A drink in a surf town
Torquay isn't a big night-out town, but it does have a good spread for its size. There's a proper pub on Bell Street, a brewpub next door, brewery taprooms around the surf shops, a bar with a beer garden in Surf City Plaza, and a wine bar on Gilbert Street. Over the creek in Jan Juc, there's a late-night bar and a family pub.
Most of it is daytime and early evening. People come in off the beach, have a pint in the sun and get dinner. If you're after something later, it's Friday and Saturday nights, a band at the Torquay Hotel, Bells Beach Brewing or Bird Rock, and an early start the next morning for a surf.
Below is where to go, grouped by the kind of night you want. Places with their own page on this site are linked. Hours change through the year, and lots of places are quieter early in the week, so check before you go.
The pubs
Torquay Hotel
The town pub, at 36 Bell Street in the middle of town. There's a public bar for the regulars, a restaurant built around a South American wood-fired grill, and a beer garden out the back that was rebuilt in 2025, with its own stage and pizza kitchen. It's open seven days, and it's the main place in town for bands.
The Beach Hotel, Jan Juc
A family pub at 3–9 Stuart Avenue in Jan Juc. It opened in October 1990 as PABs Tavern, named from its founders' surnames, and the Torquay Historical Society has its story. Now it's a bistro and bar, with sport on the screens and a play area that makes it an easy family dinner. We haven't been able to check current hours, so ring ahead.
Bars
Torquay Wine Store
A bottle shop and wine bar in one, at 19A Gilbert Street. Any of the 300-plus bottles on the shelves can be opened at a table for corkage, there's a changing list by the glass, and the share plates run from cheese and charcuterie to flatbreads, meatballs and saganaki. Local beer on tap and cocktails too, with cocktail hour 5pm to 7pm Tuesday to Thursday and happy hour 3pm to 6pm on Fridays. It's open from 3pm Tuesday to Saturday, and on Sundays too in December and January.
Point Danger Beach House
The old Frontbeach Taphouse at 16 The Esplanade, renamed in November 2025 under the same owners, with a new chef and more of a focus on food. Drop in for a drink and oysters, or stay for seafood mains. It's open from 11.30am on weekdays and 8.30am on weekends, for breakfast.
Bird Rock, Jan Juc
The late one. A bar and dining room in the Jan Juc shops that rolls from dumplings and share plates into live music, DJs and late nights. It stays open later than the beachfront places in Torquay.
Mule
A taqueria and bar on Zeally Bay Road that opened in June 2026, with tacos and margaritas off an open fire. It opens Thursday and Friday from 3pm and at the weekend from midday, and runs late.
Surf Hotel
Jo Barrett's restaurant and bar on The Esplanade, opposite Front Beach, which opened at Easter 2026 in the old Surf City Motel. Good for a late-arvo drink on the deck before dinner.
Breweries
Torquay has three breweries with their own bars, plus a 4 Pines bar in the surf shops. Two of them face each other on Baines Crescent, among the surf outlets. The full list, including Geelong, Aireys Inlet and Forrest, is in our breweries guide.
Torquay Taphouse
Great Ocean Road Brewing's home, at 27 Baines Crescent in the old Quiksilver headquarters, with the beer brewed on site. There's a lawn beer garden, a playground, dogs on the lawn, Saturday brewery tours and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. It's open Wednesday to Sunday.
Bells Beach Brewing
Across the road at Unit 2, 22 Baines Crescent. An independent taproom that doubles as one of the Surf Coast's livelier band rooms, with Gypsy Burger on site. Kids and dogs are welcome, and it's open Thursday to Sunday.
Blackman's Brewery
At 26 Bell Street, a short walk from the Torquay Hotel. Renn and Jess opened it in 2014 to bring craft beer to Torquay. It works like a pub, with beer brewed out the back, 22 rotating taps, wood-fired pizza and burgers, and room inside and out. It's open Wednesday to Sunday from midday.
4 Pines x Boardriders
The Manly brewery's bar, run with Boardriders at 61 Surf Coast Highway in Surf City Plaza. The beer is brewed elsewhere and poured here. There's a big outdoor patio with plant walls, six taps of 4 Pines beer and a menu of burgers, parmas and share food. It's open seven days, from 11am, and dogs are welcome every day.
A drink by the beach
For a daytime glass looking at the water, Bomboras on The Esplanade has a bar in its dining room and closes in the late afternoon. Surf Hotel is a few doors along. Point Danger Beach House, the old Frontbeach, is a five-minute walk south. Further down the coast, the Aireys Pub at Aireys Inlet brews its own beer, has a fire and a beer garden, and has free bands on Saturday nights. It's about half an hour away.
At a glance
| Venue | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Torquay Hotel | 36 Bell Street, Torquay | Pub, beer garden, gigs |
| Blackman's Brewery | 26 Bell Street, Torquay | Brewpub |
| 4 Pines x Boardriders | 61 Surf Coast Highway, Torquay | Brewery bar and beer garden |
| Torquay Taphouse | 27 Baines Crescent, Torquay | Brewery taphouse |
| Bells Beach Brewing | Unit 2, 22 Baines Crescent, Torquay | Brewery taproom and band room |
| Torquay Wine Store | 19A Gilbert Street, Torquay | Wine bar and bottle shop |
| Point Danger Beach House | 16 The Esplanade, Torquay | Restaurant and bar, formerly Frontbeach |
| Mule | 5A Zeally Bay Road, Torquay | Taqueria and bar |
| Surf Hotel | 35 The Esplanade, Torquay | Restaurant and bar |
| Bird Rock | 2 Princes Terrace, Jan Juc | Bar, late nights, DJs |
| The Beach Hotel | 3–9 Stuart Avenue, Jan Juc | Pub and bistro |
Everything in Torquay is about five minutes' drive from north Torquay. Jan Juc is about 10 minutes.
Live music, dogs and kids
Bands
The Torquay Hotel's beer garden stage, the Bells Beach Brewing band room and Bird Rock are the main ones. The Taphouse has music on Friday and Saturday nights, and the Aireys Pub on Saturdays. Check each venue's gig guide or socials for the week.
Dogs
4 Pines x Boardriders welcomes dogs every day and has a "Yappy Hour" on Sundays. Bells Beach Brewing, the Taphouse lawn and the Aireys Pub take dogs too. Elsewhere, ask first. Our dog-friendly Torquay guide has more.
Kids
In the daytime, most places are family friendly. The Taphouse has a playground, 4 Pines has a kids' menu, and the Beach Hotel in Jan Juc has a play area. Later at night the bars are more for grown-ups, so families are better off going early.
Getting home
Sort this out before the first drink. Victoria's limit is 0.05 for full licence holders and zero for learners and P-platers. Taxis are scarce in Torquay, and rideshare can be thin late at night, especially out of season, so book a ride ahead. Bell Street and Surf City Plaza are about 15 minutes' walk apart. Our getting around without a car guide has the local buses and other ways to get around.
Pubs and bars FAQ
What's the main pub in Torquay?
The Torquay Hotel on Bell Street, with a public bar, a grill restaurant and a beer garden with a stage.
Where can I go late?
Bird Rock in Jan Juc stays open latest, with DJs and bands. On Friday and Saturday, try the Torquay Hotel, Bells Beach Brewing and Mule too.
Which bars take dogs?
4 Pines x Boardriders, Bells Beach Brewing, the Torquay Taphouse lawn and the Aireys Pub. Ask at the others.
Where's good for a beer garden?
The Torquay Hotel's rebuilt beer garden, the Taphouse lawn and the 4 Pines patio at Surf City Plaza.
Is there a pub in Jan Juc?
Yes, The Beach Hotel on Stuart Avenue, plus Bird Rock in the Jan Juc shops.
How do I get home?
Book a taxi or rideshare in advance, or pick a driver. Don't count on finding a cab late.
For dinner first, see our restaurants guide, and for the local beer, the breweries guide. For wine, try the wineries guide. Taking a bottle home instead? Our bottle shops guide covers the shops in town. Staying in north Torquay? Check dates at Holyday House.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 20 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Torquay Wine Store — Torquay Wine Store (official)
- Point Danger Beach House — Point Danger Beach House (official)
- All-day dining menu — Point Danger Beach House (official)
- 4 Pines x Boardriders Torquay — 4 Pines Brewing (official)
- Jan Juc Hotel — Torquay Historical Society
- Restaurant & Bar — Torquay Hotel
- Winter 2026 Restaurant menu (PDF) — Torquay Hotel
- About us — Aireys Pub (official)
- Alcohol and driving laws — Transport Victoria