’s
With killer views from two terraces, gorgeous detailing, a Champagne parlour and an epic whisky list, Nick & Nora’s is leading the way for Parramatta bars.
Sydney
Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern
At this self-proclaimed “five-star dive bar”, hidden down a hard-to-find staircase, no-nonsense beers and serious cocktails live happily in highbrow-lowbrow harmony.
Sydney
Archie Rose Distilling Co.
Archie Rose is one of Australia’s top spirit brands and this is where it showcases its wares. Enjoy a drink in the bar or take a deep-dive into the art of gin and whisky tasting or cocktail making.
Sydney
The Barber Shop
A Sydney landmark for all things gin, The Barber Shop combines grooming for men with juniper-flavoured good times for all, masterminded by the Harbour City’s leading gin guru.
Sydney
The Roosevelt
More than a decade since opening, The Roosevelt’s glitzy ’50s character and cocktails made with an air of theatre ensure it remains one of the city’s finest places to bend the elbow.
Top group-friendly venues in Brisbane
Brisbane
Naldham House
Grand in scale and ambition, historic Naldham House has been resurrected as a three-level temple devoted to good times served up with worldly wines and European flair in the kitchen.
Brisbane
Ach Wine Bar
This pioneering bar and bistro brings the heat to a lesser-known part of Hamilton. Expect Middle Eastern feasts cleverly whipped up on the wood-fired grill and lesser-known wines on pour.
Brisbane
Petite
Minimalist chic is stylishly offset by French flair at Petite, a new wine bar from local hospitality guns that shines a light on Gallic flavours in the glass and on the plate.
Brisbane
Cru Bar & Cellar
After almost two decades, Cru is a standout that’s still going strong and remains the proud keeper of one of the city’s broadest, deepest and finest drinks lists.
Brisbane
Tillerman
On the outside, Tillerman is a waterfront seafood restaurant. Under the hood it hides one of the best wine lists in the city and some seriously top-class seafood-leaning eats.
Brisbane
Purple Palm
Minimalist gin bar Purple Palm channels Palm Springs for sunny inspiration. The indoor-outdoor  design makes the most of the balmy Brisbane weather and its back bar is exclusively Aussie.
Brisbane
Bar Rosa
Run by savvy operators, Bar Rosa is a reasonably priced, Italian-accented bolthole where the traditional and tasty eats are nicely pitched to match the crowd-pleasing wine list.
Brisbane
Cordeaux Social Club
This neighbourhood joint may have been designed for locals, but it’s pulling visitors from way beyond West End with its tight list of approachable, reasonably priced wines and punchy food.
Brisbane
Rothwell’s Bar & Grill
Housed in heritage digs, this glamorous bar and grill is loaded with old-school charm, and with a crack team on the tools, it has plenty of credibility to go with all that style.  
Brisbane
Yoko Dining
Say “hai” to good times Tokyo-style with freewheeling Japanese snacks and drinks – from sake and cocktails to beers and whiskies – at this fun bar in Brisbane’s buzziest waterfront precinct.
Brisbane
Frog’s Hollow Saloon
A handsome heritage building in a once seedy part of Brisbane now hosts a saloon-style bar where the whisky game is strong and the smart cocktails playfully recall the area’s shady past.
Brisbane
Fiume
The only rooftop bar at buzzy Howard Smith Wharves, Fiume is a stylish, breezy spot. Order a cocktail, take in a sunset, then watch Brisbane city light up as darkness falls.
Top group-friendly venues in Perth
Perth
Bar Lafayette
A polished cocktail den in Perth’s CBD, Bar Lafayette is at once upmarket and upbeat, slinging sharp, grown-up drinks amid a clubby atmosphere with a hip-hop backdrop.
Perth
Petition Beer Corner
A deep, far-reaching beer selection is supported here by tasty snacks and knowledgeable service from specially trained staff, making this a pub worth signing up for.
Perth
Gibney
Hamptons cool meets old-world glamour at this bar and restaurant at Cottesloe Beach that channels the great brasseries of the world while pleasing rather than challenging guests.
Perth
Honky Tonk Blues
Meet the Southern American-inspired saloon with live country music, spirited dancing, whiskey galore and diner-style classics that Fremantle didn’t know it needed.
Perth
Palace Arcade
Are you ready for a trip down memory lane? Vintage video games, New York-style pizza, great drinks including nostalgic cocktails and serious fun await at the West’s premier arcade bar.
Perth
Al Lupo
This sleek bar opposite the beach in North Fremantle defies coastal clichés with polished food and a cracking cocktail list that offers fresh takes on the drinking-by-the-sea theme.
Perth
Picabar
At this inclusive watering hole in a heritage-listed space the modern-day pub is reimagined – the beers range from classics to craft brews and the menu updates the popular standards.
Regional WA
Old Young’s
Set in Perth’s winemaking heartland, this new-school distillery is turning heads with its world-beating vodkas and gins, and a kitchen showcasing bold native flavours.
Perth
Long Chim
A Thai-inspired bar that says yes to thoughtful (and delicious) drinking and snacking while sidestepping the genre’s cliched tropes.
Perth
Strange Company
Everyone’s welcome at this new-era Fremantle small bar where boho cool meets contemporary styling (and drinking).
Perth
Nieuw Ruin
This free-spirited Fremantle wine bar and eatery is big on nostalgia, but its offering is very now, built around small plates and thrilling wines with a living-room vibe for all to enjoy.
Perth
Lalla Rookh
Italy meets Australia at this model inner-city pub. Smartly designed and staffed with hospitality pros, Lalla Rookh wants to help Perth eat and drink better.
Top group-friendly venues in Hobart and surrounds
Hobart
Rude Boy
This Caribbean-inspired bar slings rum-powered drinks until late and offers a choose-your-own-adventure menu starring fried chicken, all backed up by a soundtrack of tropical beats.
Hobart
Crescent Hotel
A thoughtful renovation has added extra charm to the Crescent, drawing a new crowd to join the long-time regulars for elevated pub fare and a well-considered line-up of craft brews and local wines.
Hobart
Bar Wa Izakaya
This fun izakaya-style bar brings a slice of Japan to Hobart, serving up flavour-packed ramen for lunch and punchy snacks into the wee hours alongside top-notch cocktails, sake and local wines.
Hobart
Institut Polaire
Bond girl meets Antarctic explorer in Tasmania’s coolest bar, known for its “cold-hearted liquor” poured at a long marble bar in a stylish snowflake-white room.
Hobart
Mary Mary
Find the “secret” entrance to Hobart’s most glamorous bar, a richly textured speakeasy of convict-quarried sandstone, low-lit corners and a storied drinks list.
Regional TAS
Lost Captain
This taphouse and restaurant overlooking the mighty Huon River celebrates Tasmania’s best with a standout menu, superb brews, solid wine list and cocktails showcasing local ingredients.
Regional TAS
The Agrarian Kitchen
It’s a garden party at the Agrarian Kitchen where nearly all the produce is grown on site to be enjoyed over a leisurely lunch with a hyper-local list of intriguing wines and ales.
Top group-friendly venues in Adelaide
Adelaide
Bandit Pizza and Wine
Pizza and wine are just the beginning at this rollicking neighbourhood trattoria serving up freewheeling riffs on Italian classics, a great spread of wine styles and a serious sense of fun.
Adelaide
Threefold Distilling
Kind of like a wine bar but for gin, Threefold impresses as soon as you enter to find an array of original gins ready to be poured by some of the country’s best bartenders.
Adelaide
Shotgun Willie’s
A Western-style saloon you’d expect to find along Nashville’s Honky Tonk Highway, Shotgun Willie’s is the place to come for live country music, hot wings, cold beers and slugs of bourbon.
Adelaide
Hains & Co
Drop anchor at this nautical-themed gin and rum bar for expertly made cocktails, signature house-made sausage rolls and the rare opportunity to try high-end whiskies.
Adelaide
Oddio
Experimental wines, craft beers, excellent food trucks and eclectic DJ sets come together in a former church just five minutes from central Adelaide, making for a unique urban cellar door.
Adelaide
The Exeter Hotel
Not many bars can truly call themselves an institution, but The Exeter Hotel is the real deal, beloved for its strong, nicely priced local drinks offering and top pub food.
Adelaide
Leigh Street Wine Room
Natural wines and top-notch snacks star at this cosmopolitan bar where the Euro vibes are strong while it remains quintessentially Adelaide – a genuine spot for all occasions.
Adelaide
Arkhé
Adelaide’s hottest new restaurant has it all: killer food, stunning design and expert drinks, along with switched-on staff who keep the good times coming.
Top group-friendly venues in Darwin
Darwin
The Precinct Tavern
Set on the fetching Darwin Waterfront, The Precinct Tavern attracts an eclectic crowd who come for the classic pub offering, fruit-driven cocktails, craft brews and the tropical vibe.
Darwin
Good Thanks
This intimate bar-restaurant with a bohemian vibe challenges Darwin stereotypes – it’s a favourite local haunt slinging an ever-changing list of standout craft beers and burgers made with flair.
Darwin
Darwin Ski Club
This relaxed outdoor venue offers Champagne views on a beer budget – the bucket of local prawns and bevvy combo is a steal – making it an ideal spot for a leisurely seaside sundowner.
Darwin
Snapper Rocks
Overlooking Darwin’s waterfront, this is a place to bask in a sunny vibe and enjoy creative locavore cocktails, great food with a Top End focus, and wines and beers to match
Darwin
The Trader Bar
Darwin’s beautiful people, office workers and celebratory groups all mingle at The Trader Bar, drawn by the creative cocktails, 50-strong gin list and Instagrammable garden.
Darwin
Smoke and Oak
When in doubt, head where the hospo workers go for a warm welcome, chilled vibe and the coolest pairings of drinks and food showcasing the Asian flavours that define Darwin fare.
Darwin
Charlie’s of Darwin
A hidden entry in a back street is the portal to a fun bar, restaurant and lantern-filled terrace where bespoke gin is poured alongside menus brimming with Top End flavours.
image credits: Top image: Ricos Tacos, Sydney
Authour image
Hilary Simmons Hilary Simmons is a Melbourne-based writer, copywriter and editor whose work has appeared in Time Out, Urban List and Buzzfeed.
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Drinks DirectoryBarPerthMeal and a bevBrisbaneFancy occasionParty vibesSpecialty BarMelbourneAdelaideDarwinHobartPubRoundupSydneyGood for groups
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