Healesville Hotel

The Healesville Hotel is a century-old Yarra Valley pub serving house-made pasta, pub classics and local beer and wine. The 130-year-old venue has lived many lives, and is now under the stewardship of Matt Vero (co-owner Marquis of Lorne, Union House, Mount Erica Hotel) and Scott Connolly, who also co-own The Orrong Hotel. The pub is divided into three spaces, with a public bar, beer garden and bistro.

The menu counts staples like chicken parma, battered fish’n’chips, and sticky date pudding for dessert. However, dishes such as pork sausage rolls with ’nduja, chicken liver parfait and house-made pasta (served with the likes of pork and fennel ragu) are also on offer.

Being in the Yarra Valley, guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to drinks. Wine might come from Soumah Wines, Fin Wines and Yugen Wines. And there are local beers on tap – including pale ales from Healesville’s own Watts River Brewing.

The storied hotel sports a 1970s colour palette of avocado green, tangerine and spacesuit orange. It retains its historic charm through vaulted ceilings, large windows and an old timber bar. The beer garden outside, with its lush botanic landscaping and playground for little kids, is a great place to hang out. Plus, if you want to spend more time in the Yarra Valley, there are hotel rooms upstairs available to book.