The Scarborough Hotel Scarborough – 140 years on the clifftop
Perched on the cliff edge of the Illawarra escarpment, The Scarborough Hotel has been pouring cold beers and dishing out coastal pub fare since 1886, making it Wollongong's oldest licensed venue. The heritage-listed pub sits on a clifftop block with uninterrupted Pacific views stretching up the coast toward Sydney, and its Seacliff beer garden remains the drawcard: a sprawling outdoor space dotted with tables and cabanas where locals and day-trippers settle in for long lunches.
The kitchen keeps things simple and coastal, leaning into fresh local produce across breakfast, lunch and bar snacks, with a rotating weekly special drawing regulars back (Thursdays currently mean $22 burgers, beef, chicken or veggie). Upstairs and down, two bars pour an eclectic range of draught beers, cocktails and Australian and New Zealand wines, and the pub is dog-friendly on lead in the garden.
Now under the ownership of Epochal Hotels following a 2025 sale, The Scarborough is leaning into its history rather than away from it, marking 140 years in 2026 with live music and celebrations on the clifftop. It's an hour or so south of Sydney, making it a solid day-trip destination for anyone chasing ocean views without the city crowds.
Quick Bites
EAT: Coastal pub fare, seafood and burgers, sourced from local South Coast producers
DRINK: Draught beers, Australian and New Zealand wines, seasonal cocktails
PLAY: Sprawling clifftop beer garden with cabanas, live music events, dog-friendly on lead
VIBE CHECK: Heritage seaside pub energy, ocean views over city polish, easy long-lunch pace
