The best bars and pubs in Frankston
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07.08.2023

The best bars and pubs in Frankston

Frankston Bars and Pubs
words by Jordan McCarthy

The best bars and pubs in Frankston for cold beer and a great feed with a view.

A little over 40 clicks southeast of the CBD is the bay-side suburb of Frankston. Frankston beach is a summer hotspot for locals and those getting out of the city for a day, and where you have large groups of people, you have businesses. Because of this, Frankston bars and pubs are kickass watering holes, with plenty of restaurants and live music concerts for you to enjoy after getting some sand and sun.

The Nepean Highway runs right along the waterfront from St Kilda to Portsea, cutting through Frankston on the way. It’s here that you will find a large number of Frankston’s best bars and pubs that tend to have a killer view as well as a killer drinks menu. If the highway is too busy for your liking though and you want to grab a drink a bit further inland this list of the best Frankston bars and pubs also has you covered.

You can also check out Melbourne’s most comprehensive guides to the best bars and pubs in each suburb and street here.

The best Frankston bars and pubs

Iron River Bar and Grill

I usually like starting these things with a massively popular drink-first type venue, but for the Iron River Bar and Grill I had to change up my format. Iron River as you can probably guess is as much about the food as it is about the bevs with an amazing American grill menu that is sure to make any meat lover sweat with anticipation. We are talking massive serves of spareribs, wings by the kilo and steaks the size of your face. All cooked perfectly and served covered in amazing spices and smothered in mouth-watering sauces.

That being said, this isn’t a best restaurants list, it’s a best bars and pubs type deal we have going on here and the bar at Iron Side is equally as impressive. They have a massive drinks menu that has beer, wine and a number of cocktails for you to get stuck into. I mean a number; the cocktail list is extensive and there’s a whole lot of spirits on offer too.

Southside Social

Southside social is a cool AF bar with great eats and live beats. Black brick walls covered in graffiti art fill out the inside of Southside Social giving the place a really cool edge and punky garage type vibe. Southside also has a massive outdoor area to kick back and get some sun with drink in hand, whether that be a freshly poured beer, cocktail martini or premixed jug. 

Burgers are the other thing that Southside absolutely nails. Seriously go check out there Instagram to see some of their amazing creations, from a simple cheeseburger to a burger covered in jalapenos and tequila salsa, these burgers really hit. Southside is the perfect spot to check out after the beach for a beer and a feed.

 

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Pier Hotel 

  • Address: 508 Nepean Highway
  • Vibe: Renovated Freshness
  • Dedicated Menu: Pizza and Bar Snacks

Having undergone a recent face lift the Pier Hotel is going as strong as ever as one of Frankston’s most frequented pubs. There is a strong reason for this too, this place is like 2 or 3 separate venues all wrapped into one.

First, you have Front Bar, which is your standard pub type vibe. A massive drinks list, big screen TV’s, heaps of seating and a quick and easy pizza and snack menu to choose from. Front Bar is the perfect little area to head to with some mates on a weekend arvo to grab a drink, feed and settle in and watch your favourite team bounce around on the TV.

Second, you have Pelly Bar, which is Piers intimate entertainment room. With plenty of drink on offer on any given weekend you will find anything from a grunge rock band to a techno loving DJ up on stage, putting on a show. Perfect little spot to cut a shape after having a few in the Front Bar.

Finally, there is the newly renovated Pier Bandroom. The same mob that helped do up The Croxton are behind the update here. This as full-on live music venue where you will catch some spectacular acts, so keep an eye on the venue guide. 

There really is something for everyone at the Pier Hotel, it’s a must visit when you are in Frankston.

 

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The Cheeky Squire

  • Address: 510 Nepean Highway
  • Vibe: Top Notch Brewhouse
  • Dedicated Menu: Expansive Modern Australian

You may have pieced this together already thanks to name, but The Cheeky Squire is an official brewhouse for none other than James Squire brewery. It only seems like yesterday that James Squire beers first made an appearance, but they are quite historic and have become a mainstay of Australian pubs and bars. Whether it’s their delightful 150 Lashes Pale Ale or delectable Swindlers Tropical Ale all of us beer drinkers have had sip on a James Squire brew at some stage.

The venue itself stays true to that James Squire persona maintaining a sense of its history and by telling the James Squire story, from convict to Australian brewing legend. You can learn about all of this whilst enjoying a beer and a feed. The feed is the other thing we have to touch on here, the menu is large, and the food is amazing. Just check out their Instagram to see some of the incredible dishes on offer.

General Public

  • Address: 16 Playne Street
  • Vibe: Fun AF
  • Dedicated Menu: Pizza, Burgers and More

Moving away from the Nepean Highway, General Public is a real vibe and not like anything on this list or any other really. In its own words, it’s an “Eatertainery”. We are talking restaurant, bar, arcade and bowling alley all rolled into one. You can literally do it all here, sip on a cocktail while shooting hoops. Drop some shots while bowling strikes. Down a beer whilst racing around Daytona. This joint is perfect for a date night, or you can even book it out for a function for work parties or birthdays.

Just because General Public has so much going on doesn’t mean that it lets its menu slip. The food here is delish, Bao-Burgers and Parmas as well as vegan salads are all on offer and the drinks menu is spot on too. Cocktails, beers, wine and spirits are all there for the choosing.

Martini & Co 

Martini and Co is a cocktail bar and café/restaurant that has been plying its trade in Frankston for a long while now. Martini is open for breaky and stays open all day providing lunch, dinner and drinks. So come in for an espresso in the morning and revisit for an espresso martini later on.

At night this place is as killer a restaurant as it is a cocktail bar though, the food is top notch. Martini & Co mixes modern Australian with fresh sea food as well as dishes with a oriental flair. So, you can enjoy a parma or steak, a seafood platter or an authentic Thai chicken curry. This place is well rounded so be sure to check it out whether you are in town for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

 

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The Hop Shop

  • Address: 26 Playne St
  • Vibe: Bottle Shop & Bar
  • Dedicated Menu: Delectable Asian Snacks

The Hop Shop is one of the newer venues on this list of Frankston bars and pubs only sneaking up on its second birthday, but it is a beer lovers dream, being Frankston’s home of craft beers. At any given time, The Hop Shop, has 18 taps on rotation and over 200+ cold stored beers on site. The Hop Shop isn’t for beer lovers alone though, with a great selection of wine, ciders, gins and more to choose from to whet the whistle.

The menu here is dead on too if you are chasing a bite. With an Asian inspired snack menu that makes the mouth water including the likes of Korean salmon tartare, crispy Sichuan eggplant and Japanese fried chicken. The Hop Shop is one of my first stops when I am in the area.

 

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Humdinger

Humdinger is a maybe the A-Grade live entertainment venue from those found on this list. Every Thursday night you will find a line-up of hilarious local comics in action, perfect for having a giggle while chowing down on a burger and sipping a beer. Come the weekend live music is on offer by some great local artists, perfect for having a toe tap while chowing down on a burger and sipping a beer.

Now I must touch on those burgers I keep mentioning, they are delish and will have you streaming back through the doors again for more. Don’t believe me, just jump online and check out the reviews, people go nuts for the burgers and fries here. Humdinger do have other options for the non-burger fans out there, but trust me, go for a burger if you ever walk-through Humdinger’s door.

 

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The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel is the venue on this list that has the real sports club/RSL type vibe. We are talking a huge spacious joint, with sports bar, bistro and even a rewards club if you become a member. Have the grandparents tagging along for the arvo, The Grand should be your choice, they will love it here.

Beers are cold and cheap and though I say this place has a club bistro feel, the food plays a lot better than that trust me. The menu is full of your modern Australian classics, but they are all put together with a fine dining flare. A beautiful cut of steak, paired with a Rutherglen Shiraz wouldn’t look out of place here. The Grand Hotel is perfect for birthday lunch or dinners when you have a larger group and want to hang around for a few beers afterwards.

There you have it, a list of the best Frankston bars and pubs in and around the Nepean Highway. The perfect suburb for a bit of sun and sand before sneaking off for a couple of cocktails, a delicious pub meal or a night pounding beer to some live music. If you are stuck in the city and looking for a little something different to do one weekend, there are definitely worse ideas than heading to Frankston for a day trip. For more of the best places to eat and drink check out our other Beat articles featuring other suburbs in Melbourne and keep an eye for more coming out soon.

Got your fix of Frankston bars and pubs and looking for something closer to home? Check out our list of the best bars and pubs in Melbourne’s CBD.

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