Tacking Point Tavern
Located on the southern outskirts of port macquarie, just off pacific drive, this tavern is a good family pub, with a childrens play area, and a decent bistro. see above. standard tap beer is available, as well as spirits and wine. live covers bands play often on weekends, and this is the best place in town for a spot of mid-week pub trivia. a free courtesy bus picks up and drops off in town, which is the best way to get there. it is too far to walk from the cbd.
Hotel Macquarie
The most popular pub with teenagers and young adults in port macquarie, and for no good reason. every friday and saturday this place fills with just legal teenagers and young adults, and becomes very smoky and hot. it has 2 separate bars, one showing live sports, with a pool table and juke box. the other bar is a disco bar, playing terribly dated top 40 pop music. fights commonly happen here on weekends, and although it's very unlikely you'll get caught up in one, be careful whose beer you spill. located just up from the river away from the beach house.
Altitude Nightclub
Located upstairs in the galleria arcade, and with a panoramic view of the street directly below it, this place used to be called roxy's nightspot in a former life. during that time it was a damp, smoky club, playing techno music from 5 years ago, through speakers that distorted due to the bass. it has since been renamed altitude, and the door charge is $5 after 10:30. the place has been revamped with quality sound and entertainment with the best local and some big name national dj's, and it is very popular with the hotel macquarie crowd.altitude offers live music every thursday night with free pizza and a pool comp.check out www.altitudenightclub.com.au
Down Under Nightclub
Located towards coles if walking past altitude in the basement of the galleria building, this nightclub is a very run down venue 20 years at least with the patrons being somewhat the same. on a wednesday night it is the most popular for majority young people aged 18-25 with the odd here and there older patron, you can excpect very expensive drinks, karaoke singers and very dated top 40s music, staff are very unfriendly and rude and expect a fight every hour. on the plus side there is no entry fee on wednesday nights, regular police visits, and only a stone's throw from coles.
Port Macquarie is a great place for beachside relaxation, or a family holiday, but a haven for nightlife, it is not. Compared to most other towns of similar size along the east coast of Australia, the pubs and clubs in Port Macquarie are quite substandard. Below are some of the better ones.
Beach House Bar & Grill
Once this place stops serving food see eating, it becomes the most up to date and fashionable bar in port macquarie. playing a good mix of up to the minute electronic music, serving great german beers and with its night views of the hastings river, you can't go past this place in the cbd. frequently visited by young professional workers, and a more mature clientele than the other bars nearby, it is the place to see and be seen. drinks can be very expensive.
Finnians Irish Pub
Located behind the bus terminal downtown, this place is the place to get pints of guiness or kilkenny, as well as other australian brews. home to an older crowd than the rest of the pubs downtown, it provides live covers bands on weekends. has a great bistro as well. see eating