NOW EXPERIENCING:The Precinct Tavern

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 14 Aug 2023

By
Nigel Adlam


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.

Delicious food served at The Precinct Tavern
Why you go

In many ways, The Precinct Tavern is a traditional Aussie pub – a big place with not a lot of furniture to stop you moving around. But in other ways, it’s a thoroughly modern seaside venue that revels in its tropical location – huge windows overlook a beautiful terrace, which in turn looks over a wave pool and crocodile-protected lagoon water park.

The Precinct is set on the upmarket Darwin Waterfront and probably attracts the broadest range of customers of any pub in the city. Families pop in for a meal and soft drinks after a session in the wave pool, tourists settle in for a cool drink and meal after promenading along the seafront, and groups of 20-somethings swarm onto the terrace in the evenings. 

The venue has one of the widest ranges of craft beers in Darwin, including the appropriately named Lagoona Matata Sour Ale from Moon Dog brewery in Victoria. The food menu, meanwhile, features old favourites, such as steak, pizza and burgers, along with the likes of bao buns packed with smoked pork belly and slaw spiked with hoisin sauce, and roast pumpkin salad for the vegetarians.

Why you stayThe Precinct is a good pub-restaurant where you can try interesting brews, enjoy a fine chicken schnitty and easily while away an afternoon in the laidback atmosphere. By day it’s a place to sit on the terrace with a good book, perhaps, or catch up with an old friend; come the evening, the vibrancy cranks up as the younger locals turn up. This is the only pub in town that serves Pimm’s and Spain’s Sangria punch by the jug – lures for all comers.
Outdoor seating at The Precinct Tavern
Fruity cocktails served at The Precinct Tavern
What drink to orderFun, fruity cocktails chime with the tropical locale. The Whippy Nae Nae, for instance, is a sprightly mix of Bacardi, coconutty Malibu rum, lychee, pineapple and cranberry, while the Tropical Spritz combines Cointreau, brandy and orange juice. To beat the Top End heat, a frozen cocktail could be the answer – perhaps the Cool as a Cucumber Margarita with a base of Casamigos tequila, crème de menthe, lime and, yes, cucumber. For the alcohol naysayers, mocktails such as the Coco Chanel – coconut syrup, pineapple and lime – are on offer, too.
What to pair it withThe fruit-driven drinks go nicely with the fish of the day – perhaps wild-caught snapper with potatoes, cherry tomatoes, green beans and Argentina’s herb-fuelled chimichurri sauce. There’s a good chance the fish will have come off the trawler that very morning. Local fish also arrives battered in milk burger buns with cos lettuce, tomatoes, house pickles and tartare sauce and a sidekick of fries, while committed carnivores will love the steak sandwich with onions, mushrooms, jalapeño chillies and Philly cheese.
Wide range of dishes served at The Precinct Tavern
Relaxing ambience at The Precinct Tavern
Why we love itThe Precinct is popular with so many because it says so much about the tropics. An airy terrace that’s prime people-watching territory makes the ideal spot to chill out over a fruit-driven cocktail or cooling brew.
Regular’s tipPick your ideal time to head to The Precinct. It’s popular for casual business lunches. Families move in during the afternoon and early evening. A younger crowd and tourists turn up later on. But whatever the time of day, the atmosphere dial is set to friendly and casual.
Who to takeTake your family for a gentle afternoon or early evening, or catch up with friends over a good beer or cocktail. If you’re lucky you might catch a local singer looking for that big break.